1961-12-16 — Page 26

ONLY GENUINE QUALITY TYRE IN THE LOW-PRICE FIELD!

THE GENERAL

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1961

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?] In 1924 her father became the

first Labour Premier-and she No. 10's youngest hostess

JETAIR RAMSAY MacDONALD'S

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(Estd. 1932)

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A

BITTER wind was blowing over the grey-

green, sullen waters of the Moray Firth and making mock of my London clothes when I knock- ed at the front door of the stone-built cottage at the end of Macduff-street, in the little fishing community of Lossiemouth.

"Mrs Peterkin?" I asked the white-haired, bright - eyed woman who answered my knock

by LLEW

"Yes," she answered, adding GARDNER

before I could say why I had travelled 560 miles to see her: "Come in, come in

be freezing"

in

AT EASE

You must

It was not until I was settled front of a warm fire, a cup of tea black and strong us only Scots brew in my hand, that I was allowed to begin my inter-

view.

Fil

Donald, was Prime Minister of Great Britain.

It was in 1924 that the Labour Party took precarious power for the first time and the silver-

tongued Ramsay MacDonald, more aristocratic looking than any of those he was succeeding.

Look

residence al 10.

Downing-street.

His wife had died some years previously, so Ishbel. A day

Not that I was surprised such hospitality. They are hospitable lot on the North- East coast of Scotland, and toy hostess had had more experi- ence than her neighbours in the youngest-ever hostess difficult art of making a stranger welcome and at ease.

student of domestic science at King's College, had to abandon her studies to move into Nc, 10 with her father.

She

residence.

was just

זי

20-the the

was SQ

NOW she says; For once, when her hair was proud. So proud of my father. as dark as the crows the cry So proud of myself. and swoop over the Moray fields. Mrs Peterkin was known - ply as Miss Ishbel Machenaid and nur father, Ramsay Mac.

JARDINES

FOR

YOUR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

H. Parrot & Co. (London) Ltd.

F. Kulemann

Holrs Charles Bonvin Fils

Monarch Wine Co., Inc.

C. Serchi

John Harvey & Sons Ltd.

Jas. Hennessy & Co.

White Horse Distillers Ltd.

Hill Thomson & Co., Ltd.

National Distillers Products Co.

Joseph E. Seagram & Sons Ltd.

Seager, Evans & Co., Ltd.

Peter F. Heering

Benedictine S.A.

Le Pippermint Get Freres

Idris Ltd.

Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Kulemann Champagne.

Red & White Swiss Wines."

Kosher Wines.

Red & White Chianti.

Sherry, Port & Table Wines.

Hennessy Cognac Brandy." White Horse Whisky. Ewo Whisky.

American Bourbon Whiskies,

Canadian & American Whiskies. Gin, Vodka and Captain Morgan's Jamaican Rum.

Seagers London Dry Gin. Cherry Heering, and Kahlua Coffee Liqueur.

B.O.M. and B. and B. liqueur.s

Pippermint, Anisette, Creme de Cacao and Curacao.

leurs.

Sole Agents: JARDINE, MATHESON & CO., LTD.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVX

"My mother had died when I was right, and I had already learned to stand up for myself. I think I must have scared quite a lot of people with my proud ways.

"Of course, the newspapers tried to make out that I was Just a woe lassie from Scolland who didn't know how to behave In posh society,

"Bosh I had been born and educated in England. I han been brought up by quite well- off aunt

aunts who had taught Mu how to behave. Į never made mistake all the time I was t Downing-street.

K

"My only aim was 10 show

that Labour was fit to govern. That its hostesses were as good as anyone vise."

DIFFICULT

She paused and smiled in tr collection. "You know, I really inust have looked quite scaring walking into receptions with that look on my face that said: 'I'm as good as you are de- spite all your diamonds."

Those were difficult days for Labour.

Ramsay MacDonald was Prime Minister for only 10 enonths before his Goverment crashed in the sensation of the forged Zinoviev letter-linking Labour with the Russian Com- inumists.

His 10 months of office was, 130 time for wild expenditure by Labour's first lady. The Prime Minister insisted that even the coal should be care-

fully rationed, and for the first time in history a Co-op van delivered the groceries to No. 10.

