Evening journal., 1915-03-27

My Dear Duchess:
fully intended writing TO
you upon the day of my arrival,
but | have had hardly a min
ute. This place. New York, is
quite a wonderful city. To see
everything is like trying to
watch a three-ring circus. Such
activity ! never saw or believed
could be. | must tell you that
since my arrival / have met
many charming persons, for
these Americans are really de-
lightful and are always doing
such marvellous things.
First. ] will tell you about
musicale | attended in the home
of Mrs. John Jacob Astor. who
is just casting aside her weeds
since the tragic death of her
husband in the Titanic disaster.
While not so stately and patri-
clan as the first wife, Mrs. John
Jacob Astor, whom we know,
she is young and attractive.
with. apparently, qualities for
social success, although | am
told she was born quite out OF
the Astor set. But these Amer
leans are so possible. 1t was
not a private affair, but given
for some charity in which Mrs.
AstOr takes an interest. for she
quite goes in for this sort of
thing. It was the first time she
had been hostess and had open
ed this wonderful house since
she became its chatelaine
Mrs. Orme Wilson, a sister of
Mrs. Astor, was there. / un-
derstand she is doing wonders
for her sister-in-law. 1t is
needless to tell you the home is
one of the most palatial and
imposing in Fifth Mil
liOnaires' Row. Much of the
social history of New York is
associated with this gray stone
mansion. You may comprehend
its proportions, when ] tell you,
that Mr.. Astor threw his moth
er's and his own houses to-
gether. Transforming into one,
two homes that had long been
first in social prestige. In one
his mother, the late Mrs. VIII
liam Astor, or Mrs. Astor. as
she preferred to be called, had
reigned as queen of society and
had power to make or mar posi-
tions in her day, while in the
other the hostess had been the
stately and beautiful Ava Will
ing, of Philadelphia, the first
Mrs. John Jacob AstOr and now
his divorced wife. AS ! looked
at the present chatelaine, tall,
slender girl with golden brown
hair and lovely blue eyes, I
wondered of she would be able
TO sustain the dignity and pre-
cedence of such a home But,
as | have said, these Americans
are so possible.
| must not fail to tell you
saw John Jacob Astor. 9Th.
the much-talked-abOut baby.
While not a pretty child. he has
attractive blue eyes and golden,
hair. His rather prominent
nose is the detracting feature.
This he inherits from his father.
was told that he is a fresh-air
baby. and lives the life of the
normal child in a moderately
lowered family. He has always
slept out-of-doors. The balcony
opening from a perfectly ap-
pointed nursery is fitted up as a
sleeping porch. There the fresh
air baby plays and sleeps. Quite
a sensible idea, don't you think a?
was told his father only left
him S3,000,OO0. the bulk of the
estate going to the eldest son,
Vincent Astor. However, it is
said to be so we'll invested that
it will be multiplied to 100000
600 by the time he reaches his
majority. There is some stipu-
lation in the will depriving the
widow of a part of her dover
should she remarry. Queer and
selfish creatures these men. One
cannot comprehend them.
The most amusing thing of all,
have to tell is about a ZOO
logical dinner, which one of my
friends attended. These Amer
leans are so extraordinary,
when it comes to originality.
and / am afraid they some
times sacrifice dignity. The
dinner of which I speak, was
given by a Mrs. George Austin
Morrison, whose name appears