The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-04-28
GOTHAM GOSSIP
tHy Francis Phillips, Copyright 1910,
ey the National News Service. n. W


explanation for the frequent public
appearance of the young people in
each others company it is said they
are simply good friends and have no
notion of marrying this time, in
all events Astor is the only son of
Colonel John Jacob Astor and since
the separation of his father from his
mother. the beautiful Ava Willing AS
tor, has been his constant companion.
He is being trained to assume active
charge some day of the $500. 200 600
estate of the AStorS, and although
just out of his teens. is said to show
great aptitude for the work and a
sense of business shrewdness that is
uncommon among young American
millfonaires. Inheriting the Demo-
cratic manners of his father, who at
fects none of the snobbish churlish-
ness of the latter's expatriated BROTH
err, William Waldorf Aston. Of Clieve-
den. young Astor is as accessible to
strangers as any clerk in the offices
OF the estate. Because of his youth,
those who know Colonel Astor well
enough to share in his condolences.
placed little credit in the report of
his Mons engagement and had dis
counted the gossip of society long be-
fore the official Reputation of it be-
came known. The colonel thinks Vim
cent should accumulate more worldly
experience before he takes the step
made without due consideration. Mil
lionaires'' William K Vanderbilt once
said, have little real happiness in
this world. despite the common inn
preston to the contrary and that
little should be conserved as tender
iy and solicitously as a miser con-
serves his treasure" Colonel Astor
does not say that he agrees with this
philosophy or that it has been his eX-
perience. but he does not think it
iudicious to allow his son to preci-
pitate himself into a contract that
he might wish that he had never made
as the years glide by. Miss Hammers
ley's family hold to the same views.
The young woman is one of the rich
est heiressee in the city. She is the
daughter OF the late J. Hooker Ham,
mersley and niece of Louis Hammers
ley. whose widow subsequently, mar
ried the Duke Of Marlborough, faith
er OF the present holder of that title,
who married Consuelo Vanderbilt Her
fortune Is estimated at between $20,-
100000 and $4,000, 900. Having beauty
as we'll as wealth she is regarded as
one OF the prizes worth coyeting in So
ciety-
Society heard with some surprise this
week the statement of Judge Sanford
b. Dole. OF the United States District
Court q Honolulu and former head Of
that Miss Annie Douglas Graham, the
haneee OF Jay Gould, grandson of the
famous railroad builder, is not a royal
Hawaiian princess after all. For sew
era1 months New York has been treat
I'd 10 q number of picturesque stories
concerning the noble origin Of the
young woman who is to be married
shortly TO the brother of Lady Decies
Vivien Gould-) Judge Dole, who has
been visiting in the east on leave
OF absence. n quoted as saying that
the only claim that the. bride be
nence-and It is q collateral rather
than a direct clairn-proceeds from the
fact that a sister OF her grandmother
married q famous Hawaiian chief.
Gotham thinks 1t is a shame that the
romantic interest awakened in the
OF one OF the city's richest and most
prominent families to a real live
princess" should have received such a
jar at this time. Where the story
started originally no one pretends to
say Whoever is responsible for put
ting 1T forward, 1t is apparent it
pleased the Gould family, which has
not taken the trouble to disavow the
claim In their behalf it is said that
they had nothing to do with the per-
petration OF the joke on society and
they saw no reason why they should |
l..
Before sailing for England this week |
MrH. Maldwin Drumnond, former |
widow of the late Marshall Fields. Jr, |
of Chicago. set at rest the vagrant |
rurnors that have been floating about |
town to the effect that she and her |
present husband were having trouble |
Tho report of domestic discord was
given an element OF confirmation, the |
gossip nongers figured by the return |
of Captain Drummond to England |
alone some weeks ago.
ct am one Of the happiest if not
the happiest woman in the worldi' |
said Mrs. Dfsfmmond as she stepped |
aboard the ship. and she looked as if |
she might be. Mr. Drummond sailed |
ahead of me simply that he might |
join mis- sons at Elton over Easter |
We are Of one accord on all subjects
and have had no occasion to quarrel |
hope we never shall"
Although horde of detectives pub
lie and private, have been searching |
the country for some clew of the |
thieves who raided her jewel box on |
the steamer en- route to this country |
six weeks ago, and got away with ST.
o00. 600 worth OF precious stones, no |
trace OF them has been found as yet.
Eventually. Mrs. Drummond said she
expected that the stolen gems would |
be restored to her.
John Hays Hammond, Special Am
tassador of the United States to the
Coronation of King George expects
TO leave this city next week for Lon
dom While abroad the noted mining
engineer intends to undertake what
ne considers one of the most inter-
esting and important exploits in his
long and eventful career-the reclaim
alton OF the famous desert of Kara
Kun. In Russian Turkestan.
Mr. Hammond has already gone in
to the gigantic scheme with the Car
of Russia, who has given it his hear
ty approval. The Russian depart
1nent OF Agriculture also has approx
ed It and as Mr.. Hammond is we'll
supplied with American capitalize
sides standing ready to invest plenty
OF his own money-his unprecedented
irrigation idea will soon be put to a
test
In effect. the plan is to construct
irrigation works in the southeastern
part of the desert of Kara Kun in
the Transcaspian territory Owing to
lack of water this territory has never
been colonized and is now only slight
~ known from the researches of a
party sent out by Moscow merchants
in 1908 With permission from the
Russian government, Mr. Hammond
Intends Transforming the desert into
Bood pasturage and farming lands and
then colonizing It. If the plan sue
eeeds. il will mean a valuable addi-
ton of fertile lands to Russian Turk
estan and millions of dollars for the
a u1erican capitalists Interested in it.