Evening star., 1932-11-13

to take her seat there, she was escorted
| to the desk by AsQuith and Lloyd
George, at that time the former and
present prime ministers, respectively.
There was no applause. The members
remained seated and even the immacu-
late, spatted and boutonniered Austen
Chamberlain kept his silk topper on his
head. None of these acts was intended
as an individual affront, but she felt
the general atmosphere of the chamber
was hostile, and a few moments after
her installation she fed to the private
chamber provided for her. and there
she had an honest, old-fashioned cry.
Can Be Humble.
Yes, she knows how to be humble and
apologetic, but she is always fearless
considers unfair to be used against her.
| During one of her first speeches,
member who likes women neither in
| nor out of Parliament began to num-
BILE audibly. As she proceeded, his
mumbling constantly grew louder and
attention was distracted from her
speech. She, of course, had the oppor
tunity Of protesting to the Speaker.
But that was not Lady Astor's way. It
would be an admission that she could
not succeed without calling for help.
| die sotOPPCu dpIuPb1y, dIl0
walked over to the mumbling disturber
and stood facing him. Pointing her
finger straight at him, she burst out:
Now, see here, you'll Stop that! How
do you expect me to 60 on with my
speech II you keep mumbling all the
time? I don't do that when you
speak"
This time there was some applause
and the speech went on without inter-
ruption. There has been no mumbling
since when Lady Astor has spoken.
While she adores being the center OF
the stage. Lady Astor can be generous,
and Is happy to play second fiddle on
occasion. On her wedding day there
was the usual grand reception. Nancy
was radiant, happy and bubbling with
excitement. But the most beautiful and
royal appearing person present was Sis
ter Irene, who had become the wife of
Charles Dana Gibson, the artist. Guests
would speak to Sister Nancy and turn
to gaze at Irene.
Put Sister at Top.
"Irene's the really beautiful lady of
the family" said Nancy-and placed
Sister Irene at the top Of the line.
Many greeted her as Nancy before they
discovered that the bride had put her
beautiful sister in the place of another
Lady Astor's ideals are fundamental
and devoid of illusion. They are prin-
cipally occupied with equality of human
opportunity and especially with equality
of opportunity protection and compen-
Sation for women.
Is she Socialist? Socialism can be
possible only when individual greed
disappears" she asserts, "and that is
still long way off"
Te 6a
the people themselves, understanding it
desire it-but at present only so far as
they can be educated to understand 1t
and desire 1t. In the meantime make
1t impossible for minors to learn to
!. drink and for the wage Garner to spend
too much time in the pub.
Is she pacifist? Yes, she says. when
men learn mental and spiritual cour-
J age. Men have physical courage and
, enjoy killing and being killed. They
, have not the mental courage to stop it
, Women have mental courage and do not
enjoy having their husbands and son.
killed, but the men cannot be relied
upon to cease firing. War will not cease
until women are able to govern. but
women, she says, are not yet able tc
govern. They can learn, and that's
what she Is for-to teach them to gov
ern first themselves, and then to learn
to join with men in ruling a peaceful
world.
Works for Women.
What is she working for now? Tc
secure and maintain these things fol
women: Equal guardianship of chill
oren, equal pay for equal work, euua]
opportunity in the civil service, eauaI
franchise, equal divorce rights and IA
cilities."
She abominates the word Charity
she says that in good world it would
be an unnecessary word. Yet she gives
many hours to charitable pursuits.
Her chief occupation now is con-
cerned with the establishment of nurs-
cry schools in slum areas for children
petWeen and 5 years Of age. She ano
LORD Astor purchased the land upon
which the Mcmillan Nursery School al
Deptford stands. and she has made that
into England'S Central Training Schoo
Tor Nursery School Work.
With all this, Lady Astor finds time
70 be the easiest mark in London fol
american tourists and she keeps hel
city house, her country place and ever
the Houses of Parliament in turr
hooded with American Boy and Cir
Scouts, Gold Star Mothers, young en-
voys of the United States Flag Associa.
tion, colored college glee clubs, white
college athletic teams, debating teams
chess players and mandolin clubs, moi
10 mention the ordinary run-of-t the
mine American tourist who has moth
ing but Virginia accent and a pail
Of tired feet to intercede for him.
Gave Dinner for Women.
She recently gave a dinner to the
SO most distinguished women Of Britain
as selected by her. They included
naturally, such outstanding persons a.
the Duchess Of Atholl, Dame Laura
Knight, painter, and Rose Macaulay
the writer. In addition the group in
cluded q public school teacher, fac
tory inspector, chartered accountant
q prison matron and a female bobby
Nancy Astor was a beautiful girl, Il
not as beautiful as Irene. There is gray
in the hair now and there are line;
in the face. speaking nobly of hard
Joyous battles well fought. The fig.
Of the lines that inevitably come wher
every physical and mental effort i!
exerted the face is surprisingly younl
and firm. There Is the suggestion o.
the veteran, well trained athlete still
able and willing to meet all comers
And the eyes are as large, as brigh
and as alternatively derisive and tender
as they were in the days when she anC
Irene were rolling fat John Powell
about in the dust Of Virginia street
This is the first of series OF per-
sondlity portraits Which John T. Nc
Govern has Dritten for The Sunday