The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-12


in France down to this century, and none
of them ever fed to Germany.
It win be well to recite briefly AMI IN
due order those events in the career
Of william Waldorf Astor. which logical
ly lead up to his final development as The
great international snob-the man who
declares that the country which yields
him an income on 500 .0Oo. 900 Is not ut to
live in-the man who holsters I'D his
claim to social recognition by a false and
forged pedigree.
He was born in 1s4s. the only son OF
John Jacob. Astor. who was a grandson
of the original ohm Jacob. Owing to the
family custom of leaving most Of the
property to the oldest son, his father in
herited the bulk Of the Aston fortune.
William Waldorf. beIn gan only child. re-
ceived his fathers enormous fortune alb
solutely in. tact.
The young heir to millions was edIcat-
ed by private tutors and graduated from
Thine Columbia College Law School in ISL.
He began to take a dilettante interest in
politics and literature. When he was
the state Senate. He enjoyed some pcpu-
larity among the lower class of polite
ians by scattering his money fresly, but
he irritated his associates by airs rs So
ciai superiority. He proved stupid and
useless land had no standing in the leg
islature
At the end OF his rethme thought that
congress would be a worthier field for his
talents. He ran for what was considered
a safe Republican district, but was de-
feated by Roswell P. Flower. He spent
his money freely, but when the people
knew him better that was not sufficient
to save him.
AT this tender age he was already de-
veloping the idea that America was no
place for gentleman to live In. The
criticism Of newspapers and politicians.
often more frivilous than serious, flied
hihm with foolish rage. The crit ,isms
have become serious now.
His wealth procured him the post or
minister to Italy, which was probably not
considered Of great Importance, for It had
been filled by politician whose untaned
manners contributed much to the gaety
of Europe. While In Italy Mr.. Astor
wrote two novels, valentino" and 'rSfor-
"a" on which he based claim to be
IMAM of letters" They are not badly
written. but they are colorless produc.
lions, without life or strength or any real
excuse for existing.
When Grover Cleveland was first ell
ected to office Mr.. Astor had to resign.
After his return to his native land the
American habits of criticism and irrev-
erance toward great landlords ate ever
more deeply into his soul
In 1890 he went to England and since
then has visited this country only twice.
In conversation with many persons. En-
glish and American, he has expressed the
opinion that the attacks made on rich
and on the display of wealth render this
country uncomfortable.
One of the fl rst tings Mr.. Astor did in
England was to purchase the Pail Mall
Gazette, an evening newspaper, which he
turned into an assressively Tory organ.
advocatin gthe cause of aristocracy and
reaction as far as possible in modern
England.
He also founded the Pail Maj Maya
zine, publication which, more than any
thing else, reveals his apparent snobbery.
1t Is edited by Lord Frederick Hamilton.
brother of the Duke Of Abercorn, who re-
ceives an enormous salary and does lit !
tie for which he is not to be blamed. |
Among the contributors are always many !
titled perosns, whose articles clearly are
published wholly on account of the
names of the writer's.
In order to explain Mr.. Astor's career |
1t necessary to refer somewhat to his /
domestic aaffirs. He was married in 1878 4
to Miss Mary Dalgren, Paul. daughter of ,
James W. Paul. of Philadelphia. She was
a very beautiful woman.
At first the Astors lived in London. in |
Carlton House Terrace. Later the Mar
quis of Lansdowne wished to let Lans-
downe, in Berkely Square an immense
residence standing in its own grounds in
the midst of London, and Mr.. Astor took
1t No Duke has finer house and its
isolation SUITS Mr.. Astor's taste for gloomy
grandeur.
In 1893 Mr.. Astor secured a splendid |
y,
the property of the Duke Of
He paid 81 go 900 for It.
Clvenden is situated in the heart of the
boating and the picnicing region OF the
upper Thames. After acquiring 1t Astor
had an opportunity to show himself uI-
more aristocratic than
the Duke OF Westminster. That poten-
tate had allowed common people to picnic
on and to walk through that part OF his
property lying just along the river. The
American millionaire threw them out and /
threatened them with the utmost rigors
Of the law.
In 1894. Mrs. Astor who had long been
III and melancholy. died at Clivenden.
Her end away from all her friends ard
relatives. surrounded by foreigners. at
tracted only by her husbands money and
tied to man almost insane on the sub
iect OF social ambition. must have been
a sad one. She left three children. Wal
dorf Aston. Pauline Astor and John Jacob
Astor.
Pauline Astor has just been presented
at court and is being fierceiy hunted b.
mothers as a bride for
some nobleman probably poverty stricken.
In 1894 Aston secured the first grand
triumph for which he had renowned
America He entertained the Prince OF
Wales. John L. Sullivan achieved the
same distinction without so much trouble
Or loss OF self respect
Thu ESriuca 60