New Britain herald., 1924-12-15
Septuagenarians and Pet Canary
 Here on Globe -Circling Journey
MT. and Mrs. Thomas Clay. ton and "Dick" Stop in New Britain While on Trip Around the World.

Three veteran orld.travelers, MT. and Mrs. Thomas Clayton. both over 70, and their 1o-year-old canary bird, are stopping in this city for a few weeks before making the final lap of their journey around the globe. The Clayton family, from the father down to the canary are all born travellers, and 1t was to see their five children that Mir. and Mrs, Clayton undertook this pilgrimage which started from London In March. 1923, and has carried them to Aus tralia, Hawaii, and the United States. They are now visiting their daugh- ter. Mrs. Harriet Beyer of South street.
 Mir. Clayton, who Is 76. has been carpenter and builder for 62 years, and did ell the woodwork in the little Surrey bungalow where the couple lived in England. The plans for this cozy little place were drawn by one of the sons before the fam fly wanderlust led him into sales- manship. Both he and Mrs. Clay ton, who Is 70 years old. are un- usually active for their age. so much so that they were known as "the children" on the boats on which they travelled.
 MT. Clayton believes in exercise, and even the cold weather this morn Ing failed to stop him from indulg- ing In his fore-breakfast walk. He also goes for long tramp at the end of the day, saying that this lets him enjoy his sleep better.
 The canary, perhaps the most travelled bird of its kind In the world, IS ten years old, but, like its master and mistress, is still active and treated q Herald reporter to numerous vocal selections this morn ing. The bird came originally from South Africa to England. and on the present trip has been to Australia and now America. It has been well all the time. made itself at home under any and all circumstances, and was a great pet in all the strange places where 1t found itself.
 Only twice during the long jour- ney has "Dicky" been away from its owners. On the boat from Fireman tie to Perth, Australia, 1t was put into the butcher shop, while 1t was denied the privilege of Pullman on ' the ride from Chicago to New York
 Sailing from Liverpool on March 31, 1923, the Claytons went around the Cape of Good Hope and stopped ! first In Australia 10 visit q sor who has subsequently, been seized with the travel fever again and gone to Singapore. While in the Antipodes, they experienced that paradox of the southern hemisphere. the ceie- bratlon of Christmas during the hot months. They were much i'm pressed with figs which they ate fresh from the tree while there, and no longer want any other kind.
 After 14 months below the equa- tor, they took ship for San Fran cisco, stopping at Pago-Pago, Samoa, and Honolulu. At the latter place Mir. Clayton had 8 painful exper- fence. He turned on the tap in the ships lavatory and an explosion occurred, hot water and steam rush ing from the pipes on to his legs. He rushed for the doors, but they opened inward, and he was forced to back into the scaldlng stream to ! open them. He lost the skin on one leg and most of 1t on the other and was a month in completely re- covering, but this failed to prevent him from seeing all the sights ot Honolulu the day after the accident
 In September the Claytons reached Salt Lake City. where they spent three months with their two daugh- ters, arriving barely before the death of one of them. MT. Beyer, the husband of their daughter here, and a granddaughter have also dled since the Claytons set out.
 They arrived in this city on frl- day and will stay for some time with their daughter after which they will visit friends In Brooklyn and then complete their periglobular trip by returning to England.