1955-04-13 — Page 4

Page

30

HE DEBUNKS THAT GODIVA RIDE

By J. W. TAYLOR

TR John B. Shelton is Shelton points out that by that

MCity Chamberlain of time she would have been well

Coventry, and he has start. Over 50 and mos: unlikely to

maka the nymph-like

ap-

ed one of the fiercest con- pearance ot the famous ride troversies the city has attributed to her.

He Nor is this all, for there is a known for some time.

further Shelton, tilt at the says his researches have led legend. He doesn't believe that him to believe that Lady Godiva's husband, Leafric, was Godiva never made her as bad atman, as some people famous ride on horseback in have made him cut to be. The the wherewithal at all.

After Coventry basking years in the literary warmth of

evidence available suggests that 900 he was, in fact, a good husband. That being so," says Mr the Godiva legend, this Shelton, "I do not believe that s Shelton broadside has really man like Leotrie would require set the citizens geething. Had his wife to perform the oct they not recently. by public subscribed to her."

popular vote, caused the city's

Mr Shelton suggests that the now residential hotel-the first most probable explanation of to be built in Britain since the the legend

war-to

be

named

the ancient the Hótel custom of riding round Leotric -after the beloved fields on Rogation Day. Godiva's husband? Coventry Lady Godiva, however, is not without the Godiva legend, in without her equally formidable Chief deed! Why, the city would be champions in Coventry. bereft, not to say denuded, at

a calamity! such

To allow the Shelton bomb shell to simmer a little. it would be as well to, insert here

#

of them is Mr Abe Jephcott, a founder of the Association of Coventrians. He, too, has been doing some historical research work-in Nottingham, where Mr

a historical note. In his Shelton claims. Lady Godiva "Curiosities of Literature,"

once lived. Mr Jephcott says he

Distacll wrote about the Godiva has found no documentary or ride: "This anecdote some have other evidence to suggest that suspected to be fetitious, from Lady Godiva ever lived there. its extreme barbarity, but the character of the Middle Ages" will admit of any kind of wanton barbarism.”

N

City Chamberlain Shelton is on

must

£100 CHALLENGE

In his view: "Godiva rides

and an in

history

the hearts of no mere sensation-monger, but all true Coventrians....”

Far from being apologetic expert whose views command attention." For more for his Godiva verdlet, Mr Shelton rounds off his findings than 40 years he has probed with a £100 challenge in re into the city's history, delving gard to another important part deep into numerous books and of Coventry's ancient ancient documents, and some about which he has long since times digging with a spade harboured considerable seep- wherever a historical discovery 'ticism. For ages it has been. might be made.

thought that there

was & IN NOTTINGHAM

tunnel leading from Coventry to Kenilworth The And after long and thoughtful Chamberlain thinks its exis- attention to the equestrian ten

tence most unlikely. In fact he Journey, which has for so long has offered £100 to anyone provided Coventry with a who can show him the tunnel. symbol and a legend known throughout the civilised world. the City Chamberlain concludes: "I do not believe that Lady Godiva did ride naked through our streets, or at all"

City

Now Mr F. E. Player, of Mount Street, Coventry, has stepped into the affray with a bold offer to show Mr Shelton the tunnel and to collect the

£ 100,

He claims that it was. Mr Shelton does not leave it bricked up by the owner of at that, but states that his re- the Manor about 50 years ago searches show that at the time because he was straid his the Danes destroyed Coventry, in children would get lost in it #1016, Lady Godiva was living It is for the City Chamber in Nottingham and directing the lain- to debunk this. Mean

the fortifications. while, loyal Godiva fans have building of there. He deems the lady to gone into a huddle with a view have then been 28 years of to organising comprehensive age. Therefore, it being an research to prove that there is established fact that she did not something in the ride that to Coventry till 1042, Mr Godiva made with nothing on

go

trust

Roue dor

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| ATTLEE - MARCH'55

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THE CHINA MAIL, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, -1955,

RESERVED FOR SIR WINSTON SIR ANTHONY

Nathaniel Gubbins

W

*Now

the youth

HY are you looking Alfred Lord Tennyson to write

the Eight England is on fireh so miserable? The Charge of

Brigade." The day before

Haven't you read Tennyson, as Poet Laureate, had Although hardly a youth, ald

the good news?"

but

just received his yearly barrel Tom was certainly on fire of sack. That night Gubbins not about the Armada.. At the Mr Butler, the Chancellor and Tennyson tapped the bar- Rge of 105, and while warning of the Exchequer, has said rel and went on a whale of

once again that he hopes quen

bender. The

beacons blazed across the face

The next morning the of England be was on fire about sent a message to say a girl called Katherine Milton, the national income will be she wanted some herole stuff who became the mother of his doubled by 1980.

written about д shocking child.

