The times., 1898-06-12
SHE TYPEwR1TEs FOR LORDS.
Miss Ashworth Officially Employed
by the English Parliament.

In the staid old House of Commons un-
til a comparatively recent date woman
was considered at all times an intruder
This is the reason why the fact that to-
day on the south side of ST. Stephens
Hall in the group of English Parliament
buildings a very clever woman typewriter
has been given a desk salary and as
sistant is the cause of no little wonder
among the few to whom the knowledge
has come.
The lady's name is Miss May II. Ash
worth. and she is not only more widely
known than any other of the vast army
of feminiues who so deftly manipulate
the universal Keyboard but she holds
the speed record-two triumphs of
character that seldom fall to the lot of
woman. Miss Ashworth believes that
there are not a half dozen members of
either of the House of Commons or the
House of Lords whom she does not know
to speak to. Her experiences have there
fore naturally been of more than ordi-
nary interest, brought as she is in al
most daily contact with many men whose
names and deeds are flashed over the ca
BILE every day TO all parts of the world
She tells a very interesting anecdote
of Lord Salisbury, the present British
premier The typewriters of St. Steph-
for the use of members of Commons. but
| this is not adhered to, and the services
of Miss AShworth and her corps of as
| sistants are availed of by many MEM
| bers of the House of Lords, and occa-
| sionally one of the cabinet finds them
| very useful. On the day when the Sails
| bury incident occurred Miss Ashworth
| happened to be alone in her own office, all
| her assistants having gone for the day.
| Lord Salisbury for some treason walked
| into the room without knocking and said:
| Madam, are you an official stenogra-
| pher?" Miss Ashworth replied that she
| was and like the meekest of commoners
| the premier begged her to excuse him for
| troubling her, but he had forgotten a
| matter which required immediate atten-
| ton, and he did not have time to return
| to his Cwn quarters.
''Nell.' said Miss Ashworth, "I knew ii
| was Lord Salisbury, and that 1 ought to
| oblige him, but really it was not my place
| to wo ork overtime for even the premier OF
| England and 1 told him so. He was tre-
| mendously amused and 1 was little bit
| confused after realizing what 1 had done
but my lord asked me If / could put my
preiudices aside for once and help cut
in a little business of state. and you know
I could not see my way clear to refuse :
Lord Salisbury's nephew is another
statesman who appreciates Miss Ash
worth's services You see,'' she said
''Mr. Balfour is one of the most consider
ate gentlemen l ever met. l remember OF
one occasion he came into our offices JUS
as some member from Yorkshire was tell
ing what he wanted. The Yorkshire mar
was quite rude and talked to us as. If hi
thought we were his slaves. Mr.. Balfoul
turned to him and said: Sir are yol
aware that you are in the presence of la
dies?' I never saw a man more abashet
| than the member from Yorkshire.
1--WE all of US liked Sir Michael Hick:
Beach, he was such fine old fellow, ant
it was real pleasure to do anything fol
him. I know there were ever so man!
times when he was in a dreadful hurry t
have things done that he came in her
and saw that We were busy as bees. In
stead of insisting on doing what he want