Children of the Chimney

Heavily backed by Laborites and such ardent humanitarians as Lady Nancy Astor, a Government Education bill for raising the minimum school age from 14 to 15 years came before the House of Commons last week. Up to oppose it stood another noble lady, political junior but social senior to Lady Astor, Her Grace the Duchess of Atholl.

Born Katharine Marjory Ramsay, the Duchess of Atholl, musician and lawn tennist, has been a Member of Parliament since 1923. Among her accomplishments are the organization of the Perthshire District Nurse Associations; the composition, for pianoforte, of Song-Flowers from A Child's Garden of Verses; and the assemblage, at the suggestion of Lord Kitchener, of the world's finest collection of Scottish soldiers' stocking tops. In 1899 Katharine Marjory Ramsay married the Duke of Atholl, chieftain of all the Murrays, colonel-in-chief of the Scottish Horse Scouts, a gallant soldier and the owner of 202,000 Scottish acres. Said the Duchess last week : "I do think the Committee should not overlook the practical type of boy who wants to be out in the world making his own way. Industry needs children of that age."

On the composer of Song-Flowers from A Child's Garden of Verses, Lady Astor promptly turned the full force of her Virginian invective.

"I am horrified!" she snapped. "If industry depends on the little hand, then it had better stop. It is difficult for me to speak without emotion, and if the Duchess of Atholl had her way, English children would still be up the chimney and down the mine."

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