Their Lordships

Although women may vote in Britain and may sit, if elected, in the House of Commons, the House of Lords still remains the Sanctum Sanctorum of lordly males.

For many a long month, the ladies of the land, led by the estimable Lady Rhondda, have sought to soften their lordships' hearts, but in vain.

During the past week, Viscount Astor, husband of the famed first woman M. P., championed the ladies' cause. When a bill to permit peeresses in their own right to take their seats in the House of Lords was introduced, Astor exhorted their lordships thus:

"Fewer than two dozen peeresses will be affected by the bill. The House of Lords ought to reflect more accurately the opinion of the 8,000,000 women voters in the country. On a large number of questions there is a woman's point of view; many men differ from it, but that there is such a point of view is unarguable. Besides, in the House of Commons women have proved an enormous success, and one woman, Miss Margaret Bondfield, occupies a seat on the Treasury 'bench."

Lord Banbury, embittered antifeminist, exclaimed as he moved rejection of the bill:

"I have never met anyone, except members of the Labor Party, who does not regret that we have women in the House of Commons."

"Hear, hear," interposed Lord Birkenhead, whilom "Galloper Smith."

Continued the irrepressible Banbury, whose nickname is "the Banbury bun":

"One of the ablest members of the House of Commons said only this year of the including of women in Parliament: 'What we have lost in dignity we may have gained in efficiency.' For ages, this House has been regarded as the ideal of all Parliaments. Are the noble Lords to sacrifice the dignity of this House on the chance of gaining a little efficiency?"

Then up spake the erstwhile Judge of the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, Lord Darling, a learned man famed for his ironic wit. Said he:

"The age of chivalry is passed, when women watched the ancestors of the noble Lords tilt in the lists. In this age we watch cowgirls at a tournament. So why should not women sit in this House? Would their presence detract from its dignity? If I were to say what I think --"

Then smiling at their lordships under his 74-year-old eyebrows, he added: "But I won't," and sat down.