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Show Mi WILLIAM n 18 CALLE0BY DEATH "Woman Who for Many Years Led New York Society Closes Career. NEW YORK, Oct. 30. Mrs. William Astor,. who. for thirty years had been regarded as tho social leader of Jsow York, died touiffht of heart discaao at her homo on Fifth avenue. For nearly four wcoks ?.frs. Astor, who was 82 years old, had boon in a critical condition, condi-tion, owine to the return of a heart affection that had given her trouble for years. Despite her advancod years, she continued to hold her. Bocinlf domination up to a year ago, when failing health compelled her to retire into comparative seclusion. It wa9 in tho summer of 1907 that Mrs. Astor 'a friends learned of hor ill health. While sho was abroad last year her son, John Jacob Astor, mado the announcement that Beoch-wood, Beoch-wood, the summer home of Mrs. Astor at Newport, would not bo opened, and this led to the discovers' that, she was in poor health. Word came later from Mrs. Astor, while sho was in Paris, saying that she would open her Newport New-port villa after all, and that she would mako tho season there ono of tho gayest gay-est inyears. This promise was not fulfilled, ful-filled, however, for when she came back from abroad she Tjroke down in Boston and had 'to roturn to New York. She remained at her home since. Established "Four Hundred." The societ3' functions given and presided pre-sided over by Mrs. Astor were among the most brilliant on record. It is said that tho ballroom in tho mansion on Fifth avenuo would uccommodatc 1000 people. It was Mrs. Astor who established estab-lished tho famous "400' her visiting list being confined to that number or names. In 1905 howover, she was said to have "let down tho bars" when sho invited 1200 persons to one of tho moat memorable social events ever given in New York. Mrs. Astor received her guests at these gatherings seated in a high-back chair beneath a portrait, of hcrdoli' painted by Carolus Duran. The Aslor jewels were wCrn by her on this occasion. It is said tho Astor emeralds arc tho finest in the world. William Astor, who died in Puri3 in lS92t took little part in the social activities ac-tivities his wife enjoyed. Mrs. Astor, before marriage, was Miss Caroline .Schermorhorn, a dnughter of Abraham chormcrhorn, a well-to-do merchant. Sho was married to William Astor on Soptcmber 2H, 1S53. John Jacob Astor was their only son. Thero were four daughters, two of whom. Mrs. Ogilvio Haig und Mrs. Ormo Wilaon, arc now Jiving. The eldest daughter. Miss Emily Aslor, who married mar-ried J, J. Van Aleu, died soma venrs ago, as did Miss Helen Aslor, who" married mar-ried James Roosevelt. |
