The Florida star., 1908-11-13
BAITS0FMRS, bSTDB


Tsmpsr-WslI Ilsad and Highly cuI-
tnrod-An Example OF Her Tact.
Maintained Lsadsrship By System.
Mrs william Astor. who recently
aied At her Fifth avenue home IN New
York. was the undIsputed leader Of So
ciety In that city for score of years.
Her reign ceased only with her life.
The record Of her personality and her
achievements forms one OF the most
Interesting chapters In social history.
Mrs. Astor came Of old Knickerbock-
eF stock. Before her marriage to the
late William Astor. second son Of wIl-
liam b. Astor and grandson Of the
original John Jacob AstOr. she was
Caroline Schermerhorn. The name OF
Schermerhorn was high upon the hon.
or roll In the days Of old New York,
and the family homestead was long
the proudest historical landmark In
the city Of Brooklyn.
Caroline Webster Schermerhorn and
William Astor were married In 1853.
The bridegroom was then twenty
three years old. but as sedate as a
man Of nfty. In later years his in-
frequent appearance In society. not
withstanding the social pre-emlnence
which his wife had achieved. was q
matter OF comment.
The first years Of Mrs. Astor's wed
ded life were years Of quiet. Even
then. however, the women Of her fam
fly welded great power In New York
society. The right Of leadership was
conceded TO the wife Of the eldest son,
John Jacob Astor. She was Miss
Gibbs Of South Carolina before her
marriage-famed IN two continents for
her beauty and personal charm.
AS q young matron Mrs. Astor lived
at 81 Lafayette place. in the heart Of
New YoFk'S fashionable life at that
time and practiced the social accom-
. plishments which later aided in her
rise to leadership. The best obtainable
Instructors took her In hand. She was
taught 70 sing. 10 play the piano. to
paint on canvas and china and to speak
French with the nuency Of her native
tongue.
II was this thorough mastery Of the
French language which won for Mrs.
Astor a cordial welcome from the most
qrlstocratlc circles Of the Faubourg
st. German. a welcome never ac-
orded, 10 social historians assert, TO
any other American woman.
Mrs. Astor did not achieve social
leadership abruptly. She won II by
quiet. unostentatious progress. With
cORsummate skill as early as 1875 she
had brought society to a realizing
sense OF her authority. From that
time to the end Of her life the smile
or froWn Of Mrs. William Astor was
the making or the marring Of social
career
With the death OF Mrs. Paran Ste.
Vens. Mrs. AStor, still comparatively
young woman, established her new
social dynasty with unquestioned pow
er. IL is said that, with the aid Of the
late Ward McAllister. Mrs. Astor pre-
pared the world famous list Of socie
ty's -Four Hundred.
IL was by system that Mrs. AstoI
maintained her leadership. Every
year OF her life for nearly half a cen
tury she duplicated almost exactly the
details Of its predecessor She gave
her annual ball on or about the same
date and opened the Newport season
with the same regularity.
She arose at the same hour, year
after year, followed the same careful
mode Of living, seldom departing IN
anything from fixed routine. and al
ways retired at IL p. m. While bel
guests were banqueted with great lib
erality. Mrs. AstOr breakfasted or
toast and tea and dined on simple
food. II is said that she had not eater
a course dinner IN the last twenty
years OF her life.
Mrs. Astor never ranked among the
beautiful women I'm society. but hel
manner was that OF the grande dame
IL has been said OF her that this man
ner did more to win social pre-emi
nence for her than did all the millions
of her husband. There was nothing o.
affectation in It. Time wrought NJ
change. The Mrs. Astor Of twenty
four years ago was the Mrs. AstOr o.
recent years. digni6ed and unbending
She never stood to follow any new
style In personal department. He
slow. stately way Of walking neve
varied. She never danced. although
her great ballroom was annually open
ed In welcome to the social elect.
Mrs. Astor dressed sumptuOusly AM
blaEed with jewels morning. noon AM
night. Her street gowns were oi
broadclOth and her evening costume
OF velvet and brocade. Royal purpl
ana deep green were her favorite col
- To-. 49, 90 rrraan WAS pofacte,