Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1913-07-04

VI n e TIT &c, that Tragedy
brought changes in the lives of
the two Mrs. Astors wonderful as the
transformations effected by an Arab
ian Nights magician, says the Wash
lngton Post.
Mrs Aston No 1 Java Willing) vol
unfairly accepted social obscurity
when she divorced Colonel Astor
three years ago. The tragedy gave
her back everything she had lost ex-
cept the husband whom she did not
want. 1t gave her, too, much of value
besides.
Mrs. Astor No 2 (Madeline Force)
stepped into the full glow of fortunes
sunshine when she married Colonel
Astor two years ago. after protracted
efforts to find a minister. The trag-
edy thrust her back into the social
Jbscurity she had enjoyed before the
wedding, with doubtless a certain add
ed asperity among those who strongly
championed Mrs. Aston No. l.
Strangest of all, Mrs. Aston No.
became once more through death the
mother of her own son. While his
father lived he was mostly in his
society, and to that extent separated
from his mother. Now he lives with
his mother entirely, to whom he is
naturally devoted.
Mrs. Astor No 2 is leading her re-
tired life in her lonely Fifth avenue
palace. 1t is the one conspicuous AS
tor possession she retains, but the Sc
yerely restricted income she enjoys
is scarcely proportional to it. She
has a son named John Jacob Astor,
horn after the Titanic disaster He
vas a child Of tragedy in many senses.
Obviously he will miss the many bene-
fits that would have come to him as
the dear little Benjamin of the family
had his father lived GOssips even
profess to see an i'll omen in the fact
that an automobile ran wild and
leaped on the sidewalk of his moth
ers house on the day of his birth.
Fear Society's Animosity.
They predict that he will suffer
from the attitude of the very powerful
families such as the Vanderbilts, who
have always championed Mrs. Aston
No. l, but that is probably attributing
too much maievolence to social lead
ers. Then, too, the brave young moth
er. Mrs. Aston No. 2, has been greatly
troubled by the fear that All attempt
might be made to kidnap her young
son.
Death gave back to Mrs. Astor No.
l the virtual control Of one of the
greatest fortunes In the world. 1t
took that control from Mrs Astor
No. 2
AS the beloved mother of Vincent
Aston the richest unmarried young
man in America, Mrs. Astor No. l
became the director of his palaces,
his possessions, and his expenditures.
She regained possession of the great
Aston yacht, the Mona; of the splen-
did Astor jewels, of the great Aston
Hudson river estate Ferncliffe; of the
charming old Newport Astor villa,
Beechwood; of the motor cars, horses,
carriages, plate, and other treasures
Of the family.
BY the same tragedy Mrs. Astor
No. lost all these things.
Becomes Head of Family.
Most strangely, too, Mrs. Astor No.
l regained by death her title as the
woman head of the family. After the
Titanic tragedy it was announced that
she would be called Mrs. John Astor"
and not Mrs. Ava Willing Aston"
On the other hand, Mrs. Aston No.
ls always spoken of as Mrs Madeline
Force Astor" and not as Mrs. John
Jacob Aston
Mrs. Aston No. l became by death
most decorously a widow, whereas be-
fore that she had only been divorced
woman. Practically everybody in so
ciety now refers to her as the widow
Of Colonel Aston, and avoids giving
that title to Mrs. Astor No 2.
In London, where Mrs. Astor No. l
has kept fine house, she enjoys the
friendship of the king and queen. the
duchess OF Marlborough, and all the
greatest social magnates of the United
Kingdom They always speak of her
as Colonel Astor's widow, and over
look the second widow. The British
are very expert at overlooking little
things like that
In short, Mrs. Astor No. /, the beau
tiful. stately, high-bred matron, has
triumphed beyond the dreams of ro-
nance.
Mrs. Astor No. 2, the beautiful long
limbed young Hebe, remains in tragic
obscurity, q pathetic yet a dignif1ed
figure
Society is about to witness a new
demonstration of Mrs. John Astor's
triumph.
Will Now Rule at seeehwood.
The next scene of her life will be
laid In Newport, where for the first
time in her life she will rule at
Beechwood rs mistress. In the early
years of her marriage she spent every
summer there. but always as daugh-
ter-in-law, never as head OF the house.
After the death of Mrs. Aston. senior.
when she might have reigned there,
she refused and shortly afterward she