The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-02
COL. ]. ]. AsTOR
IS TO WE'D AGA| \
Father of Miss Force Gives
Out Formal Announce
ment
BRIDE-TO-BE is
GIRL OF EIGHTEEN
No Date Set for Wedding of
Divorced Man but
May be in the
Fall

NEW YORK. Aug. Formal ans
nouncement was made to-day OF the
enlargement of Miss Madeline Tall
mage Force to John Jacob Astor.
whose first wife, formerly Miss Ava
willing, of Philadelphia, obtained a
divorce from him on November D.
1909.
Miss Force met Colonel Astor at
Bar Harbor last summer. She Is IL
years of age. Colonel Astor Is At.
The engagement was announced by
the father of the bride be, William
H. Force, head of the forwarding firm
of W. IL. Force 4 Co, of this city. II
was made in these terms:
There have been many rumors
coupling my daughters name with
that of MIR. Aston. Therefore / in
sisted upon making formal an
nouncement. l called Mr.. Aston on the
telephone to-day, and We discussed
the matter.
For reasons of his own Mr.. Astors
had not desired so early an announces
ment. but he accepted my point OF
view, and il was agreed between us.
that / should make the announce
ment No date has as yet been set
for the marriage. All that will como
later, My daughter is with her moth
er and sister at IS East Thirty seventh
street
Mr.. Force said later at his home4
that the marriage might take places
at Newport early in the fall.
BY the agreement OF the divorces
from his wife. Mr.. Astor is prohibited
from marriage within five years from
the date of the divorce.
The future mistress OF tho Astors
millions is tall and graceful. with a.
mass of brown hair, which she wears
In lustrous curls, brown eyes and
strong classic features. In figure and
carriage she strongly reminds one OF.
Mrs. Ava Willing Aston.
When seen at her fathers home iu5
East Thirty seventh street this after-
noon the young girl had Just received
Il huge box of flowers. The box lay
across a settee in the hall, and Miss
Force fingered the card which had ac~N
! eompanied the gift caressingly.
! Admits Her Engagement.
Yes. it's true that | am engage0
| to marry Mr.. Astor," she said with a.
laugh, In which nervousness and girl
ish excitement struggled for the mas
| terry. Hes in town now. but we have
not set date for the ceremony. It
may be- this fall or 1T may be later4
l can't say"
Mrs. Force, seen later, deprecated
the publicity which the announcements
/ of engagement has thrust upon the
family.
There has been altogether too
much publicity about the affair."" said
Mrs. Force. 1T Is not true that my
daughter and Colonel Astor have been
engaged for several months The en-
gagement dates back only few days.
ago. My daughter and Colonel Aston
met at Bar Harhor last summer for
the first time. That is all I care to
say. Mr.. Force is making the an
nouncement and You viii have to go
to him for further information
Colonel Aston Is Happy.
/ Colonel Aston. although he was re-
/ ported as delighted at the announces
ment. kept in secluslon o-day. Hum
ming a tune and with a flower In his
button hole, he appeared at his Of
fee shortly before noon. He told a
few trusted employees that Cupid had
PLAYED upon him and expressed him-
self as happy as a kid"
| He smilingly received the congrat.
ulations Of the boys" In his Office
and then went TO his uptown house.
Here il was said this evening that he
had left for Newport
Society in Newport was chary oe
discussing the engagement. Vincent
Aston was radiantly happy tonight.
but said he had nothing to say
f Owing to the fact that Colonel AS
tor is forbidden to marry In New
York State. 1t was said tonight that
the marriage would either take place
| in Newport or on board the coloners
steam yacht Nourmahal. somewhere
outside of New York waters.