She blunder in the Crimea

He did public penance for wanted it quickly, too, because his sin, married again at the anything that would make a de- age of 122, and, untroubled by teat look like a victory was bad news, might have lived essential to soothe the anger of almost for ever if some Inter- the: mob.

fering fool had not carried

So if you are 40 years old you can look forward to happy days when you are 65, just in time, maybe. to draw a double old- ago pension.

If you' are 50 Bfe will begin Tennyson had a paralysing him off at the age of 152 to be for you at 75.

So If you are 60 hangover. had Gabbins, exhibited before Charles I.. in life will begin at 85. And if you But together, groaning at the London. A are 73, boy, oh boy, oh boy (or desk, they turned out what is

There, choked by city smells; girl, oh girl on girl), you will now recognised as the worst worried by sensation mowers, be living in Utopia when you're poem written in the English and fed on rich food, he died.

I language.....

100

with all his organs healthy, ne- When will life begin for Gub- Gubbins could tell you a lot carding to a report of a post- bins? Can be look forward to more about his long life, his mostern carried out by Dr who discovered the Mr Butler's 19807 Although he violent arguments with

Glad Harvey, has no intention of revealing stone, the passes he made at circulation of the blood. his great age he can tell you Mrs Siddons and Lily Langtry,

that he fought without distine but would be nothing Letter From A

tion at the Battle of Waterloo, pared to what he is going to He was hiding under Welling- tell people in the golden year ton's horse and fought his way of 1980.

to the rear when things were

NOW. ON TO THE NEXT

**

*

getting a bit dangerous.

It can now be revealed

that

·

Bird

12.

it was to Gubbins that Queen Then at the age of, let us Victoria said: "We are not say, 250, and with the national ROM amused." Gubbins was trying income doubled, the ancient

the correspondenca

column of The Animal's '

to be funny even, then. He had Gubbins will demand double (and Bird's) Newspaper, edited Just asked her a new riddle: money for a sparkling column by N. Gubbins, Esq. "Why did the chicken cross the rond?"

It can also be revealed that It was Gubbins who helped

STASSEN-THE MAN WITH A DREAM

T

WENTY years ago, the youthful, boyish-faced At- torney for Dakota County, Minnesota, stepped out his office one morning. to find a throng of armed and angry farmers de- manding his life.

The young man spoke "Go quietly and precisely. home," he said. "I'll do what I can for you."

They went.

Most of the farmers probably couldn't have ex- plained why they wanted Harold Stassen's life. Still less could they explain why they went home quietly. Except that Harold Stassen isn't the kind of man you can meet face to face and stay angry with for long.

Today. Stassen faces a. situation alarmingly like his encounter with the lynch mob in Dakota County.

"As the world's first "Minister for Diserma- ment," his job is, at root, to make the world's statesmen go home quietly and think things over.

BITTER

+

By Les Armour

men

Harold Stassen is a man with a dream: long- acknowledged leader of the internationalist wing of the American Republican Party, one of the who wrote the United Nations Charter, and for the last two years administrator of the U.S. foreign aid programme, he has long believed that the world is has place for national pride. Now he ,, too hot

been appointed Special Assistant to. President Eisenhower in charge of disarmamentia cabinet post which makes him the world's first "Peace" Minister." The appointment has been greeted with surprise, and not a little cynicism. But here is the man who COULD make it 'work!!! story of

father fell 11. Two years later But Stassen reasoned that he had made enough money to "boy wonder President wasn't moved on to the University of a time of national crisis." Minnesota.

be made to work if it could be given teeth. His days as a top military policy-maker had con- vinced him that the atomic bomb demanded complete "re-think" of world policy“.

Out of the two came a plan to turn over complete control of atomic weapons to a United Nations world police force. The plan was not so wildly idealistic as it sounded...

JITTERY

called

"I Remember,

member."

