ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12663, 17 September 1904, Page 6 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

f>'SoA£ THE SOCIETY PAPERS,] "Mix. William Waldobf Astok has been receiving plenty of congratulations on hisdaughter's engagement, to Captain SpenderClay, an ex-Life Guardsman, who held a commission in the Second Life Guards, .but had to resign when the "ragging" scandal came up two years ago. He was one.of the chief "raggeis."' He is best known because at one time' when he had come into his inheritance he allowed Lord William Nevill to dupe him out of £11,000, for which his lordship got five years' penal servitude. 'He ; draws the snug little income of £20,000 a year, or thereabouts, from the shares in Bass' brewery bequeathed to him by his father. The American millionaire — it is perhaps incorrect so to style Mm, as he was naturalised a British subject three or four years ago—tells his friends that it is quite a. relief to his mind to be able to accept thci:r good wishes on his daughtersapproaching marriage, as ever since that charming young lady made her- appearance in society ibis life ha„ been spent in denying 'that'shevwas affianced to the numerous dukes, marquises} and other unattached peers of lower degree to whom rumour has constantly assigned her in prospective matrimony. Mr. Astor, who is, by the way, cousin {notbrother, as has.been erroneously stated) to 'Mr. John Jacob Astor, and joint founder with him of the- great Waldorf Astoria Hotel, which is perhaps the most luxurious (and expensive) caravanserai in the civilised world, is a man of culture and wide reading, as, well as financial ability, and. has a pretty sense of humour of his own. Many of his friends "from the other side" have enjoyed his hospitality at. Cliveden, the lovely riverside residence which lit, bought from the late Duke of Westminster. " How much of this do you own!" asked one of these Transatlantic visitors of his host, as they stood on the wooded height above the- house, drinking in the matchless view. The only land appertaining to Cliveden is, of course, the garden in which it stands, but Mr. Astor could not resist the ■ joke. Waving his hand vaguely towards the seven counties over which the prospect is said to extend, " All," he solemnly said, " all that you see is mine!" The bride-elect is a pretty girl, with the charm of youth and simplicity, and, like most Americans, has received a i wide and thorough education. Her training I has also been cosmopolitan, as she has seen the best society in London, New York, and Rome, in which latter city her father once held the post of, American Minister. Of late years Miss. Astor has helped to do the honours at Cliveden, and also at her father's house in town, and has proved herself a graceful and efficient hostess. She is fond of life on the river, can row and paddle a canoe, and has been taught the mysteries of boating by her brother. who was formerly captain of the boats at Eton. By the way, young Mr. Aster i.s the first American-born Etonian who has held that important office. Captain Spender-Clay's only sister is now Lady Bingham; arid his mother.married, en seeondes noces, Mi. Beresford Melville. Miss Astor is to-day, probably the richest presumptive heiress,'still unmarried, in the world. Her father, William Waldorf Astor, is credited with a fortune of much over £20.000.000. He is the largest single owner of real estate in New York City. His fortune, is fast.increasing; if he liver, another twenty years experts figure that it will be | double. Miss Astor may receive nearly ! £20.000,000 as her share of the estate. She 1 is the oldest child, and is now twenty-four years old. She was born in New York City, in 1879, & little more than a year after her father married Miss Mamie Paul, the belle of Philadelphia, and the daughter of Dr. James F. Paul. It is expected that Mi. Astor will give his daughter at least £2,000,000 upon her marriage, as well as the possession of ancient Hever Castle, reputed to be the birthplace of Anne Boleyn, one of the six wives of Henry VIII, It is near Sevenoaks, Kent, and the ex-American paid £37,000 for it. It contains many rare relics. Miss Astor:will also receive one of the finest collections of jewels in the world, eclipsing manv of the minor Royalties or the Old World. 'It was started by bet grandmother, Mrs. John Jacob Astor. From her it passed to her son's wife, Miss Aster's mothev. Of course it was largely added to. Conspicuous among the collection is an immense coronet comb of diamonds. It once belonged to Mme. de Montespan, given to her by Louis XIV, It cost William WiMoif Astor £20,000.

It isn't everyone who could hit a King squarely in the face and get off scot free, but a certain-flower-seller of London has done both things. When the King. paid j> visit to the city recently to lay the foundation-stone of the new buildings of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Margaret Smith made up a big bunch of her choicest roses, and -tool it with her. ■Being., a powerful woman she found little difficulty in elbowing her way to a front place among the throng gathered at the junction of Shaftesbury Avenue and.New Ox-ford-street to see the Royal party drive by on their return journey. A great shout announced' their approach. Disregarding the injunction of the police to "stand back! the flower-seller, stepped from the sidewalk to the' street, and as the King's carriage whirled by -he cried out at the top of her lungs,"" God bless your Majesty," and threw her bouquet into the vehicle harder than she was aware of, and the floral tribute struck the King square between the eyes. It did no damaee to the-Royal physiognomy, ; and the King, well understanding the good intention that had prompted the blow, picked up the bouquet and smiled on the donor. London would never have heard of the incident, probably, had not a zealous constable witnessed it. To him the act came within the official definition of assault and battery, and "lese majeste" to boot. He promptly arrested the girl, ?nd marched her off to Bow-street Police Court. It was fortunate for her that he did so, as otherwise she would have still remained an inconspicuous Smith. T>* magistrate remanded her to ascertain what action the, King wished taken in the matter. She was not kept long waiting in durance vile to learn her fate. .Promptly came back"the RoyaJ answer "Release her instantly."* And a private message was conveyed to her to the effect that the King appreciated her loyalty and, treasured her gift.

. When the Duchesr of Manchester's present chauffeur was before a magistrate recently foi furious iriving, , his fair employer put on her most innocent face and protested .that .she did pot encourage her drivers. , ; in their; wild escapades." • Those who know her best will not take'her protestations seriously, for she is known..to all her friends and to almost every professional motor driver in England as one who is absolutely reckless about travelling at a high rate of speed. Although she has not yet obtained her qualification certificate from her motor school, the duchess is not afraid to take her car. in hand on a quiet, country road and dash wildly along, disregarding the presence of the patrolling policeman. She is known among the fashionable motoring fraternity as the " scorcher," and the driver who is not able to get the most out of his car has no business in her establishment. She pays the highest wages, and must have the best man. Her statement before the magistrate that she has been obliged to discharge several drivers on account of the propensity ' for furious driving is not literally correct. The drivers leave after they have been, fined, to protect themselves, because a second or third "endorsement" on their license may mean its absolute withdrawal by the police authorities, and then its erstwhile holder would be obliged to seek some other occupation. Discussing the subject with the writer one of her late drivers said: "We do. not run the risk of getting fined for the fun of the thing. A favourite saying of her grace is that she has not discarded horses to drive along by a slower method. ' Motors are made to run, not to crawl,' she shouted w-rathfully to me one clay as I was driving along Piccadilly endeavouring to negotiate some heavy traffic. She is the most impatient woman that I have ever driven. If she wants to be in r certain place at a certain time she expects you to do impossibilities; she would actually provoke you to run over the housetops. I would not drive her again for £1000 a year." It is only when "the duchess is accompanied by the duke that she will have a car driven at a moderate speed. As readers nrobably know, the duke suffers from :? weak heart, and does not take kindly to travelling at top speed in a motor car.