Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-20
DEATH ENDS CAREER
Of WSC0UNT ASTOR
IN ENGLISH TOWN
Body Will Be Cremated and
Placed in Private
Chapel.
LEFT AMERICA IN 1890
TO RESIDE IN BRITAIN
claimed That United States Was
Unfit for Gentlemen to
Live In
MP ULSIVE TEMPERAMENT
Generous Financial Contributions TO
War Projects Caused King to
Grant Him Title.
ULsIvE TEMPERAMENT
Generous Financial Contributions to
War Projects Caused King to
Grant Him Title.
rBy Universal servtcol

rBy Universal service.l
LONDON. Oct. ls.--Viscount William
waldorf Astor died of heart disease
saturday al Brighton after years i'll
less He was scvcnty-onc years old.
he body will be conveyed TO the resi-
ence OF his son. Hon. Waldorf Astor.
at No. S. James square. II
~ be crematcd and placed in the
amily's private chapel at Cliveden.
Elscount Asior's death came with
namatic suddenness yesterday. but ii
m Friday the aged former American
had been unusually cheerful and
tright better Indeed than he had been
or several weeks. He was alone with
he household stan. no members OF his
amily being near
Dies "A Pniniess Death.
Viseount Astor retired carly Friday
fvening. and died a painless death
horuy after O'Clock Saturday morn
ng. During the past week he has
been happily planning trip to South
IN France, where he intended TO spend
he winter: He had proposed 10 leave
He had been a!ling for a, least
ear. but members OF the family said
on!Ght they had noticed in the last
ew days how unusually we'll he ap-
beared.
Major Waldorf Astor. his son. who
ucceeds him as riscoun,.. was on his
kiven 70 him by his father a few years
Ego. He hurried TO Brighton with his
lister, Mrs. =. II. Spender-Clay. who
vas Pauline Astor.
John Jacob Astor. the second son,
vas staying at Hevcr Castle, which
is father had presented TO him only
few weeks ago.
nd democratic. lie Is prominent in
English politics. and an intimate friend
nd great admirer Of premier Lloyd
8,y sending him on many secret mis-
- ions to the continent.
Since he left America in 1890 TO take
p his residence in England declaring
hat America lis no, III country for
gentleman to live in" William Wal
orr Astor has been almost continually
The impulsive temperament which
aused his self3expairiation kept him I'm
hot water in his I'd adop,ed Ie Gonnmtry an,m ter
Inc outbreak OF the war that ne
damaged 10 overcome the opposition
o his ambition to achieve peerage
lie was made baron by King George
1916 and viscount in !slI IN reeog-
ition OF his generous financial contFi-
buttons to war projects.
Dispute Caused Him 60 Leave.
Astor abandoned his residence In
,other' 9th who insisted that the younger
l| n g the title Mrs. Aston without the
3iven name preh1ed. The newspapers
oqk he dispute bs and ii Il
he activity OF reporters, seeking inter
Jews with him. led to Astor's decision
shake the dust OF America from his
In 1893 he became the owner OF the
agazlne. Shortly .afterward he in
tailed the son Of ana am earl All as the
duke as editor Of Of the latter. In a
iakins nHst -' fun OF Of his social ambitions
,ere He'G: lavish and We're aIways we'll at
ended. but his social progress was.
evertheless. slower. than he had ex-
rents. Astor. roaming through the
ooms of his paiatial residence; met a
an aanser ne de II he n0f had been nvsed The
ad Rim Elected: He found out ,iatsr
ierkeiey Milne. Intimate friends Of the
Prince OF Wales. and that ne had been
rought 70 The en,ertsinment ,.ntalnrae r,oyy by
ociety to Astor for many years.
Create Ghost Story.
Agtor was greatly annoyed after his
uisaion aLeaoa' Of q H Story s 70 the effect tha!
Ihe ghost Of Anne Boleyn had declined
% haunt the castle after it came into
enditures in his campaign for the
eerage AMOUNTED TO not less than
9. O00 900 Double taxes were a heavy
rain on the Astor estate. In England
e was called upon to pay war tax
f per cent on an estate OF $40. 1000. 900.
si.600.0O0.
In New York he was called upon to
ay similaS sSo oa6 amonnt oGn this being
cured that Astor was paying alto
ether 10 per cent OF taxes in 1917.
The Waldorf Astor estate in New
FORK was divided in 1917 between his
nd Captain Hon, John Astor; The
Enickerbocker. Astor and New Neither
knds Hotels. several blocks OF apart
hent houses. tenements. Office buildings
tas estimated at $4,000, 600.
Lived in Seclusion.
Astor had been living in seclusion
t Brighton. England. for some months
last. He had two residences in Hng-
hnd-Hever Castle and Clivedcn-and
mother at Sorrento. Italy.
William Waldorf AStor was born in
lew York May 81, 184S. He was q |
randson OF the original John Jacob
oitIcs and served 1s7a IN the, the Ney York
Fas United States minister to italy
rom 1852 until 1885. He achieved
ome distinction as an author, and pub
shed several books. among them be-
,g valentine" story Of Rome and
ISforEa," n historical romance of Italy
the sixteenth century.