I Re-

Sir,

My attention has been drawn: He will demand double money to the published detalls of a fim for television interviews in made of the private lives f forming people travelling on woodpeckers by Mr Helpz the rebuilt railways how pas- Stelman.

sengers were choked to death

of

..

type

by dust or died miserably

Mr Sielman appears to have great deal of trouble food poisoning on the South- taken a Eastern section of British Rail- over his work, He cut away a

a trunk of a ways in 1955. In these Inter- quarter of views he will bore people where the woodpeckers had through halt a dozen wars, tell- made their home, When artificial ing outrageous lies about all of Fighting had been introduced into them.

the nest a special camera was placed in position and As people wil believe any camouflaged, After two years' thing but the truth the life of camera snooping Mr Sielman Gubbins will become a legend. produced a film lasting. 20.. It will be Almed in colour, minutes, which will be shown to three dimensions, and Gladstone and Tennyson. on ice will be something дет even in 1980.

an ice. the public,

So clap hands all those who are likely to see this wonderful year and join Gubbins in thank- ing Mr Butler for his kind and encouraging words.

Writing on behalf of all birds may I ask if this practice is likely to grow, and what useful purpose can it serve except to pander to idle curiosity?.

No doubt Mr Sielman, will, say that it has been done to the in-:- terests of scientific research, but

Shropshire Lad. If this is so there is a case

NE of the many bees that ONE

buzz in my bonnet is the conviction that people would be much happier and. healthier, it they knew less about what's go ing on in the world,

for shooping not only on the private lives of all animals

and birds but on the private

lives of men and women by those interested in human be baviour.

For instance, what is there to prevent Bin enthusiastic mass observer, posing as a gas in.

In those days only the United

In these enlightened times States could make the bomb. you can hear more bad news in Had it been turned over to a 15 minutes by turning a radio spector and rigging a camou- UN, with powers to act, and knob than a man living in an aged, automatically recorti had the United States genuinely earlier century would have ing camera in some Utile subur turned over the machinery for tidings of disaster and sinister month or two later to collect heard in a lifetime. Before ban home? He would call a making it to U.N. and scrapped goings-on in foreign pants were his camera and, as nobody has its own plants, the mere posses fashed round the globe in any copyright in his own face, slon of the weapon would have seconds people could live in might later show to the public made it possible for the U.N. peaceful ignorance not only of a film depicting embarrassing to prevent, anyone

else manu-what was happening abroad detalls of the private lives of

but in their own country. let us say, Mr and Mrs Smith: facturing it.

This may be one of the Just as we shall now have an world But à jittery

was reasons why old Tom Parr, opportunity of seeing Mr. and having none of it. And Ameri- whose life story has been TC- Mrs Woodpecker at their morn............. cans; seemingly, wanted little cently retold, lived to the ageing and evening "toilet, or eating their meals; we might see Meaning his teeth of Stassen H. L Mencken of 152. snapped at the time: "Stassen is Old Tom was born in Shrop- Mr Smith a cowshed messiah one of the shire in 1483, when Edward IV. and Mrs Smith

When he curves of her roving the

with arti-": saviours of humanity that the way on the throne.

grew up he worked on a farm, ficial aids. We might see

with American country, produces in living mainly on coarse bread, Smith eating peas

knife and Mrs Smith drinking hundreds every four years." milk, and whey.

We

Mr

hig

keep the fauniy going while, he likely to appeal to the public at, mination and threw his support tiling the same acres, not car-tions in Parliament and an out"

But Wilkie, during the cam- Like the Dakota County There, he worked as a greasepaign, promised: “What I start, farmers, who were bitter boy at a bakery, a grocery cleik Harold will complete.” and angry because they had and a Pullman car conductor to

As it happened, Wilkie didn't nowhere to sell their milk, keep himself alive' while he

get elected and there was the statésmen

probably studied.

something else to complete after Pearl Harbour.

couldn't tell you just why..

they want to set the world

afire. Above all, none of

*)

GOVERNOR

41

Stassen resigned his GoverzET- Navy.

He became Assistant Chief of Naval Staff; collected a chestful of medals (mostly for action in the Pacific near the Philippines) and disappeared" from the political, world.

CONVICTION

behind Eisenhower.

My

in the

right Kings dnd queens were tea from a saucer.

even see Miss Smith being In 1952 Stassen gave up any crowned and died. Henry VII, petted by the boy friend on a

one by hopes he may still have had of bumped off his wives securing the Presidential no one; wars were fought at home sofa in the front parlour.

and in France. Old Tom kept shown there would be ques

If a dim like this were ever

ing what happened outside the

newspapers. In- village.

dignant Up to the age of 18 he was amant leading articles would about the sacred left the University of Fenney still a bachelor and probably rights of privacy with re- lvania and becaine Mutual thought of nothing much but minders that an Englishman's Security, Administrator. When turnips and mangold-wurzels, home is his castle, that job was abolished, he took but at the age of 20 he sud- over the office which succeeded denly thought of something else, it, the top spot in the Foreign He married a Miss Jane Taylor. Operations Administration.