Says Ishbel: "You see, the whole time we were there we lived under a shadow that we might be moving out the next week. We just couldn't afford to overspend "

TRAGEDY

DAUGHTER

LOOKS BACK IN PRIDE

- THE LAST PICTURE OF RAMSAY MaÐÖNALD........ It was taken as he left Lon- don on November 4, 1887, for a holiday in South Anierica, Five days, later he diril st, sea of a heart at- tack. With him in the plo- ture is his daughter, Ishbel.

his colleagues.

Labour

Hiend, once summed up

truth of the whole business when he told me:

Leone

had to save the rest of us had to save the

Party!

"How did your father, take the attacks upon him?"! asked.

"He was heartbroken. His

ECONOMIC

She pausedEDES "Nothing that

elected though--|-

said: getting

that campaigning nomose.

A job?

when Lady Oxford and Asquith old friends used to cut him wrote a pencilled note offering dead. the Prime Minister's daughter any assistance in "choosing the that he was cutting them, But very economical

"Of course, they used to say,

right things to wear."

I've got

one,

nd I'm want money hope spend my

it wasn't true. I'll tell you the to leave Ishbel wrote back declining kind of thing that would hap- to die on the day the offer and added, in

last penny direct Deh, and sarcastic reference to the pencilled scrawl of the titled lady: Hope your wrist is now better."

Defeated at the end of 1924, Labour had to wait until 1929 to take power again. Once again Ishbel went with On one score Isbbel is pre- father

her to 10, Downing-street. pared to admit that she was perhaps not the equal of the By this time, however, the im- mature girl was a politician in elegant and wealthy ladies she her own right, a year pre-- helped her father to entertain.viously she had been elected

"I never had any dress to the LC.O.

shą, told me. Setise,"

Nevertheless, this did not stop her pride asserting itself

"He would be walking down And what could do? Fes a corridor in the House when not qualified for mything. he would see Bome of his About all that can he said L former colleagues approaching, that Frakas Jollyrood wattress Because he was afraid they and barmaid. Oh yes 7m also would snub him, he would turn wonderful floor soubber—– away before reaching theen.

you couldn't get better one."

“Do Tmimissä Loddon?” Asked

"But they misunderstood and they would say: There's that end-so MacDonald trying to avoid us."

Ramsay MacDonald was the theatres. Illegitimate son of a Scottish films.We Tragedy lay ahead. In 1981 serving girl Als daughter finds kind of Ranisay MacDonald, once the case for pride even in that in, mang way, hero of the rank and fle, com- i always be proud of him but there

wfully, narrOWN mitted what many still regard yes, even of his illegitimacy, it has a wonderful as the greatest art of betrayal He did so well to rise from no fog In Labour's history Faced by such humble beginnings.

And

CHESS

a national crisis of unprece-

BY LEONARD-BARDEN

dented proportion, he formed

National Goverment.

So the name of Ramsay Mac

PUBLICAN

televipo

most of the things

moment

Donald, which had once been Ishbel married twice. With suppose

set fair to enter the Socialist her first husband she built a gret not hall of fame, became one to life as a publican in the Buc be muttered only with loath-kinghamshire village of Speen, mg and disgus

He died suddenly one night.

To this day young Socialists. She met her becond husband who know little of the cir- While on holiday in Losse cumstances or MacDonald's

the cntown action, use his name a chemist. Ishbel became synonym for betrayal..

Peterkin the chemist's

No monttment stands to In 1955 the chemist. Ramsay MacDonald in Lossle. Once again he was on her felt it was time to bause

stock, os White

stock,

**** 74 Pan (4) * (6168)outh where he was born, but Here a position from actual

the calumny that has beer lay; Black to move and win heaped upon he remains as

London Express Bürolce,

an awful warning to any La- bour leader that he must never go too far in fraternising with the class enemy"

TARGET

FOR

The attack on Ramsay wa extended to his daughter

Was expelled

Party

Left-win? tha

the Lab

CUT HIM

I

coula

The

Antrench

that

more

Strike of

Tasted

camtidag, form al

marriage.

would be

theven

He had his feet fly on

11 admirea chim