Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/538

 LADY OF QUALITY SM Curiously enough, Mrs. Bryce, the wife of the present British Ambassador at Washington, is also of American origin. Her mother. Miss Ehzabeth Gair, came of American parentage on both sides, although she was born in Liverpool, and ultimately married Mr. Thomas Ashton, a rich manufacturer of Fordbank, near Manchester. Miss Ehzabeth Marion Ashton married Mr. Bryce in 1889, and being a deeply intellectual woman, with a keen grasp of politics, and a Uking for people who have done things, she and her husband had much in common. ' The American strain in her blood betrayed itself in her fondness for clever Americans, and it was largely due to her that so many of th^m found a welcome at Mr. Bryce 's house in Portland Place, London, prior to his departure for Washington in 1907. The Press America, there- fore, gave the Bryces a very hearty welcome, and Mrs. Bryce, who is averse to the newspaper in- terviewer, had a difficult task to pilot her husband, upon his arrival in the States, through the co- horts of journal- ists and photo- graphers who flocked about him. She succeeded, however, for, al- though the per- sistent pressmen hurled instituted what might be termed an intel- lectual salon at Washington, where one may meet the cleverest of people. However, it falls to the lot of the Ambassadress in America to meet people of all classes. In the States there are something like three million Britishers, many of whom, it would seem, judging by the letters received, look upon the Ambassador and his wife as their guardians. The Burden of Letters * No former British Ambassador has had so extensive a correspondence with the American public and professional men as Mr. Bryce. He is constantly questioned about all sorts of matters relating to government in England. He makes it a point to answer these letters fully, in spite of the extra work they in- volve, because he considers this task not the least im- portant. of his duties. Likewise, Mrs. Bryce re- ceives many letters from A m e r ic a n women on a hun- dred and one different subjects, and many are the appeals for help and advice which she receives from British women in the States, Several hours of each day are occupied in dealing with this mass of correspon- dence. There are, moreover, the usual appeals from British societies and charities for patronage and. assistance. P e r- questions at hini until they jvj„ B^yce, wife of the Kt. Hon. James Bryce, British Ambassador at Wash got him " going ington. By her tact and charm she has gained the goodwill and esteem of hapS the AmbaSSa- some," as they the American nation drcss is askcd . J. ,, ,i. Photo, R. HaiHCs _, ^ , said — in fact, until to become the he called them "boys," and looked as if he president of one, or open a bazaar for was willing to talk, one of them soon grasped the situation, and broke out into that popular song of the English vaudeville stage, " My wife won't let me." Then the ranks parted, and the King's distinguished emissary was allowed to pass. An Intellectual Salon Beyond organising the semi-official ban- quets, which the British Ambassador at Washington is called upon to give, Mrs. Bryce, unlike Lady Durand or Lady Herbert, has not distinguished herself in the matter of elaborate entertainments. But she has another, while political unions, knowing how active Mrs. Bryce was here ' in connection with the Women's National Liberal Association and the Women's Free Trade Union, for instance, seek her support. It is incumbent upon an ambassadress, however, to be discreet, particularly in a country like America, where, to say the least, much colour is often lent to the words of one of high position. Many an awkward contretemps, which might have led to serious trouble, has been caused by a fondness for talking on the part of wives of high officials.