- After Eisenhower's election he

Now he has been chosen to

bring his old dreams into reality

In all fairness may I plead that a bird also has a right to a wood- privacy and that pecker's nest is his castle?

As the film took two years to make many unfortunate. In- They had two children who cidents must have been record- died in infancy. Mrs Parred. Is it too much to hope dropped off the hooks some that, as it is now only 20 min years later, leaving old Tom utes long, much that should hale and hearty, still growing not be seen by prying eyes has things on the land, still con- been deleted? tented with his simple diet,

I remain, sir, Six feet three inches tall, his undisturbed by affairs of the solid abricen stone bulk set on day and minding his .own

Yours faithfully, feet that require size 12 shoes, business,

A Bird World Copyright]

HONESTY

he looks like a man who gets When he reached the age, of things done.

105 in 1588 the Spanish Armada called to conquer England.

a

of

Fortunately... for old Tom, there was no radio to tell him anything about it. No voice from a box announced: “This is the B.B.C. Home Service: Here is the news. The Spanish

them could say just why he In between, he found time to ship, and joined the thinks blowing mankind off organise a Republican group on the face of the earth with the campus, and at 23 he was hydrogen bombs is going to elected County Attorney for help achieve any of his Dakota County. aims.

He declared war on vice, Nobody thinks Harold Staisen virtually eliminated graft and

going to pull any miracles stamped out prostitution.. 8.50 out of the hat.

But if he can. At 31, he ran for the Gov- convince the world that the

ernorship of Minnesota. Old-

When he came back, it was United States genuinely wants

He looks at people with hand politicians in the Demo with a new idce, the conviction gaze of frank appraisal which 35.00

to disarm, it is just possible cratic ranks laughed. Nobody that "national sovereignty can suggests a man very sure 10.50 that some people will go home had ever been Governor of a no longer serve world Interests" himself, but not quite sure of 10.50 quietly

US State at 31..

But he came back, too, to a new anyone else. But Stassen won by the larg situation where his earlier po

fleet has been sighted of the est majority, ever recorded in litical promise had been dimmed by years in which other men.

'coast of Cornwall. Admiral His father was a Minnesota the State-200,000. 1.00 market gardener of mixed

with other ideas had been rising

Behind it all is the stern Drake, after finishing his game of bouls at Plymouth, 4.50 Czech and Norwegian parentage sted on keeping his speeches

During the campaign, he in in the Republican Party.

Baptist upbringing, the rigid 10.00 who rose to be three times

moral code of American Pro-hassalled to meet the enemy" Mayor of St Paul His mother down to 20 minutes and on10, 1948, he lost the nomina testantism, the uncompromising There was no dramatic broad- shaking the hand of every voter tion to Dewey, and became honesty which characterises the cast from Elizabeth 1 Calling 24:00 was German

who turned up at his meetings. President of the University of 15:00

proclaimed.. few Stassen himself is a typical

Pennsylvania instead startling

only dent of the United States...

of Pres not a man you doubt Prime Minister, prochising 320- | to bear arms; no voles from a

The voters liked It

easily, a man you can hate for thing but blood, toll, tears, and 1150 ing pot the product of the

But he did not abandon, po- long. It is possible that even swert. There was nobody, (to fight to the American mid-West In

only 33 he lttical thought. His experience Mr Malotoy will find it a little give old Tom & pike and tell from: they presures and terrors, was floor manager for Wendell as a member of the U.S., de- ham to dissemble when they him he was still young enough

to join the Home Guard vention. Minnesota politicians Conference at which the U.N. we can do

Somewhere about this time He left school at 14 to take wanted him to try for the Charter was, drawn up had con- 6• It is just possible that Stassen William Shakespeare bad wait- lover the Lanly farm when his Presidential nomination, himself vinced him that the U., could will do the job,

ten about another wars

And he may be just the man 5.00 to do it.

(4.00

He

3.00 † product of Vie American melt policies be promised

grey

Only the mild blue eyes soften his appearance.

He is

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, LTD. of a battered Europe, Wilkie at the Republican con Jegation to the Ban Francisco meet face to face,

'HONGKONG

HAY KOWLOON

on all atout-hearted Englishmen.

POCKET CARTOON]

by OSBERT LANCASTER

ow you take tea""for