The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-11-12

London, Nov. 5.-"Who is the wo-
man with the serrents tongue?" Who
did William ID. Watson mean in his
poem which has caused the greatest
furore in literary and social circles
since the appearance of Kiplings
"Vamrire?"
"Was it Mrs. George Keppel, fav-
orite of Kink Edward, or was it Mrs.
Herbert Asquith, wife of the premier,
formerly Miss Margot Tennant?"
These are the questions which every
member Of society. every man and
woman of letters, today, is asking him
self and his neighbor. Orinion is d.
vided on which of the two women
the roet is striking at. No name Is
mentioned in the poem, but the names
of the two women are on every tongue.
The consensus of oririon is that Mar.
got Tenant AsQuith the wife of
Britain'S prime minister, could identi-
fly the person referred to.
Mrs .Asquith is a woman of sharp
wit and was the ORIGINAL of "Dodo"
in Benson's novel She is the third
daughter of the late Sir Charles Ten
nant who made an enormous fortune
in Spanish copper mines and in the
manufacture of chemicals. Her home
was in Glasgow. She was a friend of
the car of Russia, as well as most
of the notable men of her own coun-
try, and Gladstone wrote poetry to
her. In 1894 she was welded to Her.
bert Asquith, then 43, widower with
five children, and a lawyer of small
income. He is now prime minister of
the United Kingdom.
The remarkable society known as
THE Souls" attracted much attention
in England several years ago, although
ways somewhat indefinite. Neither
wealth nor position could secure en-
tree to the most of exclusive clubs.
Intellectual brilliancy was the test,
and among the leading members were
Arthur j. Balfour, Mrs. Beerbohm
Tree, Lady CRANKY, Lord Elcho, Mar
got Tenant, George Wyndham and
Alfred Lyttleton.
THE Souls" discussed everything
conventional and unconventional. and
finally began to seek and find affini-
ties. The natural consequence was a
scandal and it was such noisome
one that the society disbanded.
THE Woman With the Serpent's
Tongue" is in William Watsons latest
book of poems, which is copyrighted
IN
poem follows:
She is not old, she is not young,
The woman with the serpents
tongue.
The haggard cheek, the hungering
eye,
The poisoned words that wildly fly.
The famished face, the fevered
hand
Who sights the worthiest in the
land,
Sneers at the just, condemns the
brave,
And blackens goodness in its grave.
In truthful numbers be she sung.
The woman with the serpent's
tongue;
Concerning whom fame hints at
Told but in shrugs and whis.
perings;
Ambitious from her natal hour
And scheming all her life for
power,
With little left of seemly pride,
With venomed fangs she cannot
hide.
Who half makes love to you today,
Tomorrow gives her guest away.
Burnt up within with that strange
soul
She cannot slake, or yet control;
Malignant-lipped, unkind, unsweet;
Past all example indiscreet;
Hectic and always overstrung-
The woman with the serpent's
tongue.
To think that such as she can mar
Names that among the noblest are;
That hands like hers can touch the
springs
That move who knows what men
and things!
That on her will their fates have
hung!
The woman with the serpents
tongue.
Wayne Normal Notes.
The new term opened up with an
increased enrolment over the cores.