The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-02
WALES Fixes ASIOR
Whacks Off His Social Head,
Once and for All.
SAYING: HE B0RES ME-"
And It's a Dreadful Thing to
Bore His HighneSs.

naAno OA the man OF many mllllonS Whe
it appeared in the list of guests invite
to meet him at a grand house party Il
Scotland q week or two ago. "Not Nj
Astor. He bores me-"
And that is the climax of William Wal
dorf Astor's years Of manoeuvrlng to ge
into the higher social circles of England
Even his roundabout denunciation of hi
country, even the eulogy Of his ancestors
which he printed in his own Pail Nal
Gazette and in which he claimed descen
from the noble Spanish Of Astorage-no
even these. nor above all, the million.
which came to him from investments ii
the country which he has renowned, hav,
won him the prize for which he he yearn
ed with all the intensity of his soul.
"He bores me. That is reported on higl
authority TO be the verdict of the Prime,
of Wales. And the Prince of Wales 1!
the supreme arbiter Of all things socia
in England. What bores the Prince bore.
society. Mr.. Astor's social career in Eng
land is in danger.
At the dinner table Of Belgravia and
Mayfair the story is coming the rounds
And Mr. Astor himself went away from
London long before the season in which
he hoped to shine so conspicuously was
over.
1t was through the innocent efforts Of
the Duchess Of Buccleuch to push Mr.
Astor's fortunes that the disaster came
upon him. The Duchess of Buccleuch has
long been the millionaire social sponsor
Not because she was fond Of Mr.. Aston
nor, indeed fond of the group of Ameri-
cans of whom he Is a type in London.
In fact the hostility of the Duchess ia
Americans has long been notorious. Sh.
was formerly the leader OF the group oil
grand ladies who started the movements
to exclude Americans from the inner cir
Gle Of the great London social world.
Her influence in this particular world
was potent. She is one OF the grandest
ladies in all England, and enjoyes pre-
cedence over all that are not of royal
rank by reason OF the high Office she
holds at court-that of Grand Mistress of
the Household and OF the Robes to Her
Majesty the Queen.
So it happened that all the world won
dered when the mighty Duchess Of Buc-
cleuch suddenly made a complete revolu-
ton in her attitude toward Americans.
From being the leader Of the anti-Amer-
lean hosts she became the sponsor and
social promoter OF one OF the richesft
Americans that had ever lIngerd lovingly
at tn threshold Of London society.
The reason of the Duchess sudden
change Of heart was not long in being
brought to light The Duchess has a
brotherhood Frederick Hamilton.
Mr.. Astor appeared upon the scene with
his Pail Mall Magazine. and was veri-
table boom to the Duchess of Buccleuch
when he made Lord Frederick Hamilton
editor of the Pail Mall at an absurdly
high salary.
If there was a business arrangement of
which his move was part it is but jus
tice to the Duchess OF Buccleuch to say
that she conscientiously carried out her
Part Of the compact. p
Mr.. Astor's social star began to shine.
Both he and his daughter were "taken
up generally. The Duchess even presid-
ed over every one Of the magnificent en-
tertainments which Mr.. Astor gave.
On the other hand both Mr.. Astor and
his daughter were sure to be found at all
the social functions given 10y the Duchess
of Buccleuch.
Now on various OF hese occasions Mr..
Asor had tn felicity to be presented to the
Prince of Wales. Amiable and easy-going
as the Prince is, the one thing that he
cannot endure is being bored. He per-
petually wishes TO hear something new;
In which he is not unlike other people.
But as Prince ne can make his wishes
law.
All London knows this and all Lonlon
has laughed more than once, even before
this last episode. at the alrolt manoeuvres
by which his royal highness has avoided
being left exposed to the conversation of
MIR. Astor, or of any one else whom he
has heard sufficiently often.
SO nobody was in the least surprised
TO know that the Prince had at last de-
finitely and distinctly turned Mr.. Astor
down"
1t is whispered that throughout the pre-
sent season the decendent OF the house OF
AstOrga has endeavored to commit the
Prince to being the star guest at CTveden
on the Thames. or. failing that, to visit
the AstOr house in town.
But 10 all hints the Prince turned a
deaf ear. He is kindly in temperament
and obliging to the last degree, but his
time is much occupied, he has seen and
heard many men and things and Is as
easily bored by the familiar as he is eager
for the novel. He simply could not and
would not agree to be Mr.. Astor's guest
Of honor, with all that that implied Of
exposure 10 the Historian conversational
gifts.
And now 1t Is the common talk Of Lon
don>that he has put the climax on It all
and definitely closed the Aston chapter
for once and for ALL It happened, accord
ing to the stories current, in this way:
When 1t was announced recently that
the Prince OF Wales would be Obliged 10
proceed TO Edinburgh in order to preside
at some public ceremony there. the Duke
and Duchess OF Buccleuch. as the princi-
pie persons OF the district asked :he fu-
ture king of England TO honor them by
staying at their Palace OF Dalkeith dur
inG his sojOurn In the north.
In accordance with the usual custom
on the occasion OF such visits Of royalty.
the Duchess drew Up for the inspection
OF her distinguished guest lis; OF the
the entertainment OF the heir apparent.
The list comprised the Duke 81 Mont
rose, Aberco-n and Athole: the Earls OF