Evening star., 1922-04-04
'MARGOT DECIDES
AMERICA IS FINE
Critical Only Of Prohibition,
Signboards and Money
Chasing in Farewell.

! By the Associated Press
| NEW YORK. April 4.-More than
thousand fashionable New Yorkers,
who crowded the grand ball room of
the Waldorf-Astoria last night to
hear Margot Asquith's final verdict
on America and Americans, were sur
prised to find that. after all. she
thought America fine country, and
Americans as a whole mighty nice
folks
The noted BFiton-wife of former
prime minister. and author Of one of
the frankest series Of pen pictures
OF eminent Britishers that country
has ever read. pokel a little fun at
Americas culture chaserS'' and
dollar chasers; twitted them a bit
about prohibition laws that do not
prohibit. and spoke bit of her mind
about messy factories and outdoor
billboards that clutter up American
scenery.
But she ended with a fervid tribute
to America--to Americas great
President; her fine government: her
vital, generous citizens"-and urged
the nurturing of stronger bonds
between the two nations
The Margot that bade New York
farewell last night was a different
| Margot from the one who made her
audience upon her arrival for q whirl-
wind lecture tour January so.
! Then she seemed to sense an
atmosphere of unfriendliness. Last
night she radiated confidence of her
reception.
Il Il have been in Boston. in Phila-
dclphia, in Chicago. in Kalamazoo
oh, in ever so many places!-and
have had many wonderful expert
ences. The generosity with which I
haen received shall
! forget"
Il American porters she regarded as
remarkable. and hotel managers
different from any l had seen before,
and offered me things that were for
bidden."
Il Happy and Sober:
Il With that much of start. she dived
into the prohibition question.
When 1 came over. 1 thought 1
would find everybody happy and sober.
Happy I find them, but" an expressive
Shrug finished the sentence.
THE prohibition idea is fne." she
lcontinued. but I don't think 1t is work.
ling out as was expected. 1t may help
the poor-certainly it is fine to be rid
of the corner saloon-but l doubt If it
won't have to be modified.
! There is great deal of drinking in
our country. but they don't overdo it
lmainly perhaps because of Oh: love for
games. You cannot shoot straight or
drive a golf ball straight il YOU have
taken too much"
Landscape spoilers came next. when
I went to Buffalo to see Niagara Falls
she said. Il thought We would climb
long arduous road, through sylvan
country. Instead we went in a private
motor, through dense streams Of motor
when We would get to the lonely wild
lcountry. r.
Too Many BilIboards.
Suddenly 1 noticed we were pass
ing the beautiful falls, and called to
the chauffeur. -, '
"'Oh.' he said, I thought you'd
| want to go to the power station"
| think you are inclined to commercial
ize too much. found Niagara Falls
! surrounded by factories. by billboards
and everything 1 disliked most. 1t
seemed to me SO pretty could hardly
speak when got out. and looked.
And Chicago-wedrove out Michf-
gan boulevard. with the lovely water
at our side and the beautiful drive
before u.s. I thought sure we would
come to a cathedral or something
magnificent at the end. And we
found a garishIy lighted bathing
beach. r 4
you are inclined to value money
q llttlt tOo HuCu. 1OuI tucn AIo 50
| busy. They run about SO. They are
just like the movies-always on the
| move.
You do not seem to value leisure
! when you can get 1t. Your games.
base ball and foot ball, are SO much
! shorter than ours. Everything seems
rather hurried"
Mrs Asquith held her audience
closely for an hour. Then, with an
other quaint curtsey she swept from
the platform to meet members of the
Society of Friends of Rumania, under
whose auspices the farewell lecture
! was given.
She sails for home today, on the
iMauretania.