The Minneapolis journal., 1906-11-18
KING COURTS AS TOR;
CURIOSITY IS P|QUED.
Edward Wants to See Hever Cas-
tie Other Exclusive Cos
sip from London.
Correspondence Of The journal.

Correspondence Of The Journal.
London, Nov. Sin the earlier years
OF his residence in England, William
Waldorf Astor was often accused Of
toadying to royalty in the hope that
It might help him to obtain a peerage
may have been for that opinion, it is
certain that in recent years he has
done nothing to Justify it. Since that
memorable occasion in 1900 when he
affronted Sir Berkeley Milne by order
ing him. to withdraw. from one of his
entertainments, and thereby offended
the king, then prince Of Wales, who was
warm friend. Of Sir Berkeley's, he
has been at no pains to cultivate roy
atty. Rather have minor royalties
shown a decided disposition to. culti-
Yate him. Now it would appear that
the king himself is seeking a rap
prochement with the expatriated Amer
lean multimillionaire. g..
When the duke and duchess of Con-
naught and their daughter, Princess
Ell visited young Astor and his wife
at Cliveden the other day, they brought
with them message from the king to
the effect that his majesty wished to
be- invited to Hever castle, the ancient
moat-surrounded fortress in Kent, on
which MI. Astor; has spent a vast sum
or money to make Of it magnificent
medieval, retreat for himself. Il -" "
e., I King Is Curious. :! a"
The secrecy with which. the work has
been carried on, and the many stories
current of the wondrous transforma-
ton which Mr.. 5Astor has wrought in
and about. the old feudal Die have.
perhaps, piqued the king 8 curiosity.
Stronger than that, probably, is his
majesty IS desire to be on good terms
with one of the richest-if not actu-
ally the richest-of his subjects. The
king, 1t Is known, has great weak
him money counts for more than blood.
80 far it has not transpired whether
the limitation has been issued, but,
tho William Waldorf Astor seems to
have little of the model courtier in
his composition, he can hardly fail to
accede to a request which, as such
things are regarded in England, amounts
to a command. Whether it is due to
don't know, but nobody who met Mr..
Astor for the first time would take him
for an American. He is cold, stiff and
formal. Yet those few who know him
well call him ga right good sort,' and
put down all his peculiarities to ex-
treme shyness and nervousness that
IS almost overpowering.
One night last season after one of
his famous concerts at Carlton House
Terrace, he took the duchess Of Ar
gyll, the king $ sister, in to supper. A
champagne which was more than half
full on the table near the host, who,
taking 1t up, poured the contents right
over the princess plate instead Of
into her glass: The royal lady laughed
good naturedly and said, "You must
be In love, Mr.. Astor.''
Marlboroughs to Make Peace7
Notwithstanding all rumors to the
contrary. I venture to predict that
there will be no permanent separation
agreement between the Marlboroughs.
The latest development is the appear
ance of the king as mediator. He
has written the duke to come and talk
the matter over with him. His males.
ty has settled plenty Of matrimonial
differences before now. He is an adept
at it. +.
They will, Of course, live apart for
will come together again. Tho head.
strong and self-willed, the American i
duchess is no fool, and realizes that
woman. who is separated from her hus-
band in England has no position.
Everyone fights shy Of her, without re-
gard to the justice or injustice Of
their attitude.
Some. Of the dukes friends, includ-
ing his brilliant cousin, Winston
Churchill, consider that she has shown
a lamentable lack Of that wifely sub
mission which English husbands ex-
pect from the part tners Of their Joys
and sorrows. For instance, when her
mother came oyer here to marry her
present husband, Marlborough forbade
her to 20 to the ceremony on the
ground that he did not approve of the
marriage Of divorced persons. But she
defed him and went. This resulted in
their first serious quarrel. Ever since
there have been, off and on, bitter bick-
erings. -.
On the other hand, her friends will
tell you the quarrel is all his fault. He