Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-23
By MnrgOt Asu,Iifh.

In New York), it was vital to remove
the unfortunate impression that SIT
ting down and reading about horses
had created upon my first appear
snco! Unless my secretary cuts out
and pins upon my letters press critic
isrna of myself. may not see all OF
Thorn. and ] had hardly been aware
Of tho scvcrity with which | had been
taken to task the day after my first
lecture.
People are too strong and busy In
|. New York city to notice II you are
III or not. they have paid their dol
lars and arc not likely 70 listen To
what bores them: they wanted "A III
tie local gossip about IN? husband.
Mr.. Lloyd George or Princess Mary's
trousscau.
} did not mind the abuse q am
press-prooD. but did not want To
cisappoint my manager. It competent.
Kind and critical person. quito un-
mcrccnary and Interested IN his
clients success as much from an ar
tihtic as a business point OF view.
or my secretary with whom ! have
contracted n lasting friendship.
To spenk OF "Duci. md Drink"
knowing that l had to speak. not
only that afternoon. but the next
night ut Brooklyn. ] rcassured them
by saying that. In spite OF my cold.
I WAS going TO stand. walk about and
nmuso the audience b. stories Of
Gladstone. Tennyson. Kitchener. pol
tiles. duels and drink. did not
add tina; / was 30 nervous that [
would have to hold my head UP high.
as II ! dropped II would certain
u collapse.
My dear friend. Paul Crava,h, In
Introducing me. made an admirable
speech and was moro than helpful
and encouraging. wish l could re-
member and write down what my
cha!rmen say OF me and OF my hus-
band. but / am far too anxious 10
listen. and cannon ball going OF
would not prevent mo from strug-
CLING to remember my speech. in
spite OF knowing that Ladies and
Gentlemen" viii DO as far as ! shall
ever get.
when stood up. after bowling
with challenging languor. spoke
in low and deliberate manner.
which seemed as II II came from an
other person. never looked at my
notes until tho end OF the lecture
and after l sat down the audience
was enthusiastic.
My son-in-law, Prince Bibesco. n
man OF acute and artistic obscrya
ton. congratulated INC warmly and
specchless with exhaustion went To
bed
Gets High Praise From Critics.
The next morning my chairman
sent me the following review from
New York paper:
The platform manner OF Margot
Asquith nlls US with envy. Wc wish
wo could talk as she does casually
leaning against a table. We must
confess TO Il lim!tless admiration for
her technique. No visiting English
author In many seasons has seemed
to us so entirely at home as was
Mrs. Asquith yesterday afternoon OF
the m. New eel II
Theater. Her uttcrance is crisp and
clear. she Is never under the ncccs-
sity OF digging In her heels and
shouting. AS her point approaches
she swings Into It. facing the audi
ence square and standing straight
We admired her versatility Of dcliv-
cry. There ought to he many clients
eager to he tutorcd by Mrs. Asquith
In tho art OF public speaking"
Next day ! had a temperature, and
As my daughter had contracted in
nucnZa. we were kept in bed and a
trained nurse was sent TO us by DIT
! Eglee. a day or two later. however
] spoke in Brooklyn, motoring there
4 wrapped up in blanket and accom-
panied by my doctor. after which
remained in bed until made my las,
appearance in New York by then
had become quite fashionable. and re-
| ceived over eighty letters a day
flowers. candy. books and poems.
My daughter EliZabeth's Illness
took away all my joy, and had i!
not been for her husband and my
1 cousin, Nan Tenant, tears and cx-
haustion would have tempted me &c
| break my contract.
In Washington.
arrived at Washington on the
18th and spoke the same afternoon
Washington audience does not
deafcn you with applause. bu,
l.
appreciative that he seemed to SET
! tho fashion to laugh and cheer, ant
all went we'll.
On the following day went. b,
appointment, at 1890 to see Presi.
,dent Harding. After travelling to sew.
eral wrong doors, l was shown into
an anteroom full of press men, talk
Ing and smoking round an open fire
The Presidents secretary was OK
tremely courteous, and was hardl
kept waiting at all. Ushcrcd int
Mr.. Harding's fine circular room
we shook hands and sat down. \
largo black and tan Airdale terrier
ordered to sit III chair by hi:
L master.
President Harding has a large bold
mead with wcll-cut features and ar
honest, fearless address. He is still
perfectly simple, and extraordinary,
| .hu picaSdnt 10 Talk 10.
lie told Inc he also had lcctured
/ and gave me an account of how lee
turing mad first started. IT was ;
mort or club or society which beEar
round Lake Chautauqua and sprcat
! ell over the country.
e was tho only way that eItbc
pleasure or information could rcoc,
: distant and dreary little towns in
habited by thousands of men an,
women who had neither the FORUM,
nor opportunity to meet famor
people.
While no was telling me this
4. looked mt the big writing table I,
front of him. There was an nj,
photograph of an extremely pretty
refined. middle-aGed woman, and ;,
framed engraving of George Wash
ington; on the top of n bookcase
observed an interesting print O
Abraham Lincoln. a fire in an opcr
crate and large windows, looking ou
unon garden with trees, complete,
charming room.
Our talk was intorruptcd by III,
I eecretary asking tho President I,
speak on tho telephone, and he lef
mo after courteous apology.
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