New-York tribune., 1909-12-05
POET AND JUGGLER
T4TSON CONFESSES.
His Hostesscs Joint Models for
Poisonous Verse.

hermann the Great. who used 10 make
.,,srtn-dolar gold pieces fan by the dozen
-. of newly laid ducks eggs is dead
r,.rsr another exponent OF the legitimate
80 q sleight of hand. has retired a rich
-an America has pined FOR a really
.,,istir simple twist O. the wrist man
= many moons, but her longing ceaseI
-,s,eraav when the real canned thoughts
= William Watson. the English poet. were
Gwen 20 the world.
ar Watson H. the author Of the roem.
The Woman with the Serpent's Tongue
a, arrived here on Friday on the Cunard-
a. l.usisania. 20 ains himself and his wife
,-ta iie hands OF Providence-to use has
,,r u..rds-and see America Al that
,me De- WAS gazing at the tall buildings
~ lower Broadway, ana might perhaps
nave been struck with the icea shat the
.stevay o., The country was az least big
Ar broad. and thar smallness here was
r,inoritv product
Nv. behind this enVenomed poem II Mr..
yvatssu's WAS lurking the suspicion that
ne had been inspired 10 write IL after being
,,Nsd with some prominent English woman.
In fact. I had been rUmOred, and I'm some
plsoes printed, that tie model Cor the verse
uss Mrs Asquith. Nife of the British
Trer,ier a parry u fair and honest chron-
iele-s ~ tire DAYS news boarded the Lust
tsria a. Quarantine and asked To hear from
A. Watsous own lips whether he had
p~ttcn the verse with Mrs. AsGuith or any
other woman IN mind. Without hesitation
tre British poet replied that ne did not
r,ts- O. any one in particular.
i merely wrote poem on q general
thens." le said THAT Is all made
rsserenees absolutely 10 no woman in par
ticula~
This perfectly frank ana straightforward
answer feU gently upon the ears Of re-
Porter who stood by. and he smiled he
couldn't help IL. for his hand at that mo-
mcrt fumh.ed m his pocket the pages OF
rhe poets own statement that the poem
az poison was a composite photograph
c' Mrs Asquith and her stepdsughter.
Violet
TIE poet didn't even blush. His face Is
ruddv anyway. and II the crimson did
creep iH IS presence was not apparent
Ths reporter win the ready 10 be signed
Statement heratiug Mrs Asquith van
ishe6 The buildings in lower Broadway
became larger and the smallness - the
poetic magician stood out the greater by
contrast
A. .ast one II tho reporters outside the
,ior. "lid YOU refer 20 Mrs. Asauith." The
EucIs. wonder picked il up. made few
passes ana. presto, the query Was changed
quicker tran q wink into the neatest bit
u een,ircing evasion this harbor has
sve- seen. and lie handed back TO the re-
l0r-er uith a smile this question DO
vll mean 10 say that the wife OF the
grear British Premier should have the
charac-er.srics attributed 10 the lady IN
tha uceu' II was a good trick, cleverlv
reformed. and held the small audience
spenlolnd until the revelation came yes
-erdsr over the signed statement" in
which William Watson gave 10 the world
tie confidence II the Asouiths. under
whose roof DO was entertained This fine
ir-le courtesy of guest toward host re-
calico tIe lines ~ another poet. and friends
n M- Watson wondered II ne had ever
tst CnUsolstion in these words. His
hoaor rooted in dishonor stood. and faith
grfsir.f-l kept him falsely true"
Hrl@ry. rheu. giving day and date. the
rt-oIie poet VINO scorned the lsUresteship
laid hare the scene Of his visit 20 the
Asgurhs. lie told - taking tea with Miss
Violet AsQlirh. whom. on observing a man
Walking through the garden. he asked 4;
thar was one of The secretaries. Miss
ths secretaries, Mr. Nash. VINO used 20
Urite -he speeches % Henry Campbell
Bznnerusn. VINO preceded Mr. Asquith as
Prime Minister
The poet said h7 expressed surprise and
that N,ss AsquitE confidel further that
Nssh appeared 20 think that the same sort
q service would stiu be expected Of him
Then. according 10 the poet. Miss Asquith
tod him of an incident that happened when
Mr Asguitl was starting on journey 10
scotland Nash was al the station, and
lsfrre tle tram Departed ne slipped little
s~ol i-ro fhe Premier's hands and OBJ
served trat b. might perhaps prove useful.
'Sr Watson listened 10 this narrative while
spullE r.s hostess 4 tea On opening the
s-r0' At Asguirh found il 10 be speech
PREPARE Cor ham by Nash. and he was
Ulcl ue~turhed. He wanted To tell Nash
mat -l.at SORT ~ thing was no longer neces-
say. rg- fer that in would he difficult 20
explain --s to Nash without hurting mis-
ieelUes
There Nera other things n the Watson
article of betrayal rejecting on the wife
md daughter - Ny. Asguith which per
laps had better die quickly II Mr. Wat
so1 3 poetic poison