The New York herald., 1920-12-05
Margot Asquith Revelations

| many people are rich, grand, gay and
clever and live in big houses-but in
her elasticity. her careful criticism,
her sense of justice and discretion.
She not only kept her own but other
peoples secrets and she added to a
considerable effrontery and intrepid
courage real kindness of heart"
Gladstone's lighter side is revealed
In poem and letters quoted by Mrs.
Asquith. She also describes visit
from the Grand Old Man and his wife.
Aunt Pussy--as we called Mrs. Glad
led papa away. and said to mamma:
William and Margot are going to have
a little talk!'"
| This occurred ten days before the
last great speech on home rule. He
said to Mrs. Asquith, after discussing
the Irish question: Tories have no
hope, no faith. Disraeli was a great
Tory. 1t grieves me to see people be-
lieving in Randolph Churchill as his
successor. for he has none of the
genius, patience or insight which
| Dizzy had in no small degree"
Later Mr.. Gladstone told her that he
was giving a dinner to the Liberal
party that night. and added: If
Harrington is in a good humor 1 in
tend to say to him. Don't move a vote
of want ofsconfidence In me after din
ner or you will very likely carry it, T"
The very chapter headings in the
book suggest the variety and fascina-
| ton of its contents: "The Beautiful
Kate Vaughn; Coached by Coquelin
In Moliere": "Rosebery's Popularity
\ and Eloquence"; "Campbell-B Banner
man, Bon Vivant and Boulevardier";
''Balfour's Mot: His Charm and Wit;
His Tastes and Preferences; His Re-
ligious Speculation"
OF Arthur Balfour. a friend from
earliest youth, she writes "Balfour
was blessed or cursed at his birth, ac-
cording to individual opinion, by two
assets-charm and wits. The first he
possessed to a greater degree than
any man. except John Morley, that L
have ever met. His social distinction,
exquisite attention, intellectual tact,
cool grace and lovely bend of the
head made him not only a fiattering
listener but an irresistible companion.
| The disadvantage Of charm-which
makes me say cursed or blessed-is
that it inspires every one to combine
and smooth the way for you through
out life His wits with which l say
that he was also cursed or blessed,
| quite apart from his brains, gave him
confidence in his improvisings and the
| power TO sustain any opinion on any
subject whether he held the opinion or
not, with equal brilliance, plausibility
and success, according to his desire
to dispose of you or the subject. He
/ either finessed with the ethical basis
of his intellect or had none. This made
him unintelligible to the average man,
unforgivable to the fanatic and god
to the blunderer. With his perfect
literary style and keen interest in phi
losophy and religion nothing but a
great love of politics could account for
his not having given up more of his
time to writing"
One night at a ball. Balfour was
taxed with being about to marry Mar
got Tenant, and replied: mo, that
is not so. 1 rather think of having a
career of my own"
Even this frankest of autobiog-
raphers omits her husband and Lloyd
George with the terse "Of the two
other Prime Ministers ! cannot write,
though no one knows them better than
I do. No one will deny that all of us
should be allowed some private prop
erty in thought
John Addington Symonds and the
famous master of Balliol. DR.. Benja-
min Jowett, were among the author's
unusual friends. OF conversationalists
she writes: Il shall always think
Lord Morley the best talker l ever
beard, anil after him 1 would say Sy-
monds. Birrell and Bergson. George
Meredith was too much of a prima
donna and was very deaf and unin-
terruptable when l knew him, but he
was amazingly good even then. Alfred
Austin was friend of his. and had
just been made Poet Laureate by Lord
Salisbury when my beloved friend. Ad-
miral Maxse. took me down to the
country to see Meredith for the first
time. Feeling more than usually
stupid, said to him:
"'Well, Mr.. Meredith, wonder what
you friend Alfred Austin thinks of his
appointment
Shaking his beautiful head, he, re-
piled: 1t is very hard 10 say Wnat
bantam is thinking when 1t is crow
ing"
Bohemian society she found "duller
than any English watering place." She
! writes: Every one has a different
conception of hell. and few of us con-
meet 1t with flames: but stage suppers
are my idea of hell. and. with the ex-
ception of Irving and Coquelin. Ellen
Terry and Sarah Bernhardt. I have
never met the hero or heroine off the
stage that was not ultimately dull"
OF a well dressed friends clothes she
writes: II do not know who could
have worn his clothes when they were
new, but certainly he never did"
One is tempted to go on indefinitely
quoting Mrs. Asquith's comments on
the people and events of the tremen-
dously interesting world in which she
lived and from which she has taken
every bit of beauty possible for her "a
take. and to which she has given as
J much as lay in her power.