Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-08-17

pedigree diseredits himself 1t is
significant that the prince of Wales
scratch across the name of William
Waldorf AstoT in the duchess of
Buccleugh's invitation list followed
quickly upon the millionaires attempt
to ennoble the peasant Astors of the
little German duchy of Baden by iden-
tifying them with the French
D'Astorgs Of Languedoc.
Mr.. Astor's depreciation of the land of
his nativity in his magazine is a device
often resorted to by American snobs.
who are eager to get into English So
clety. The rich Americans in Eng
land, with a few honorable executions,
have the Aston fault Of pretending
to be ashamed of their country. The
worst ISLANDERS of America and Ameri
cans in England are uttered by men
and women born in the United States,
and many Of them. like Mr.. Astor. with
scarcely drop Of English blood in
their veins. These Americans openly
leave their country for the purpose of
gaining the favor of the English. but
all intelligent Englishmen despise
them for disloyalty to the land to
which they owe allegiance. One of
these ibellers is William Waldorf
Astor. The prince of Wales could
scarcely fail to find this expatriated
American, pretending to be ashamed
Of the land Of his birth. unworthy of
the land of his adoption.
The princes act if not his words.
was in all probability intended to be a
rebuke to the proud duchess, under
whose sponsorship Nj. Astor was seek
ing to hobnob with royalty. The
brother of the duchess of Buccleucb.
Lord Frederick Hamilton, is editor of
the Pail Mall Magazine for Mr.. Astor.
at salary absurdly high for man of
his slender abilities. The duchess
who is mistress of the robes to her
majesty the queen, was long noted
for her hatred of Americans and her
rahId opposition to their reception in
English society. She experienced a
change of heart when her brother OBJ
tanned a salary and position on the
Pall Mall Magazine. From that time
Mr.. Astors star began to shine in the
social armament. Her c6untenance
was the open sesame" to the most ex-
elusive circles of London society. The
Astors were invited to all of the
Duchess functions, and the Duchess
presided at the splendid entertain
ments of the Astors. In his social
campaign Mr.. Aston met the prince of
Wales on a number of occasions. and
it is said easy going royalty took no
pains to conceal his aversion for the
prince of many millions. Mr.. Aston
tried to secure the prince of Wales as
a guest on number of occasions, but
the prince always refused There is
no reason to doubt that the prince
found Mr.. Astor a bore but, dreary as
the transplanted American may be, his
haaviness is not in itself a sufficient
warrant for the princes drastic act
and his contemptuous words:-"Not
Mr.. Astor-he bores me-"
This is the end of William Waldorf
Astor in English society The arbi-
ter Of social fitness in England
has thrown him down. Every
London door that was once
open to him will now be closed against
him, with a reputation of the princes
sneer:-"Not Mr.. Astor-he bores me-"
Where is the poor rich man to go?
He can not stay in England, with the
comfort and self-respect BETTING the
master OF Cliveden. He cannot come
back to New York, for he has re-
nounced his country and sought to es-
cape taxation on the ground that he is
no longer New Yorker A man with
out a country, it is his fate, with all
his money, to be as wretched as an
outcast and pauper. And wherever
he goes he will be confronted by the
bitter legend, forged by the Prince for
whose favor he fawned: mot Mr. AS
tor-he bores me-"