The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-03-14
MRS. AsroR.s succEsgoR
As the Leader in Social New York
 Will She Be Mrs. Cornelius Wander

As the Leader in Social New York
 Will She Be Mrs. Cornelius Wander
 bilt?
 This winter for the first time in a decade or so Mrs. Astor failed to give a ball, and for this reason; since her return from Europe last autumn Mrs. Astor's health, say those closest to her, has not been equal to the task of playing hostess to 800 or more guests. In fact she mas retired in way form New York society. Hence one of the interesting topics has been; who will take Mrs. Astor's place? Mrs. Astor's Administration has been in some re- spects unique. For instance: Mrs. Astor is too cosmopolitan was comment frequently heard, and it was often held against her that persons of no particular social prestige, whom she met for the first time when cross ing the ocean on an annual trip, got cordial invitations to visit her.
 Mrs. Astor," says a close friend, lis the most consistently unassuming woman of my acquaintance. She is absolutely incapable of snubbing friend who because of financial re- verses or for any other reason has been obliged to drop out of the social swim. There is no woman in society more ready to extend a friendly hand to aspirants for social recognition. It may be true, as some have objected, that all sorts of queer people and es pecially queer foreigners have had their knees under Mrs. Astor's mahog- any, but 1t is equally certain that no other woman in America has enter tained in her home so many of the worlds great personages. AnotIler thing: I don't believe an one living can point to a single instance where for the sake of being though original or of making herself popular Mrs. As tor condescended to the undignified or the questionable in taste when giving an entertainment, or on any other occasion"
 This then, is the woman who has laid down the social sceptre and whose successor Is yet to be named. Can a leader be picked? It is surprising how small the list of eligibles to the post of society leader is. It includes, in the opinion of the coterie only Mrs John Jacob Astor, Mrs. ogden Mills, Mrs. Edmund Baylies, Mrs. Charles B. Alexander Mrs. StuyvesaHt Fish and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt the younger Strange to say, Mrs. Orme Wilson, Mrs Astors daughter. is not even mem tioned.
 Logically, ali agree, Mrs. John Jacob Astor is her mother-in-law's success sor, but they fear a marked conserva- cession, even agreeing that she her. | self wanted the leadership which she does not, they say. Tn the lan- guage of one of the group: The main difference between Mrs. Astor and Mrs John Jacob Astor is this; the former ientertains to give her friends pleasure, the latter merely to pay off social oblt- cations and please herself She lacks keen desire to entertain and lacks initiative. Mrs. John Jacob Astor is beautiful. accomplished, charming. Nevertheless certain aloofness of disposition will prevent her from ever being popular with any but her own particular set
 It is on Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt that the majority of the coterie settle as the woman most nearly approxi- mating the ideal of what leader should be. Young though she Is, Mrs. Vanderbilt's fame as a hostess is sec ond to none in New York. She is not handicapped with a disposition which says Stand at a distance" to every one lacking blue blood in her veins. Under trying circumstances she has held her own gracefully and with dig nity. Beauty. large wealth. a talent
 for entertaining, still more marked a talent for wearing becoming gowns are all hers.
 In another decade or less it Is not improbable that Mrs, Cornelius Van derbilt, Jr. will be New York's society Ieader.-New York Sun.