East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-09-19

Mrs. William Astor, the Oldest liv-
ing member OF the Astor family, who
has just retired as supreme head Of
that exclusive set known as the New
York -Four Hundred" gives to the
October issue of the Delneator her
first interview on public affairs-in
fact, 1t Is her first public utterance.
When the question of selecting the
New York Social Register became a
matter of necessity, the Astor family
was found to be the oldest in New
York, and so 1t was given precedence
and its Oldest member was naturally
the social leader. BY virtue of this
position she was simply Mrs. Astor,
It never being necessary for her to
use or sign any other name. Indeed,
Il would have been a breach of one
of the old rules of social etiquette.
Mrs. Astor was Caroline Webster
Schermerhorn when, in 1855, she
married William Astor, a grandson
of the first John Jacob Astor Mrs.
Astor writes:
New York will not be able to get along
very well without me-" said Mrs. As
tor. MANY women will rise up toI
take my place. But | hope my influ-
ence will be felt in one thing. and
that is I'm discountenacing the undig-
nified methods employed by certain
New York women to attract a follow
ing. They have given entertainments
that belonged under a circus tent
rather than In a gentlewoman's home.
that no lady ever seeks. but rather
shrinks from. Women of this stamp
are few in New York. but, alas, they
are so appallingly active. They have
done untold harm to the good name
OF American society in the minds Of
foreigners. When n distinguished
man arrives from the other side, he
is seized upon relentlessly, although
possibly total stranger to his host !
ess, and plunged into a mad whirl of
extraordinary festivities. He enters
upon them with much the same spir-
II that we would have as spectators
of an Indian war dance. And thus
he forms his opinion Of all OF us. I
have never entertained a foreigner in
my life unless he came to me with
letter OF Introduction.
"The best women in New York So
ciety, those Of the greatest influence
and those who give It its true tone. |
are almost unknown outside of their
own circle Society newspaper no.
toriety Is interesting to them as II is |
to me. as a study very amusing one.
too. sometimes as one gains so much |
information about certain women sup |
posed to belong to us, but whom we
never see and do not know even by
sight.
'T believe in a republic and | be-
lieve in n republic in which money
has n great deal to say, as in ours.
Money represents with us energy and
character: It is acquired by brains and
untiring effort it is kept intact only
by the same means, It were well II
Europe were imbued with the Ameri-
can ideas of money power do not
say ldeals-that is another thing. But
American ideas about developing the
natural resources of the country and
their common sense notions about
work would bring about great things
in Europe Best of all, there Is the
American idea demonstrated about
us every day, that each man can bring
happiness and comfort to himself and
to those he loves If he will only set
about 1t, and that education, books,
pictures, travel are all within his
reach.
81 can speak with authority about
our young people. / have always
kept in close touch with them. They
are of a new age and often have ideas
different from my own old, conser-