MRS. ASQUITH IN UNITED STATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 78, 1 April 1922, Page 11

MRS. ASQUITH IN UNITED STATES.

SPEAKS ON VARIED TOPICS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SAN FRANCISCO, February 8. j Margot Asquith, the famous wife of the former Premier of Britain, Herbert Henry Aequith, reached New York late at night on the much delayed Carmania, when that ocean liner finally rocked into the harbour in a storm. A half-hour later Mr*. Asuuith was seated in the grey and gold drawing room of her suite at the Ambassador Hotel, pouring out into the palpitating ears of the Frees a odds and ends of opinions on personages, politics, society, divorce and prohibition. Incidentally she began the process of adding to her comprehensive education a few of the simpler rudiments of American slang.

Before drifting into any real enthusiasm concerning her various subjects, however, the astonishing Englishwoman, who is touring the country to give readings from a now book not yet published, made it very clear that she has not one bit of regard for her "memoirs," which stirred consternation in England from the very throne itself downward. The distinguished visitor to America said: 'Of course the book occasioned a lot of adverse criticism. But there were others who commended it. And their praise counted for so much more than the other that I didn't mind at all. Tn fact, I've forgotten just what was said adversely." A little woman of sucfo thinness as to seem quite emaciated; quick, darting movements; firm, too large teeth; dark eye 3 which eeemed gauged to pierce surfaces as if they did not exist. She wore a grey knitted dress belted with a wide strip of black patent leather. The excessively high arches of her slender feet were partially concealed under spate loosely fastened over white -stockings. An ugly little cloth toque with a disagreeable bow drooping stiffly from one side was drawn over her grey curly hair. Characteristic of her smile, which seemed to enjoy something in secret, were her prominent proboscis and her low exquisite voice, eaid one lady reporter who managed to interview Margot.

WOMEN IN POLITICS. She offered her opinion of English-1 women's political status in this wiiy: j "I don't think they will make a great | name in polities. Still, you can't judge! yet; there is only one woman in poli-j ties —Lady Astor. They are not organ- i ised well; they are not good speakers.! Thoy are not making any headway." J Besides Lady Astor there is now Mrs.! WintrLngham in Britain's Lower House, as well as Viscountess Windsor, rpcently elected. Mrs. Aequifh acknowledged Mrs. , Wintringham. The viscountesfi, however, she waved aside with a flick of her English brand cigarette. "I never heard of her," she «aid, and bleiv a disdainful column of smoke aloft. ''There is one woman T should like to see in politics, however. It is Margaret secretary of the Trade Union, and a very fine speaker. She would stand for something: for the Labour movement in which I am tre-

mendously interested." | She was asked which of America's celebrities she would visit during her sojourn in the United States, "and re-plic-d: "I should like beet to see Secretary Hughes. Then I would like to see someone I know—Elihu Root." Another interviewer subsequently advised Mrs. Asquifch to avoid smoking should she journey through the State of Kansas during her lecture tour. "Kansas," said Margot raising her left eyebrow, "what is that?" After delivering her opinion that New York was the "peer of cities," someone i asked: "And have you seen Brooklyn?"' "Brooklyn—who is he?" aeked Margot,! coldly. Did she think the Americans crude after her experience with her first American audience the other afternoon? Oh, no, indeed, said Mrs. Asquith. She thought Americans "tremendously interesting." Women in t/he audience frequently interrupted Mrs. Aequith with rude remarks during her lecture. "It is my opinion," she said, "that the discourtesy which marked my first appearance before an American audience came f -mi the fashionable ladies in the orchestra seats. They were bored. That is all." As she sat in her hotel suite, surrounded by interviewers, Margot looked as if reporters and things bored her beyond words. What did she think of American reporters? "They are quite extraordinary," said Margot after a bored puff at her cigarette.

ADMITS STAGE FRIGHT. Mrs. Asquith. when leaving New Yotlcl for Boston to deliver her eecond lecture on '"People, Politics and Events," said that she was very well pleased on the whole with the proceeding at the New Amsterdam Theatre of the previous afternoon, in spite of the shout? from the gal'cry of a few women who declared they could not hear her. "My knees knocked together and I almoet gave way when that woman 1 shouted, 'good-bye, you've got my money! for nothing,' " said Mrs. Asquith. ' j ""] don't think T ever went through] a more trying moment. I assure you I was very much upset. But after* that I think T was better for this occurrence, because it put my courage to the test. I'm told I read much better after that. "The trouble was that I was placed too far back on the stage. I had been terribly sea-sick on an extrcmelv rousrh voyage, and was doing the beet I could. I think everyone beard mc, except in the early part of the lecture. ''I mi;ile an unfortunate selection in my first reading. I should have known that the people here do not rije and hunt as we do in England, and that the subject did not interest them. 15e*idei=, I made it more difficult to understand because of the brogue used by one of the characters. That was quite" stupid and entirely my own fault. I have learned something."