Memories

Although James Ramsay MacDonald was born Oct. 12 the Scots Club had to wait until last week to celebrate his 65th birthday. In London 700 Scots & guests received the Prime Minister's apologies for having been too busy last Oct. 12 with the General Election to banquet with them then. When all present had been mellowed by Scotch toasts, Mr. MacDonald scratched his silver head, tried to conjure up "some of my childhood memories."

"A young woman," began the Prime Minister dreamily, "a young woman dressed in a print frock, with a sun hat on her head, stops and holds out her hand to a boy about 3 years of age. Holding hands we walked home together through woods bathed with sunshine, where birds are singing, happy."

"My most vivid childhood memory" Scot MacDonald conjured thus: "It is very hard on a frosty morning. We have to get up while it is still dark, and we trudge a mile or two along a frost-bitten dirt road. . . .

"I am leaning on a basket into which potatoes are being gathered, and I find it difficult to keep the tears out of my eyes on account of my frost-bitten hands. Somebody who is the overseer of us all comes and gives me a slap on my frostbitten ear.

"The very thought of it makes me cringe with pain."

In Lossiemouth, Scotland on Oct. 12, 1866 at 11:30 p. m. the future Prime Minister was born to Miss Anne Ramsay. Patient investigators can still see the birth certificate attesting him a bastard in the Parish Registry at Drainie. In signing the certificate Miss Ramsay termed herself a "domestic servant," called her son "James MacDonald Ramsay." Later the boy was called James Ramsay MacDonald. Today the British Who's Who explains that his father was "J. MacDonald."

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