Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-15

wealth and distinction COurteQ ner Tor ten years,
our curiosity concerning the successful sutton
must be very great.
When learn that modest elderly noble.
man of si1ty.fye has succeeded where scores Of
younger men failed. we feel obliged to pay him
tribute OF attention.
Mrs. Ava Willing Astor. the former wife OF
the late Colonel John Jacob Astor. Of New York,
is generally credited with being the most courted
woman in society. Thomas Lister fourth Baron
Ribblesdae. OF England, enjoys the distinction
OF having ended the pursuit.
Unlike the many men who were reported
counting Mrs. Astor. Lord Ribblesdale never
mentioned in that way. Society never knew how
much Mrs. Astor thought OF him until they
married That event occurred very quietly. al
most secretly. at ST. Mary's Church. Bryanston
Square, London, on June l.
That Mrs. Aston should have been the object
OF widespread devotion is easy TO understand At
the time Of her marriage to the late Colonel John
Jacob Aston in 1891 she acclaimed the
most beautiful young woman that New York
cietv had seen. That beauty she has never
lost but It has only acquired added dignity with
years. Although her hair has been prematurely
gray for many years. her superb figure retains
all It's youthful grace and elasticity. and her ex-
ousite features show none OF the lines and dis
fgurements that too often come with middle age.
Her beauty was indeed the chief reason Of her
nrst and unhappy, marriage. According to So
noted social leader. said TO her son, then fresh
from Harvard:
Jack. you must marry beautiful and healthy
Aston"
Soon after that Mrs. Aston. who was herself
then in the first flush OF her girsh beauty, at a
ball in Philadelphia. She said to her son:
Jack. there is the girl you ought to marry"
Jack Aston, who devoted to his mother,
obediently proposed marriage to the beautiful
Miss Willing without much thought OF other points
Of suitability. She accepted him, perhaps more
influenced by the prestige OF the Aston name than
other considerations.
So great was young Mrs. Astors tact and
dignity that few people knew how uncongenially
the young couple found life for many years, and
society was astonished when in 1909 she obtained
divorce. Two years later Colonel Astor mar.
ried young Madeleine Force and In the follow ing
year died herocally in the Titanic disaster.
From the date OF her divorce Mrs. Ava Willing
Astor became resident OF England and hence
many OF her most prominent admirers have been
Englishmen. After her first husbands death she
came to America for few months OF every year
TO see her son Vincent properly settled In life
and launched in society. but when that had been
successfully accomplished she returned to her
beautiful house in Grosvenor Square, London and
her congenia life in England.
Among the charms of Mrs Ava Willing Aston
her great wealth must not be overlooked At the
time OF her divorce from Colonel Aston It was
announced that the settlement made upon her
amounted to considerably over $4,000 900 Since
then the managers Of her sons New York estate
have done everything in their power TO increase
Eer wealth. In addition this source she in.
herited large wealth from the Willing family and
the death of her brother Barton Willing. few
years ago alone added about 100000 to her
property.
But wealth and beauty far from complet.
inG the list OF her charms. She is generally pro.
nounced 10 have charming manners and to be in.
Sariably tactful, entertaining and sweet-temperec
The long experience she has had OF social and
public affairs has helped TO make her conversation
very interesting
Everybody who has met her in connection with
the nnumerahe Red Cross and other philanthropc
in urhjc chn haa-
been impressed with her good nature and ability
Whenever anybody made any ausion TO her un.
fortunate engagements with her first husband.
she always met the question with perfect grace
dignity and selfpossesson.
II is small wonder. then. that nearly every
eligible man In society was eager in pursuit OF
this jewel among women.
We shall now see who the leading figures
among this host OF suitors, In what respects Mrs.
qualities that stamped Lord Rbbesdale as the
one man.
EARL cURzoN OF kEoLEsToN.
Back In 1910 and 1911 the bereaved Lord Curzon
OF kedleston. who had long been an intimate
friend of the Astor family. conspicuously as.
siduous in his attentions to Mrs Astor. She had
entertained In New York him and his first wife
Miss Mary Letter, Of Washington
Lord Curzon was one Of the most brilliant men
in the British Empire, statesman, author and ad.
ministrator He had been viceroy of India the
hlshest aomlnistrative post In the Empire, and
was mentioned as likely to be the next Prime
Minister.
But he had an Irritating, arrogant very
which have prevented him from becoming Prime
Minister, for even Tory leader must have per.
sonal popularity in these days. They were aIso
presumably the qualities that decided Mrs. Astor
not to become Countess Curzon
EARL KITCHENER OF KHARToUM.
When Lord Kitchener. the first soldier Of tina
British Empire, returned from the command Of
the forces In India, in 1911. it was observed with
some astonishment that he was quite attentive tn
the beautiful Mrs. Aston. He was considered the
most confirmed bachelor in the Empire and So
ciety thought that the charming American had con.
WINGED him of the lifelong error of his ways He
was only spending few months in England be-
fore becoming ruler Of Egypt. then in very dis
turbed condition, and a tactful American partner
would have been great help to him there
Lord Kitchener was very different from Lord
Curzon and had in fact put an end to the latter's
career in India Kitchener was Of course man
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