Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-09-09
By Her Marriage She Will Become
the Head of the Four Hundred
and Social Arbiter of the
Elect--May Not Choose
to Exercise Preroga-
tive.


rzaz1e-a y -zfsr1 1t is this:
viii the new Mrs. John Jacob AS
tor aspire to rule society?"
For some years the name Astor has
been a foremost one in select social
circles and the feminine head of the
reigning family has generally held
sway among the members of the four
hundred.
John Jacob Aston is the head and
control of all the vast Aston interests
and millions in this country. His
mother was for years the undisputed
queen of an American social despot-
ism and persons were barred or rec
ognized by the very nod of her head.
The last Mrs. John Jacob ,Astor,
who was Miss Ava Willing of Phila-
-delphia, before her marriage, had sue
ceeded to this enviable and autocratic
position when she found it necessary
to divorce Colonel Aston. Her reign
ended there abruptly and since that
time the four hundred has been with
out a recognized leader. Mrs. John
R Drexel and Mrs. Ogden Mills have
been engaged in a struggle for SUI
premacy in this regard, but neither
has SO far been able to show any
gain over the other.
With the announcement that John
Jacob Aston, despite his age of forty
eight years and that he has two
grown children, is to make a slip of a
girl his wife, society is all agog as to
the wishes and intentions of Miss
Madeline Talmage Force, who is soon
to become the bride of the multimil-
nonaire.
IN Afnh
From the obscurity of not even the
most exclusive society of Brooklyn to
the rulership of the four hundred is a
far cry, but it looks as if this is what
Madeline Force is going to do. AS
the wife of Colonel Aston she will oc-
cupy the very foremost rank of Sc
lect society and as to her designs
upon the leadership, that is matter
that rests solely with herself. She
could have it If she was so inclined
and it is dollars to doughnuts that
she will welcome the opportunity to
establish this highest point in a So
| cial ambition.
To have Newport hang and wait up
on her every mood and within; to have
the Golden Horseshoe" at the Metro
politan opera house CULVER with ex-
element and stand or bow as she
struts to her center box; to have all
the grande danes of Fifth and Mad
ison avenues watch the lists of her
guests as a guide or Who's Who" in
proper exclusive circles will all be
sweet to the ears of this little miss
who not so long ago had to remain
content with the glories that come
with Brooklyn Sunday school picnics
Any doubt as to the four hundred
receiving this young woman can be
quickly dispelled. The power of the
Aston name and fortune Is sufficient
to carry almost any one on to social
| victory. Those who know the little
Force girl say she will be able to
make a conquest or two on her OWL
| account. She is described as being
wholesome. fun-loving girl who was
immensely popular at school and with
the degree of society that she has
| been privileged to mingle in DURING
her brief social career. Her friends
| are confident she will be q success
from the very start. They at least
are of the opinion that she will de
seend upon the Four Hundred with
all the confidence of one who has
known its rules and whims for years
society" Somewhat Shocked.
| The announcement that Jack" AS
| tor was to marry an eighteen-year-olc
| girl came as a great shock to ths
Four Hundred which in the main i.
assembled at the present season IL
| Newport. At first there was a Sigh
show of disapproval, but this wa.
| quickly displaced by desire to Sc.
and meet this girl that swept from
one end of Newport to the other Hk,
| a contagion.
The interest that had been stirred
| up over the rivalry between Mrs
| Drexel and Mrs Mills was lost sigh
| of in a twinkling and no other sub
5ect could drown out the hum on cot
tage verandas, at dinner tables ans
at the Casino. and thus hum had I.
! 40 only with the winning of Jack
| Aston by girl
Therefore. instead OF going to New
port an unknown quantity and as