Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-03-22
BATTLE FOR SOCIAL LEADER
SHIP.

There seems no dOui Dow that one
of the side issues Of the coming New
port season will be battle roysl be-
tween young Mrs Cornelius Wander
bilt ard young Mrs. John Jacob Astor
for the imperial post on OF social
10. der among the younger set.
The rental of NeTp0It villa last
week by Colonel John jacob Astor hss
been the cause Of great filter from
New York to Palm Beach, iuasmuch
as De never did such a thing before,
aud, too, 10 ssmuch as b. tn the homes
Of his mother, Mrs. William At r,
and OF mis- motber.u.law, Mrs. e.
ward s. Willing, were still open t) him
and Mrs. Astor.
Naturally the Incident hss OCCASION
ed bo END OF comment, and the single
deduct on that bss Deen made 10 tlft
young Mrs. Actor, very much con-
cer0ed, if nj liOg more, It young Mrs.
! Vanderbit's success ss 80 entertainer,
purposes In future TO force her TO st
least divide honors. This could not be
done without summer home OF ber
own in Newport, K l., and hence the
reutiug by Colonel Astor OF the Hodg-
son CO age, which, by the way, is one
of the finest In ell Newport.
All tlis, OF course, has reference to
the future when Mrs. William Actor,
for O long while the acknowledged
leader Of society 10 America, shall re-
tire. Obviously, for the reason OF the
nsme q, 1t must be an Astor or Vsnder-
bile who will succeed to the leadership
and douttess young Mrs. A tIr feels
tlst young Mrs. Vanderbilt, VINO gave
last season some Of tle most lavish
an0 charming entertainer IS that any
Newport season has ever known,
might vita tae aid of such functions
get il t. position from which 1t would
be imposslbls to dislcdge her later on
when the real struggle comes.
So young Mrs. Astor, who heretofore
being without a summer home here,
has been obliged to confne her enter
tainios ID her yacht. will next season
give wit lin the wells of the Hodgson
villa 4 series of dinners, dances aud
luucheons at will astonish her friends,
and will bt tle talk OF socitty for many
a day.
Jult bow the It uggle will end no one
can co.. Jet ire. Both women have
uplim tso means ct their disposal, and
each is the personlhCs ston OF grace and
beauty. OF tle two husbands who
would seem to be concerned, it Is
dout tiul II Colonel AttJr would take .
very active part in the proceedings, az
bis mind rst1er runs along the line OF
mechanics and scientific pursuits.
Ga the other hand young Mr. Var
derbilt, who can never forget the rms
of his fathers will, which made bis
youuger bro tner, Alfred, in a certain
sense the head cf the house, is likely to
Join his wife 10 every effort. Mrs. Van
derbilt will have the aid of the Wilson's
and the Goelets, but probably none the
less will Mrs. Astor.
Mrs. Vanderbilt gave last season
every kind of an enteIt linment imagin'
able, Including the presentation OF an
original play. Next year she can do
nothing lees, and Mrs. Astor must do
as much. Consequently the gayest
summer ever known seems in store for
| Newport and those Of its GUNNER pa
irons who are on the visitiog lists OF the
two young women.
Mrs. Vanderbilt will again occupy
lovely "Bssulieu," the famous William
Waldorf Astor place. Both families
will arrive 10 Newport early in July
soon after the coronation, and the mer-
ry war will probably be declared with
in fortnight.