The Florida star., 1908-11-13


been the envy Of rich women through
oui the world. The collection Includes
a marvellous necklace Of emeralds and
diamonds. q tan collar thickly studded
with the gems. OF immense size. and
emerald ornaments for the head
The fun record OF splendid entertain
fnents IN which Mrs. Astor has figured
as hostess would far exceed the limits
OF newspaper space. But these enter
tainments have not been conspicuous
for their expensiveness In point Of
floral decorations they have even been
simple In comparison with the lavish
displays made by other women In 30
ciety.
There were several wealthier women
In this most exclusive set over which
Mrs. Astor ruled with absolute au-
thority. Her income from her hus-
bands estate was $4,000. This sum.
together with the income on $4,000
settled upon her by Mrs. Astor at the
time Of their marriage and a very
small estate Of her own, constituted
her entire fortune.
In the winter Of 1928 Mrs. W. K
Vanderbilt was planning her famous
costume bah. suggested by her guest.
Lady Vaudeville. There was great
speculation as to whether Mrs. Astor
would put the seal of her approval on
this function by attending. Mrs. VAN
derbilt early announced that she would
not invite Mrs. Astor unless the latter
called on her. Sides were taken. much
bitter feeling was stirred up and the
episode fast developed into a sensa-
ton, when Mrs. AstOr, with her usual
kindly tact. solved the question by call
ing on Mrs. Vanderbilt. ThereupOn
the Invitation was sent. II was said at
the time that Mrs. Astor was induced
to call by her younger daughter Miss
Caroline Astor now Mrs. Orme VIII
son, who was very desirous Of going
herself
In her everyday life Mrs. Astor was
simple. 1t has been conspicuously SO
during the last four years. Her home
= adjoined that Of her daughter-in-law.
Mrs. John Jacob Astor. but in manage
ment the two were entirely distinct.
When not going out or formally re-
ceiving Mrs. Astor invariably dined
alone with her companion, Miss Sim
rock. For many years Miss Simrock,
a little woman Of English birth. has
been Mrs. Astor's faithful attendant
Together ON of social nights they have
dined. either In the New York house or
the Newport mansion. on simple fare
served on plain, white, inexpensive
china which was kept especially for
these quiet home dinners.
On state occasions Mrs. Astor ban
quoted her guests from the famous
china service of PIP pieces which cost
$4,000. IL was made In the noted
Meissen factory at Dresden and bears
the star scattered crest OF the Astors.
The story is that one OF Europe's
proudest rulers ordered the set and
then baked at the price.
Mrs. AstOr had certain preJudices
which she cherished to the end OF her
days. She had a horror Of being pho
tographed, and the only picture Of her
In existence is the orthodox one paint
ed by Carolus Duran many years ago.
She never attended a wedding In day
time for fear Of being photographed
and never went out In Newport with
out wearing a heavy veil For the
same reason she Stunned the horse
show. She appeared at that function
only once-fve years ago for half an
hour in the afternoon-with a grand
daughter, Miss Helen Roosevelt, now
Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt Robinson
The occasion was that Of the young
woman's first winter In society.
Mrs. Astor kept In touch with the
topics OF the times and was well read
and highly cultured. During the long
years Of her social supremacy she re
tained an uncommon degree Of pOpu
larity, the secret Of which. 1t was fire.
duently remarked, lay In the fact thai
she never spoke Ill OF any person and
did not condescend to gossip Of heI
associates.
Her chief characteristics were a gra
cious kindliness. a rare social discrimi
nation and thorough self restraint
She never lost her temper and pre-
served complete self control even II
the most trying situations. When
scandals were told her she generally
deprecated them. was loath To express
an opinion. and when curious or In
trusive people tried to get her TO range
herself on one side OF another Of some
social question she generally heart
them out without comment and theI
! changed the subject.
Even her enemles--for. like all lead
ars, she had some-admit that she was
sigularly free from adectaticns an(
small prides In the street she wa!
: always heavily veiled in the effort no