Evening star., 1929-10-06
MISS |SHBEL SAYS
FIRST TRIP BETTER
Informality More Pleasing to
Wholesome Daughter of
Visiting Premier.

VIC uO AiOO udtC 81 ludIly IIcW6pdpGI
women in London"
Thus Miss Ishbel Macdonald smil-
ingly greeted the large group of news
paper women gathered at the British en-
bassy yesterday morning for the first in
terview given the press by the premier'a
daughter since her arrival In Washing
ton yesterday afternoon. Her state
ment was in reply to one of the first
questions asked her, as she looked about
the room to see that all of her callers
were seated.
Attired IN the same simple frock in
which she arrived, Miss Macdonald
made no overtures herself toward the
opening Of conversation. but waited
quietly to answer the barrage Of Ques-
tions which were put to her.
Finds Reception Wonderful"
Asked what she thought Of her recep-
ton in this country and whether 1t was
as she had anticipated, she replied. 1T
was wonderful-much more wonderful
than had expected"
Miss MacDonald's first visit to the
United States was in an informal ca
pacity two years ago. She was asked
II she preferred the unofficial reception
Of that time to the ostentatious greet
ing Of the present. She answered that
she preferred her first visit.
please do not think that I do not
appreciate the wonderful welcome which
has been given us this time-but pre-
fer the informality Of my first visit to
the formality Of this one"
In this statement alone, Miss Mac
Donald reveals herself as she ia
wholesome. sincere, unpretentious wom-
an. Disliking the show and glitter, her
mind is above the frivolous and super
fluouS.
A Picture Of Health.
Appearing very much rested after
her quiet evening at the embassy. Miss
Macdonald was a picture of health.
Her wavy brown hair is worn In two
coils at the nape of the neck, her COM
pleXion shows a natural ruddy glow.
v .iich could never come from any rouge
pot. and her clear, brown eyes have a
steady way of looking at the one to
whom she is speaking. This gives her
a striking resemblance to her distin-
guished father
Plainly, Miss Macdonald is not inter-
ested in clothes. Asked If she had
brought a very large wardrobe with
her, she merely smiled and said, Il
think that is too personal a question
to answer"
At home, Miss MacDonald's interests
are mostly centered in her work as
member of the London City Council.
She works actively with the education
committee of the council and is par
ticularly interested in health conditions
among the school children.
Views on Education.
Most Of her work is among the pub
lie school children and knowing that
the English schools do not have co-edu-
cation SO extensively as do schools in
this country, one reporter asked Miss
Macdonald what she thought Of CO.
education.
although we do not have very many
co-educational schools she replied, Il
think 1t is a good thing, and thoroughly
approve of it."
Miss Macdonald is not particularly
interested in sports. although She ad-
mits she likes golf, the sport of her ma
tive Scotland But unfortunately. /
am so busy with my L. C. c. work that
1 do not have much time to play she
said.
Miss Macdonald says the women Of
the Labor party were very active in
the recent election campaign. Il did
a great deal of work myself" she stated,
working with my brother and making
several speeches. There is we'll or
ganized group of women in the Labor
party, known as the Women's Section
OF the Labor Party"
Active Among Miners.
Splendid work was also done by the
English women among the needy wives
and children of miners in the recent
coal troubles. Miss Macdonald reported
conditions among miners families as
greatly improved in the past year.
Although there is a special court for
children in London, on the same order
as American juvenile courts. there Is
no special magistrate for the court.
The same magistrate presiding over
other courts presides during different
sessions over our Juvenile Court" she
said.
When at home, Miss Macdonald acts
as hostess for her father in the prime
minister's home in Downing street. AL
though she has two sisters, she said
they were unable to be Of assistance In
her work as official hostess as both are
busy with their studies.
Joan, who is 81, and five years
younger than myself. is busy studying
medicine in Edinburgh she said
while Sheila, my youngest sister. Is
attending college at Oxford"
Rumored Engagement.
One of the final questions put to Miss
Macdonald was whether she denied or
confirmed reports from London that
upon her return she would announce
her engagement to be married.
II ignore such reports" she smiled
as she rose to leave at the signal from
an attache that the time for the inter-
view was finished.
With the exception of few functions.
Miss MacDonald's social engagements
will be the same as those attended by
the premier. She attended luncheon
yesterday, however, with Lady Isabella
Howard. given in her honor by Mr. and
Mrs. Mccormick Goodhart, o. B. E.,
commercial secretary of the British en-
bassy.