Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1902 — Pauline Astor Prefers Beauty to a Title [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Pauline Astor Prefers Beauty to a Title

Pauline Astor is not a chip of the old block. She has refused the highest title in the English peerage—a dukedom —because, she is not in love with the duke that wore it. The duke is the Duke of Roxburghe, a young man ant} rich, and he is believed to .be really in love with little Miss Aslor, even though her father was born an American. William Waldorf Astor was beginning to console himself for the various snubs which Wales administered to him by the thought that he would marry his daughter to a lord, and his son to a lord’s daughter, and then spend the evening of his days proudly

considering their social grandeur. What bliss to have nobles in the family, thought Mr. Astor. So it was all arranged between Miss Astor and the Duke of Roxburghe. But a grave omission was made In the arrangement, for' Miss Astor was pot consulted. To make everything lovely the duke really fell in love with the girl that everybody said he ought to marry. But she didn’t fall in lovß with him. Contrariwise, she fell In love with a commoner, wltlj considerably less than nothing, but the handsomest man in the handsomest company of the finestlooking regiment in England—Captain H. Fraser of the Royal Guards. Most people who have seen him say that unquestionably he is the handsomest man in the world. Certain it is that he has had a career with women un-

equaled since the day of Dashing Jack Churchill, afterward first Duke of Marlborough, and with the poaeible exception of George IV., the "First Gentleman of Europe,’’ 100 years ago. He Is son of General the Hon. Sir David MacDowall Fraser, retired, and nephew of Lord Saltoun. But lack of fortune and even farthings cannot Influence the popularity of the man who, since Captain Osi Ames’ retirement, has been known as the flower of the most perfect company of men in all the British kingdom. How he met Miss Astor first is not known. * She was hard to meet, and deadly, for her pretty high heels have stabbed and pierced the scores of hearts whereon they have trod. Her father was particularly anxious to keep Captain Fraser out of her sight, because he was too attractive for a man without a title. How the two met U not known. Some say when riding in the park in the mornings. Others say that Miss Astor saw Captain Fraser sitting his horse in front of his company, and she never forgot him. Before she met him. or saw him, whichever it was, she was about ready to emulate Consuelo, Duchess of Marlborough. Roxburghe was always with her, and it was understood that there was an understanding. But it all has been changed within the last three weekß. London expectß the expatriate’s daughter to marry the soldier soon, with or without her father’s blessing, and London applauds. But Astor may have his way yet. No formal announcement of the engagement has been made; she is his daughter, living under his roof. And when he wants his way, William Waldorf Astor is a hard man.