Thursday, August 16, 2007
Brooke Astor
It had to happen eventually, I suppose, although I was beginning to wonder if she'd discovered an elixir akin to Dorian Gray's painting. Brooke Astor made it to 105 but died on Monday, alas. There are several interesting pieces in the NY Sun, if you want to catch up on your reading about her.
She was particularly quotable, saying things like "Money is like manure, it should be spread around" and "People expect to see Mrs. Astor, not some dowdy old lady. I don't intend to disappoint them" by way of explaining her always fashionable appearance. If you don't know about her, reading her life story is like reading the history of the last century. The events (the Titanic, among others, figured importantly in her life), the monumental technological and social changes, not to mention the changes in what's considered proper for a woman both in and outside the home. Fascinating, personal and personable, urbane, witty, sharp, fashionable, on and on. . . . And, like me (ahem) she wore big comfy shawls long before the current trend.
Incidentally, the photo here (from one of the NY Sun articles) is when she was 85. Yes, 85. What genes she must have had. (And what clothing designers!) She and Kitty Carlisle Hart used to dye each other's hair, as recently as the 1990's, and loved to talk about how much fun they had doing it. Can you imagine?!
Last year, William Buckley wrote an article, also in the Sun, about Mrs. Astor's philanthropy and the battle wrought by her son and grandson. (About which I'll write, no doubt several times, but after her funeral on Friday. It's intriguing and, let's face it juicy, but it seems ungracious to dwell on it until a few moments and sufficient pause to pay our respects have passed.) Buckley succinctly wrote that "[s]he sent money everywhere, not least to blighted parts of the city where John Astor amassed the fortune that five generations later she was spiritedly dissipating. But in 1983 she resolved to train her energies and focus her philanthropy on the world of books." Which is why so many owe her a debt of enormous gratitude and appreciation. People like her are rare, and they leave a large black empty hole when they are gone.
She was particularly quotable, saying things like "Money is like manure, it should be spread around" and "People expect to see Mrs. Astor, not some dowdy old lady. I don't intend to disappoint them" by way of explaining her always fashionable appearance. If you don't know about her, reading her life story is like reading the history of the last century. The events (the Titanic, among others, figured importantly in her life), the monumental technological and social changes, not to mention the changes in what's considered proper for a woman both in and outside the home. Fascinating, personal and personable, urbane, witty, sharp, fashionable, on and on. . . . And, like me (ahem) she wore big comfy shawls long before the current trend.
Incidentally, the photo here (from one of the NY Sun articles) is when she was 85. Yes, 85. What genes she must have had. (And what clothing designers!) She and Kitty Carlisle Hart used to dye each other's hair, as recently as the 1990's, and loved to talk about how much fun they had doing it. Can you imagine?!
Last year, William Buckley wrote an article, also in the Sun, about Mrs. Astor's philanthropy and the battle wrought by her son and grandson. (About which I'll write, no doubt several times, but after her funeral on Friday. It's intriguing and, let's face it juicy, but it seems ungracious to dwell on it until a few moments and sufficient pause to pay our respects have passed.) Buckley succinctly wrote that "[s]he sent money everywhere, not least to blighted parts of the city where John Astor amassed the fortune that five generations later she was spiritedly dissipating. But in 1983 she resolved to train her energies and focus her philanthropy on the world of books." Which is why so many owe her a debt of enormous gratitude and appreciation. People like her are rare, and they leave a large black empty hole when they are gone.
Labels: celebrities, headlines, history
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