The New York herald., 1922-02-01
Margot Ayers Ida Adams
Called Her Asquith's
Horrible Wife
APPLAUSE Is GENEROUS
Sprightly Lecturer Unruffled
by Calls of Louder When
Curtain Muffles Voice.

Margot Asquith, wife of the former
Premier OF Great Britain, sat in high
backed chair on the stage Of the New
Amsterdam Theater yesterday after
noon and gave her first reading before
an American audience. Such is her
fame that the theater, one of the city's
largest, was full. Back of the orches-
ira rail persons were standing.
Weakness due to seasickness-she
had been off the tumbling ship less
than day-explains her departure
from the normal posture OF a public
speaker. Nor was her voice up to
full strength. Realizing this. she
cheerfully called at the start, "If you
don't hear what I say, will you shout
out?"
In the top balcony they did shout
out. They said, Louder and 1--WE
can't hear you!"
After this she raised her manu-
script in order to throw back her head
and facilitate delivery of the voice,
but even so it did not carry far. The
trouble seemed to lie in the formation
and modulaton OF her tones rather
than in their weakness.
AS a. matter Of fact the voice was
stronger than one might expect to hear
proceeding from SO slight body. But
as 1t played up and down it frequently
disappeared in the throat. So it seemed
to the more distant listeners. This. com.
bined With tlIc English accent, made
comprehension difficult
Those in the front rows heard we'll
enough, and rejoiced in listening to
such fine articulation, but further back
many words were missed and the effect
in the first and second balconies can
be imagined. This led TO an Incident
which must have irritated the sprightiy
English woman very much, but never a
sign did she let escape her.
Introduced by DIR. Butler.
Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler having
introduced her she had put on q pair
OF shell trimmed spectacles and begun
TO read the first of her chosen selec-
of her autobiography.
My Last Adventure in the Sporting
World" she named it.
She had not got very far with the re-
cital when, in response to her invitation.
those cries OF ''Louderv' began raining
from the upper balcony. Once or twice
please" was added. Mrs. Asuuith
let her voice out notch and thought
she was getting on much better when
q woman in the balcony shouted with
show of Indignation: 1--WE can't hear
you =!
Judging from the way she pronounced
can't it's a fair guess that this in
terrupter was compatriot OF Mrs.
Asquith's.
Thank you: sorry" Mrs. Asouith
said, flashing a smile up toward those
iar away women, who obviously were
fearful lest they were missing some
scandal in high life
They weren't. by the way.
She read on. The Sporting Adven-
ture.' to the disappointment of not n
few prehensile cared auditors. proved 10
be the story OF Mrs. Asquith's trial of a
new horse and a hunter named Dande-
lion. Dandelion at first was like n
spring bed under me-" but eventually he
threw the lady, and when she came Ia
sne was surrounded by grooms and doc
tors. Long before tho climax was
reached one OF the protesting women in
the top balcony had made her decision.
Her words were penetrating enough for
all to hear, as, In the midst of Mrs As
quith's animated reading. she shouted:
We'll goodby. You've got our money
for nothing. Goodby"
One instant Mrs Asquith paused A
glance at the balcony told her that the
woman was up and departing Then
she returned to her manuscript. picked
up the narrative at the precise word
where the interruption had found her
and continued TO read. Kisses sputtered
in all parts Of the theater. including the
balconies. then stopped as Mrs. Asquith.
to all appearances undisturbed by this
episode, went on with her task.
Great Applause After Episode.
=.