Whimsical Walker

To her first circus last week went the Empire's beloved Baby Betty "who looks as much like her grandmother Queen Mary as a child of seven possibly can."

Since Edward of Wales remains resolutely a bachelor, Betty, the elder daughter of George V's second son, the Duke of York, is in direct line to mount the throne as Queen Elizabeth. She was welcomed to the circus last week by a jovial fellow who could easily cut the figure of a wide-mouthed clown, were he not the Empire's principal sporting peer, the 5th Earl of Lonsdale. Knight of the Garter and Hereditary Admiral of the Coasts of Cumberland and Westmorland.*

English reporters contented themselves with respectfully noting that Her Royal Highness appeared to enjoy the circus thoroughly. But the Canadian Press told its Dominion readers: "Elizabeth's happiest moment came when 'Whimsical Walker,' England's oldest clown (he is well past 80 years of age) came to the royal box and presented his familiar 'red hot' poker, which the princess laughingly grasped. The red paint didn't fool her"

This week the presumptive Queen Elizabeth will go to her first play, Ever So Long Ago.

*After being flogged 32 times at Eton, the present Lord Lonsdale ran away from his family, made his living in Switzerland for 18 months as an acrobat and circus rider. He is rated the best judge of horseflesh in Britain's peerage and the second best judge of cigars. Aged 77, he claims to have started the Klondike gold rush on an early visit to the U. S., gravely insists that he once saw a school of authentic mermaids.

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