Royal Bestowal

If we've nothing in particular to do . . .

. . . We help a fellow creature on his path.

With the Garter* or the Thistle/- or the Bath. . . .**

Then we possibly create a peer or two!

The King of Barataria

Gilbert & Sullivan

No peers were created by the King-Emperor, last week, but George V, perhaps with "nothing in particular to do," did bestow the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of The Thistle upon the father of the most popular young woman in England. The young woman is Elizabeth Duchess of York, only daughter-in-law of His Majesty, and mother of the nationally adored "Baby Betty."

The new Knight of the Thistle is the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Claud George Bowes-Lyon, a descendant of Scottish kings far more ancient in lineage than is Britain's Royal House. The Earl, pious and as Scotch as the Thistle itself, is at pains to uphold the motto of his House: In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust.

Orchards are his hobby. A few years ago he would climb nimbly up many a tree, personally inspecting branches that might need pruning. Even now, at 73, he ministers to favorite trees from the ground, with a long pruning-saw, much resembling a medieval spear. As he prowls, thus accoutred, around his excessively historic Glamis Castle, romantic persons enjoy fancying that the Earl resembles an early owner of his domain, King Macbeth of Scotland (reigned 1040-57), who, as Shakespeare has told, murdered King Duncan in Glamis Castle.

Sir Walter Scott, when he slept there for a night, fancied that ghosts came eerily to mock at him; but Elizabeth Duchess of York has explicitly scoffed at all such "stuff and nonsense."

Some three centuries after Macbeth's death, King Robert II of Scotland begot a daughter from Elizabeth Mure (first mistress, later queen), married the girl to doughty John Lyon, gave him Glamis Castle. Thence the House of Bowes-Lyon descends in unbroken line. Succeeding ancestors were created Baron Glamis (Scotch Creation, 1445), Lord Glamis (English Creation, 1606), Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, 1677, and Baron Bowes (United Kingdom Creation, 1887). All these titles of course reside in the present Premier Peer of Scotland, 14th Earl of Strathmore, Claud George Bowes-Lyon.

As is usual every Autumn, members of the Bowes-Lyon family were fishing for sporty salmon, last week, in the famed River Spey. Among titled Spey fisher-women the Duchess of York ranks well; but she is admittedly surpassed by Super-Fishermaiden Miss Rachel Spender-Clay, a niece of Viscount & Viscountess Astor. During the week Miss Spender-Clay distinguished herself still further by announcing her engagement to the Duchess' youngest brother, the Hon. David Bowes-Lyon, probably the worst salmon fisherman in his distinguished family.

Since childhood David Bowes-Lyon has enjoyed the occult reputation of possessing second sight. This was most strikingly demonstrated when he absolutely refused to believe official War Office statements that his brother Michael had been killed in France.

Said Seer David: "Michael is not dead. I have seen him twice, wandering about the castle with his head tied up in a piece of cloth."

Two months later Captain Michael Bowes-Lyon was reported a prisoner of War in Germany, and after the Armistice was repatriated.

Candid friends of Seer David, 26, rejoiced last week that he will espouse wholesome, Crack-Fishermaiden Miss Rachel Spender-Clay, 21, who announced that she will wed "sometime next year."

The King-Emperor, still "with nothing in particular to do," rounded out the week thus:

P: Raised Plymouth, which has been a town for 400 years, to the rank of city (Pop.: 200,000).

P: Conferred the Most Exalted Order of The Star of India upon the Earl of Birkenhead, when he resigned as Secretary of State for India (see p. 16).

P: Bestowed Knighthood in the Most Noble Order of the Garter (the highest honor in the gift of the Crown) upon His Majesty's close and sportsmanly friend, Col. Hugh Cecil Lowther, 71, 5th Earl of Lonsdale, who is also Viscount and Baron Lowther, Lord Lieutenant and Gustos Rotulonim* of Cumberland, Colonel of the Westmorland and Cumberland Imperial Yeomanry. Hereditary Admiral of the Coasts of Cumberland and Westmorland, and late Master of the smart Cottesmore Hounds.

The new Garter Knight owns 175,000 fruitful acres, patronizes turf and prize ring, is often flippantly called "The King of British Sports."

* "The Most Noble Order of the Garter."

/- "The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle."

** "The Most Honorable Order of the Bath."

* Keeper of the county records.