Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-31
MRS. VIM. ASTOR DEAD
Ruled New York Society for
Quarter Century.
HER REIGN UNDISPUTED
Established "the 400" and Dictated
Who Was Who in Her World.
UN0STENTATI0US IN HER LIFE
Held Leadership by Dignity OF
Character and Not by Wealth.
Grande Dame She Was.
UNoSTENTAT10Us IN HER LIFE

Astor died last night at her 9Th avenue
home. of the heart trouble that had made
her condition serious for two days.
Death came at 7:3o. The end was en-
tirely peaceful
A. Mrs. Astor's bedside when she died
were her daughter, Mrs Orme Wilson,
Drs austin Flint, jr., James F. Maggie
and j. c. Billings r., and Thomas Hay,
Mrs. Astor's major domo. who has been
in her service since 1876.
Col. and Mrs. John Jacob Astor were
at the house several times during the
day. but were not present when Mrs.
Aston died. Her daughter, Mrs. James
Van Allen. who was summoned from New
porE yesterday. did not arrive In time
for her mothers death. Mrs. Astor's
other daughter Mrs. Ogilvie Haig, Is on
her way to this country from Europe.
At noon yesterday death seemed close.
From then until the end Mrs. Aston was
kept alive by oxygen gas. For woman
of her age-she was about eighty-she
made a most remarkable battle for life
and showed rare vitality In rally after
rally. in response to the oxygen.
While Mrs Aston had been sick woman
for two years. she died yesterday Of an
old heart trouble which REQUIRED four
weeks ago after 1t had not shown itself
for years. OF late years Mrs. Aston had
lived quietly.
Leader Of Society.
Mrs. William Aston was the undis-
puted leader of society In this country
for a 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. Aston came Of old Knickerbocker
stock. Before her marriage to the late
William Aston. second son OF William b.
Aston and grandson of the original John
Jacob Aston she was Caroline Scher-
nerhorn. The name of Schermerhorn
was high upon the honor roll In the
days Of old New York, and the family
homestead was long the proudest his
torical landmark in the city OF Brook
Ign.
Caroline Webster Schermerhorn and
William Astor were married in 1853 The
bridegroom was then twenty-three years
old, but as sedate as man Of fifty In
later years his infrequent appearance in
society. notwithstanding the social pre-
eminence which his wife had achieved.
was a matter of comment.
The first years of Mrs. Astor's welded
life were years of quiet. Even then.
however. the women Of her family
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 per-
sonal charm
Five children were born to Mrs. Will
liam Aston during the first nine years of
her married life-four daughters and one
son. The eldest daughter married J. ].
Van Allen and died years ago, as did an
other of the daughters, Miss Hrlen AS
tor who married James Roosevelt Roose-
welt.
Her Surviving Children.
Mrs. Astors surviving children are: John
Jacob Astor, who married Miss Ava
Willing of Philadelphia In 1891: Miss
Augusta Astor, who married ]. Coleman
Drayton and is now the wife Of Ogilvie
Haig, and Miss Caroline Aston, the young
est who is now Mrs. Orme Wilson.
AS young matron Mrs. Aston lived
at "a Lafayette place, in the heart of
the citys fashionable life at that time.
and practiced the social accomplishments
which later aided in her rise to leader
ship. The best obtainable instructors
took her in hand. She was taught
to sing. to play the piano. to paint on
canvas and china. and to speak French
with the fluency of her native tongue.
It was this thorough mastery of the
French language which won for Mrs
Astor cordial welcome from the most
aristocl attic circles of the Faubourg Saint
Germaine. a welcome never accorded-sQ
socia! historians assert-to any other
American woman.
Mrs. Aston did not achieve social lead
ership abruptly. She won 1t by quiet
unostentatious progress. With consum-
mate skill. as early as 1873. 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 Stevens,
Mrs. Aston. still a comparatively young
woman, established her new social dy-
nasty with unquestioned power. 1t is
said that with the aid of the late Ward
McAllister Mrs. Astor prepared the world
famous list Of societys -Four Hundred"
Her System Of Leadership.
1t was by system that Mrs. Aston MAIN
tanned her leadership. Every year of her
life for nearly half a century she dupli-
Gated almost exactly the details of it's
predecessor. She gave her annual ball
on or about the same date and opened
the Newport season with the same regu-
larity.
She arose at the same hour. year after
year followed the same careful mode
of living, seldom departing In anything
from fixed routine. and always retired
at II pm. While her guests were ban
quoted with great liberality. Mrs. AS
tor breakfasted on toast and tea and
dlned on simple food. 1t is said that she
had not eaten a course dinner in the
last twenty years OF her life.
Mrs. As.or never ranked among the
beautiful women in society, but her
manner was that of the grande dame.
1t has been said of her that this man.
ner did more to win social pre-emi-
hence for her than did all the millions of
her husband. There was nothing of af-
fectation in 1t.
Time wrought no change. The Mrs.
Aston of twenty-four years ago was
the Mrs. Astor Of recent years, digni-
fed and unbending.
She never stood to follow any new
style in personal department. Her slow.
stately way of walking never varied.
She never danced. although her great
ballroom was annually opened in well
come to the social elect.
Mrs. As,or dressed sumptuously and
blazed with jewels. morning. noon and
night. Her street gowns were of broad
cloth and her evening costumes of vel
vet and brocade. Royal purple and deep
of green was reflected in her collect on
Of emeralds. admittedly the finest in this
country and estimated at a million dol
lars.
Mrs Aston has worn her emeralds fire.
quently at the opera and at functions
in her own home. They have been the
envy of rich women throughout the
world. The collection includes a mar
velous necklace of emeralds and dia-
monds. tall collar thickly studded
with the gems. of immense size, and
Ruled Not by Wealth.