Monniker

Though Queen-Empress Mary must display impartial interest in hundreds of nursing homes, some intrigue her more than others. Particularly is Her Majesty known to approve of a certain super-spick-and-span nursing home in Berkshire.

Just before the Court left for Scotland Her Majesty motored out from Windsor Castle, quite unaccompanied except by her chauffeur, for a visit to the Berkshire nursing home. What happened next became a secret which has been weeks in leaking out.

Alighting from her limousine Queen Mary climbed the stoop, pressed the bell. She waited some time, for a new, slow and surly Cockney wench had just been taken into service by the home.

"Well!" said the wench, opening the door two inches, "what name?"

Queen-Empress Mary, imperturbable, replied: "Tell matron the Queen has called."

"Go on!" snapped the surly Cockney, "Don't yer get pokin' fun at me! W'ot's yer real monniker?"

Before Her Majesty had time to utter a second queenly remark, her chauffeur came bounding two steps at a time, and uttered curt words which carried conviction to the Cockney wench.

Though Edward of Wales often goes about unrecognized, and although Motorist George V has had several encounters with stupid traffic policemen, London editors could not recall that Queen Mary has ever before escaped recognition or suffered pert speech from one of her female subjects.