The sun., 1919-10-20
VIM. WALDORF ASTOR1
US. BORN PEER, DIES


Continued from First Page.
Lord, the Astor attorneys, not with the
Intention OF practising the profession but
to prepare himself to handle his prop
erty interests. He organized a society
which met at the homes OF Its members
and was called the Beefsteak Club. 1t
was made up of young men of his own
age and standing. In this group he was
willie" Astor.
The Beefsteak Club published little
magazine for which young Astor pre-
pared several articles which older men
commended. He was tall. awkward,
near sighted was not a graceful dancer
and was fonder Of the society OF men
than of women. He got into politics In
1877 at the solicitation of Republicans of
the Eleventh Assembly district, and was
elected to the Assembly.
He was the first young man Of wealth
and social position in New York to enter
the political scramble, and the news that
Willie Aston was out for the Assembly
made good deal of a stir. He made
creditable record at Albany. and in 1873
was promoted to the Senate. He had
by this time gained confidence as a
speaker, and a real public career seemed
for the first time to be opening for an
Astor. But although his Assembly dis
Congressional district was Democratic.
Nominated twice for the House Of Rep
resentatives, Aston was defeated by
Philip Henry Dugro by the narrow mar
gin of ia votes, and then by Roswell
p. Flower, afterward Governor.
Both Astor and Flower being million
aires, this contest of 1881 overshadowed
all other political contests of that year.
Political panhandlers pfom all over the
a INIT. Max
district. According to stories OF the
time, Astor flung away double eagles by
the handful, but in the light of modern
campaign figures 1t is interesting to note
that the Democratic newspapers in their
sternest moments estimated Astor's ex-
penditure at not more than $4,000 or
$4,000, while Republican newspapers
frothed over Flower spending $4,000.
Astor said that IL defeated he never
would run for office again. Flower beat
him by 5000, and he kept his word
Married Philadelphia Girl.
Meanwhile, while many ambitious
mothers were hoping that this eligible
young man would find their daughters
specially attractive, Astor went to Phil
adelphia, with the approval of his mother.
and married Miss Mary Dahlgren Paul.
daughter OF James w. Paul. whom he
had met cat a Patriarch's ball in New
York. She was a debutante Of the Cen
tennial year and was the acknowledged
belle of the Quaker City. This was IN
1873. The bride became very popular in
New York. The couple went to live In
East Thirty-third street, In q brown
stone house presented to them by WILL
lam Waldorf Astor's father. At New
port they occupied the old Bareda house.
OF
time in the summer with their three
children. He cared little for the gayeties
of summer life in the cottage colony, but
when II became necessary TO return So
cial courtesies he did so. and with the
help of his wife made the occasions
memorable. He was of the inner circle
and by nature retiring and not in any
| sense what Is known as mixer.
His genuine interest in Newport was
manifested principally I'm the spending
of great sums of money, with other
members of the family. on fine residences
and in encouraging others to do SO. He
fought with all his might the building
OF the first street railway on the island.
telling the citizens that Gathering cars
| would destroy half the charm of the
drives and boulevards. When he found
that, in the absence of the cottagers, the
Newport voters had decided to have n
trolley system he decided to live else
where. He left his Bellevue avenue
estate In the care of John Jacob Astor
and soon thereafter took his family
abroad.
Among those entertained by William
Waldorf Aston at Newport was Presi-
dent Arthur. In 1882 when the Presi-
| dent was dining with ex-Gov. E. D. Nor
| gan in New York the former asked Mr.
Morgan II he could suggest some one
! for the post of American Minister "a
Italy. Mr.. Morgan suggested Mr.. Aston
| Just the man." the President said. and
Aston was appointed. 1t was an assign
ment which pleased him greatly and
partly assuaged the bitterness OF his
defeat when he ran for Congress.