And the Widow Wore White . . .

In a post dated September 22, 2009, I mentioned a magazine I found while digging around in some boxes that were in the basement of a charming little used book store in New York. In a different issue of the same magazine, in a section titled "Mainly About Men And Women" I discovered the following. The issue is dated September, 1912.What I found is a little blurb about Mrs. John Jacob Astor and her announcement that she would wear nothing but pure white for six months.

It reads -

Probably ten years from now black will not be worn at all as a badge of mourning. That is the conclusion of those who have been drawn into a discussion of the subject by the announcement that Mrs. John Jacob Astor will wear nothing but pure white for the next six months. "Personally I have always thought the only important question in regard to mourning apparel concerns not the putting it on, but the taking it off," declares one authority. "The lady who 'goes into colors' after a polite period of gloom seems to symbolize so blatantly the transient nature of her grief. Mourning outght to be worn forever. At least that is my feeling about it." Why not vote on it? Which do you favor? White or black? Or none at all?

Brooke Astor's Son Found Guilty

I have a book on the Astors, and I think there are a number of interesting issues going on with the family members involved (or not, some might argue), and I also plan to follow the appeal, so I'll be posting more on this story.

Vincent Astor, who brought his father's body back to New York and presided over his funeral after the sinking, was married to Brooke at the time of his somewhat (doctors had diagnosed a cardiovascular condition that fluctuated over the five months before his death) unexpected death of a heart attack on February 3, 1959. I can't help but think that he's smiling down over this verdict, and perhaps somewhat relieved. It's my understanding that sentencing will take place on December 8, and I hope the judge sticks it to the lawyer involved.

Article

On a side note, Vincent left his half-brother nothing. I don't think I'll ever be able to watch "the movie" again without being reminded of the fact that the kid with whom Madelaine was pregnant while on the Titanic and, in my opinion unintentionally disinherited, is, ironically, the one responsible (he left a son and grandson when he died in July of 1992) for carrying on the Astor name in the United States. I find it a bit interesting that Vincent left him nothing, as he had to have known that his father would have wanted to provide for him and, although it's my understanding that Vincent didn't like him (his half-brother) much and didn't respect his choices in life, it's interesting that he didn't do the right thing, so to say.