The New York herald., 1922-02-08
Gives Sidelights on Tenny-
son, Kitchener and Her
Famous Husband.
SHOWS STEPS OF MINUET
Britain and America, She Says,
Are Now Cemented by True
Love, Come to Stay.

The first thing Mrs Margot Asquith
said yesterday afternoon as she walked
out upon the stage of the New Am
sterdam Theater to give the second of
her series of lectures upon "Politics
and Events" in England was: Il am
not going to bore you and l am not
going to talk about horses"
She did neither. What she did, aside
from telling bits of intimate gossip of
he political life that centered about
10 Downing street while her husband
was Prime Minister, which were
Eliminating to those familiar with pub
lie affairs, was to give to her audience
a glimpse of the undaunted nature of
her character and to stage some
what sensational Comeback" with
what some one referred to as typical
British pluck"
The second lecture was undoubtedly
n great a success as the first one was
fiazle, and this was due mainly to the
improved physical condition of the
SPEAKER. Her voice was strong, carry
ing to the topmost rows of the gallery,
and rs she spoke she walked briskly up
9 nd down the stage gesticulating ener-
Setically, and now and then striking a
vivid posture to emphasize some point in
% story.
She seemed TO have been much en-
coaraged by her success in Boston. and
20 have found again the energy that was
aarped in the trip acros the Atlantic.
Sac was anxious to please too-frankly
rrd naively so. At one point in the
lecture she stepped forward to the foot
Shts and with a gesture that reminded
cne a little of Maude Adams in Peter
Pam" said: Can you hear me up
ilere?' From the gallery came an
svers of Yes, yes"
Only Two Bits of Reading.
Mrs. Asquith read from manuscript
only twice-that was when she was tell
ing about the death of King Edward
during her husbands absence on a yacht
in Spanish waters, and during the
reading Of a pen portrait she has drawn
of Lord Kitchener for her forthcoming
book. Some Of the stories she told were
not new--and those who had read her
diary recognized at least one old freld.
A weeks stay in this country hasn't
hanged Mrs. Asquiths views on pro-
ribition one whit. since she announced
coming Up the bay on the steamer that
she thought it was "a splendid try"
THE trouble with most good servants
in England Is that they drink" she said
nj the end Of an anecdote about a faith
ful and tactful Asquith butler who was
regarded as "a friend OF the family"
That's the reason / told your reporters
hat prohibition is a splendid try even
if it is badly administered. We shall
al have to come to 1t some day, and 1
admire you for It."
The applause that greeted this state
nent showed that Mr.. Volstead still has
a few friends left, even among the fash
ionably dressed men and women who
made UP the most part of the audience.
Incidentally. there was not an empty
chair in the whole theater. The upper
and lower boxes also were filled.
Mrs. Asquith was introduced by Paul
-. Cravath, who made a brief, compIi-
mentary speech, in which he described
the speaker as discriminating and in
telligent woman with genius for
friendship" To several persons In the
boxes Mrs. Asquith nodded as she sat
at the table waiting for Mr.. Cravath to
finish his encomiums.
at the expense of offending her man
ger. / would like to say that Mrs. As
auth does not deserve the reputation
for indiscretion that her press agent has
given her." Mr.. Cravath said. There
s. no woman who could keep a secret
better and has more regard for loyalty
and honesty. Honesty Is sometimes mis-
taken for indiscretion."
With this as starter, Mrs. Asqulth
came forward and asked her audience
is they would like to hear about my
husband and Lord Tennyson and Lord
ranIfpI hox
would. "All right, Ill tell you about
ell three"
Hooks Preferred to Dances.
What she told about her husband in
dicated that the former Prime Minister
cared more about books and reading
and a comfortable chair in the library
study than he did about fancy dress
balls given by no less important per-
sonages than the Duke and Duchess of
Devonshire, who, as Mrs Asquith said,
"are awful social swells, you KNOW
My husband is square, rather
clumsy looking fellow with splendid
head and I racked by brains TO know
how to dress him up. He didn't want to
70. couldn't quite see himself in a fancy
costume make an awful ass OF myself
and all that. Well. we did7't argue, but
he went. |. found some prints at the
Duchess OF Sutherland'S showing lne
costumes Of the soldiers of the Cromwell
period. and we got him UP as Round
head. and / must say he looked won
dcrfuly.
There was no Jazz in those days-in
the time of the Queen Victoria jubilee.
mean--just graceful minuets like
this (and here Margot executed few
steps to show the inhabitants OF the jazz
era how they used to do iD, and we got
home at o'clock I'm the morning"
Even after such an evening OF dissi-
patton Mr.. Asquth could not be per-
suaded. his wife said to retire immedi-
atcy. but had 60 sit up in the library
and devote himself to the customary
two hours OF reading before going 10
bed. The consequence was that she
awokc at 3 80 and exclaimed Good
God. where is my husband?' He was
scheduled TO deliver an important speech
In the House of Commons that morning.
and she felt n certain responsibility
about his catching cold from a draught
in the house.
II found him IN the library and he
said: I'll be with you at o'clock. ]
always read two hours p"
That was typical Of all the anecdotes.
] ord Tennyson was the most beautiful
man you ever saw. six feet four and very
fine and distinguished, and he smoked
q long clay pipe offering one 90 Mrs.
Asquith, and replied when she COM