Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-08-17


descent for the Astors.
"a man-spirtied depreciation of
the land of his birth by the millionaire
American.
S-Unworthy methods OF obtaining
social recognition in castle and court.
Mr.. Astor's claim of descent from
Pedro D'Astorga of CASTLE, in the
June number of the Pail Mall Maya
zine, was the most preposterous piece
of genealogical rubbish ever per
petrated by an aspiring millionaire
without a pedigree. 1t is the case of
great grandson of German peasant
tracing his ancestry to Spanish
grandee of the eleventh century. The
D'Astorgas of Spain, according to Mr..
Astor's claim, became the D'Astorgs
of France and the Astors of Germany
and America. The last D'Astorg, who
married a German peasant woman,
was the son of Frenclt count, accord
ing to the Astor claim and the first
Astor, Felix, was the On of the last
D'Astorg, Jean Jacqu s. The great
grandson of Jean Jacques was John
Jacob, the great grandfather of Will
lam Waldorf Astor. 1t is possible for
the son of French count to become a
German peasant. Unfortunately the
DAstorgs, who were Comics d'Auber-
EIDE, are all accounted for, including
Jean Jacques, who remained in France
entirely ignorant of putative Jean
Jacques of Germany. In this country
the bold claim of the Astors to noble
descent is innocent in the same degree
that it is ludicrous, but in England
such pretence is a horse of another
color. The man who sets up a bogus
pedigree discredits himself, 1t is
significant that the prince of Wales
scratch across the name of William
Waldorf Astor in the duchess of
Buccleugh's invitation list followed
quickly upon the millionaire's 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 device
often resorted to by American snobs,
who are eager to get into English So
ciety. The rich Americans in Eng
land, with few honorable exceptions,
have the Astor 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 libellers is William Waldorf
Aston. 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 Mr.. Astor was seek
ing to hobnob with royalty. The
brother of the duchess of Buccleuch.
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
hid 20 Inf
English society. She experienced
change Of heart when her brother OBJ
5ained salary and position on the
Pail Mall Magazine. From that time
Mr.. Astor's star began to shine in the
social armament. Her countenance
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 number of occasions, and
it is said easy going royalty took no
prince of many millions. Mr.. Astor
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 bore, but, dreary as
the transplanted American may be, his
heayiness is not in itself a sufficient
warrant for the princes drastic act
and his contemptuous words: Mot
Mr.. Astor-he bores me-
This is the end of William Waldorf
Astor in English society. The arbl-
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 Cliyeden. He cannot come
back to New York. for he has re-