Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-20
Away from the Second All They
Had Hoped to Gain by Marriage

HERHAPS the most extraordinary par
allel that has ever occurred in the
social history of New York is found
in the deaths of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt
and Colonel John Jacob Aston
Each man belonged TO n small group of
the worlds richest men Each persisted in
a surprising. shocking ana colossal ocean
tragedy Each left divorced wife with
an only son. Each left a recently welded
widow who had secured her position as
head OF great multi-millonaire's house
hold after some rather surprising social
adventures.
And here comes the most surprising
parallel of all. In each case the divorced
wife, who had been thrown into more or
less obscurity by the divorce regained her
original position through the tragic death
OF her former husband and became once
more practically the head of one of the
worlds colossal fortunes.
There are evidently some striking moral
lessons to be drawn from these events
which it would not be polite to define TOO
closely.
The divorced wife who gains so much by
Alfred Vanderbilt S death is known MS Mrs
FrenchVanderbilt She was formerly Miss
Elsie French, q member Of a family long
socially prominent in New York and New
port. The widow who passes into obscur-
ity is Mrs Margaret Emerson Vanderbilt,
daughter OF Captain Isaac Emerson, of
Baltimore, and for time the wife of DR..
Smith Holins Mckim
The divorced wife who became great
social figure by Colonel John Jacob Astors
death is Mrs. John Astor, formerly Ava
Willing, of Philadelphia, and celebrated on
two continents as Queenly representative
OF American beauty. The widow who by
the same tragedy passes into relative OBJ
security is Mrs. Madeleine Force Astor. a
very handsome young woman, who before
her marriage 10 the late millionaire was
not prominent social figure in New York
Young Mrs. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt
had been planning an extensive social
campaign in London and New York when
a German submarine sank the Lusitania
on May" 1, plunged her into mourning and
ended all her plans and hopes. Young
Mrs. Madeleine Force Astor similarly was
thinking, three years ago how, after q
brief period OF travel and rest, she would
embark on great campaign for the con
quest of New York society with her hus-
bands millions. But an iceberg, not less
ruthless than the German submarine. came
IN the night and sank the mighty Titanic
on April IA, 1912, during her maiden voy-
age, drowned Colonel Astor and with it
his wife's hopes
BY her former husbands death Mrs
French Vanderbilt was restored 10 the full
enjoyment Of the highest position she
could have had while married to him. AS
divorced wife she was under no obliga.
t!on TO waste time In mourning and TO re.
main in social retirement during that
period. She becomes the dominant per.
sonage in the house OF Vanderbilt of the
younger generation.
In the same way Mrs. Ava Willing Astor
was made by death once more the dominant
figure in the Astor family. Her son, VIII.
ian Vincent Aston was left fully nine
tenths Of the AstOr fortune with the
family country seat His mother. 10
whom he was devoted, became his princi-
pa! guide and mentor. 1t was even re-
marked by an acute social observer that
death gave Mrs Aston back her own son.
for before the tragedy ne had been com
PEELED 10 spend great deal OF his time
with his father
When Alfred Nandcrbit's will was made
known, New York society was surprised 10
fnd TO what extent his son by his frs,
wife had been made the head of the family
Indeed the details are not yet fully known
70 the public. He acted just as John
Jacob Aston did when ne left the bulk Of
his property 70 his son by his neglected
first wife, in spite OF The romance that
filled the few months OF his life before
his death
Alfred Vanderbilt had known and loved
his little son. William H. Vanderbilt who
was boy OF twelve a, the time Of his
estrangcment from his first wife. Doubt
Fcss the imperative promptings OF his con.
Science and fatherly love told him tina, he
had not right to discriminate again,
his own sen because ne had ouarreIlo6
with one woman or fallen in love with
another.
Therefore he left to his oldest son tho
family homestead Oakland Farm, near