The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-02
Hts Naturalization Papers as q SUBJ
ject of Great Britain Taken Out ON
the 11th of Last Month.
CABINET CRISIS IN BELGIUM
RESIGNATION OF PREMIER PEREZ
BOEM AND HIS MINISTRY.
Trial OF Generals Toral and Pareja
for Surrendering Santiago De Cuba
to the American Army.

LONDON, Aug. 1.-The Gazette an
nounces to-day that William Waldorf Aston
was naturalized British subject July IL
Of the present year.
The news that the last link connecting the
author-pu publisher diplomat Of the great fam
lily of money-makers with the land of his
birth has been severed causes no surprise.
william Waldorf Astor has been living in
England for several years. but continues to
live of the millions he has invested in
american property. 1t was stated some time
ago that Mr.. Astor had expressed himself
to the effect that this country is not a fit
place for a gentleman. All New York So
ciety knows of the family feud. beginning
with the enlargement of the ]. Coleman
Draytons and the comfort extended to the
husband by the Pauls of Philadelphia, Of
whom Mrs. William Waldorf Astor was one
And gossips of two continents have told and
retold the story Of how. when Mr.. Astor
brought to New York the body Of his wife to
lay 1t in Trinity Churchyard, Mrs. William
Astor. his aunt, and her connections not
only ignored his presence, but plunged into
series of splendid festivities to let the
world know that they ignored him William
Waldorf Astor has been In New York only
once since. One by one he has severed the
ties that bind him to this country. And now
comes the news that the stars and stripes no
longer mean anything to him.
John Jacob Aston, the first, expatriated
himself. 1t Is l15 years since he left Heidel-
berg and came here to decker with the In
dams for furs. He was born at Waldorf,
which is near Heidelberg, and that name
lives in New York to-day in the great hotel
at Thirty-third street and Fifth avenue.
John Jacob Aston, the first, became a citi
zen. and was so devoted to the interests of
his adopted country that, while the war Of
1872 was raging, he made lot of money
specializing in government securities.
So William Waldorf .Astor has the ex-
ample of his great ancestor in adopting a
country 1t Is true that he never speculated
In government securities in times of war, or
bond deals, but he served his country as
diplomat. He was minister to Italy in 1882
1885. and while the stars and stripes were
floating above his head wrote his book,
Valentino" QSS5), and planned for "Sforza'
usss.)
Mr.. Astor is only fifty years old. So 1t is
no wonder that gossips have planned all
sorts of brilliant marriages for him. If he
does marry, which seems unlikely. his Eng
lish brothers may set 1t down that his choice
will be something other than the conven-
tional butterfly of London's highest social
swim The English naturalization law re-
quires a residence of five years. Mr.. Astor
has been il London longer than the required
time.
In the city OF New York William Waldorf
Aston and John Jacob Astor own approx
Mately AS acres of real estate, of the value
of $l0O,000,000 from which they derive an
estimated revenue of s6,OOOOOO a year. Up to
the time Of the split in the Aston family
they used to make their investments to-
gether. The annexed district east of the
Bronx marks the new era in the traditions
Of the house of Astor. When that part of
the country was taken within the city limits
William Waldorf Aston was buying English
real estate and had no use for his cousin
or for further New York investments. As
1t is. the value of the Astor real estate in
New York city is pretty evenly divided be-
tween the two rival heads of the house, John
Jacob having rather the better of it.