Never having been interviewed till I arrived in this country, I do not know in what way reporters of intellect here would compare with ours, but it passes my comprehension to understand why those that I have met are content to write for papers that seldom print what is either informing or interesting. One of them said to me: "We do not publish news, Mrs. Asquith, we concoct it." XIII: KANSAS CITY AND OMAHA KANSAS CITY AND OMAHA AMERICAN VOICES RARELY MUSICAL--SEES LOVELY COUNTRY HOME--DISCUSSION ON CHARACTER BUILDING--MARGOT PREDICTS GREAT FUTURE FOR GOVERNOR ALLEN We travelled to Kansas City the night of the lecture and were met upon our arrival and taken to the country house of Mrs. Edwin Shields. After greeting her, I observed her fine tapestries, oriental china, portraits (by Sir Joshua Reynolds), and other old masters, as well as modern French pictures. We ate porridge, eggs and bacon and grapefruit for breakfast, off an oak table with Irish linen napkins, and I observed the refinement of my hostess's little face, and the pretty quality of her voice. I do not think the voices here are generally musical; they are nasal and a little loud and, though Americans have a great deal of geniality and love of fun, I am so slow at picking up the language, that I probably miss much of the irony and _finesse_ that characterises our better kind of humour. The Canadians, who are of British stock, have a better sense of humour; but it is always a dangerous subject to write about, and when I remember the stupid things that evoke the laughter of the London public in our theatres, I feel I had better walk warily. I am Scotch, and as a nation we have been accused of lack of humour; I cannot be expected to agree with this, nevertheless I remember being told in my youth of a man who had said: "Oh! aye; Jock undoubtedly jokes, but he jokes with facility. I joke too, but with difficulty." The French have a far finer sense of humour than any other nation in the world, and all they say is a constant source of delight to me. It is pardonable not to laugh at what is amusing, but sudden guffaws at bad jokes is the test of a true sense of humour. After breakfasting with Mrs. Shields I asked her to show me over her beautiful house. I was reminded of Glen by the freshness of the chintzes, and general feeling of air and comfort which I saw wherever I went. We started at midday for Omaha, where we arrived in the evening. I felt less sad at parting with my hostess as I knew I was going to spend from 7 a.m. till midnight with her on the 24th. She is coming to Europe this summer where I shall look forward to entertaining her in London, as well as in the country.