The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-01
SOCIETY QUEEN
FOR FIFTY YEARS
Wonderful Reign of Mrs.
AStor in New York.
WOMAN OF BIG HEART
Was Shown How Leader
Must Conduct Herself
WOMAN OF BIG HEART

Mrs Astor has now ruled as queen OF
New York society for half a century. The
reasons for her remarkable social power
are discussed by the New York Mail and
Express as follows:
What is the one dominating quality
that one must possess in order to be-
come a social leader, and a leader of
q society that has as many elements in
1t as there are changes in the wind, that
IS good, bad and Indifferent, but still is
representative of what is best in position,
culture and wealth in a great city like
New York? The answer TO the question
sounds something like those in the cate
chisns of ones youth, or like a Sunday
school book, for really it is nothing more
or less than love for ones neighbor.
When a woman like Mrs. Aston is able
70 hold together and be recognized as
the head Of society that has no peer
and for more years than even she would
care TO count she must have attributes
beyong mere social ones to enable her to
do so. Tact, charm, grace of manner,
ambition, intelligence, all have their place
and all are strong factors in a race for
social supremacy. but not one Of them
or all combined will make it possible for
any woman 10 WELD social scepter for
fifty odd years, and to do so without let
or hindrance.
Mrs. Astor is a believer in people in
dividually, collectively and without re-
gard to views and opinions of others.
She has more friends, and real friends,
10 whom she is still Caroline Schermer-
horn, than she can number Many Of
them she seldom sees, others are constant
visitors at her house. but all regard her
in the same way, as a loyal, devoted
friend. who always has welcome and
graceful. kindly word. She has proved
beyond a doubt that the four hundred
of Ward McAllisters time no longer ex-
lists, but instead society numbers five hun
dred. for to that many more invitations
to her ball on Monday night We're sent
To be hidden 10 her house means the
establishment of a social position of
which this can be said and she is the
one woman who can bring the different
elements. and frequently warning ones.
together tremendously.
Mrs. Astor's claim to social leadership
no one questions. 1t has a firm a founda-
ton as the biblical house on a rock. 1t
Is Independent of her great wealth, for
there are many others who can count
their millions with the Astors.
She was born in her position, but there
are many women in New York society
who had equal advantages of birth and
early education. Her age might be against
her. for of necessity a eat-grandmoth-
er can no longer be young. She has not
passed through life without her share Of
trials. and some of them have been such
that woman less strong and without
her belief in humanity would have been
crushed At no time in her life. however.
has she been more the queen of society
and the woman of the world than upon
these very occasions. Her position once
taken. she has held it against and in spite
of all.
It is in her own house. at the head Of
her table or in receiving her guests, that
Mrs Astor is seen at her best. She is
such a femme du mond and has such
social charm that she makes her presence
felt in any gathering, but in her own
home she is absolute queen of society.
Tall. slight. with the grace and carriage
of a young girl she bears the seventy and
more years wonderfully. Her hair is
dark, and has scarcely a suspicion OF
gray and her dark eyes are as express
sive as a girls.
She has a ready wit. keen sense OF
humor, is up-to-date on all the topics
of the day. and can quite readily enter
tain the youngest member of the opposite
sex as can one Of this years debutantes.
She is devoted to the opera and her box
AT the Metropolitan is seldom vacant on
the night Of any performance. The the
atre she does not care so much for. but
out-of-door sports afford her great plea
sure and she can tell you the winners
of half of the polo. golf and football
matches for the last season. In fact, II
IS said. that one reason Mrs. Aston had
for favoring the suit of young Robbie
Collier before his marriage TO her grand
daughter. Sarah Van Allen, was the plea
sure she took in seeing him play polo,
and that one of the arguments she