New Britain herald., 1930-09-27

At last Lady Godiva ap-
 peared and as she slowly passed through the throngs the roars that greeted her rolled like a wave down the street. In the roars could be detected real, keen, amusement, mingled with chagriL and little dis appointment.
 For Lady Godiva was dog! A little French poodle!
 There she came, sitting up on her launches on the back of a beautiful white horse, led by two pages in me- dieval costumes.
 St. Albans took the joke with good humor. The people were disappointed, there was no doubt of that, but they were rather ashamed to think that they had been foolish enough to believe that in 1880 a real, nude Lady Godiva could ride through the streets of an English town.
 Some of the townspeople chided the fair manager and charged him with perpetrating fraud, but to them he repied:
 Some other towns, now, may not be like St. Albans, but our girls-bless their sweet hearts-are all good girls! Not one in the whole town would show herself in tights and false hair Sos not to disappoint anyone, I just named this little dog Lady Godiva' and I guess you'll admit she rode the way God made her-except I scrubbed her first"
 The poodle dog had been hired for the occasion from troupe of perform ing dogs which had recently played in St. Albans.
 The Lady Godiva pageants of the past few years have had more than an entertainment value, they have sought to preserve. the story of one of the most sainted women in English history, woman to whom, only two years ago, a memorial tablet was erected in Cow entry.
 Lady Godiva, according to the old legends, was the wife of Saxon Earl Leofric, overlord of Coventry, about the year 930. Leofric was a heartless, cruel monarch who cared little for the welfare of his people but who was nightly interested in his own welfare and prosperity.
 Upon the people of Coventry Leofric had imposed the burden of terrific tax ation and time and again Lady Godiva. who had the interest of the people at heart, had pleaded with her husband to tighten the tolls. But he had been adamant.
 Finally, hoping to quiet her en- treaties, he sneeringly agreed to lower the taxes if she would humble herself by riding through the streets of Coven- try stark naked. Much to his surprise Lady Godiva agreed,
 A proclamation was issued recurring everyone to keep within doors and to close their shutters during the period of Lady Godiva's ride. So deeply had she won the affection of the people of Coventry that her request was obeyed by all-all except one man, a tailor who bored hole in his shutters so that he might see Lady Godiva pass. Peep ing Tom," as he became known, watched and as a result of his faith lessness, he was struck blind. And down through the ages for a thousand years the name "Peeping Tom" has been ap- piled to those who spy upon their neighbors' doings.
 The story of Lady Godiva is one of the most cherished legends of old Eng land. Periodically for many years. her famous ride had been resurrected in fetes and pageants in Coventry and other towns of England and always they have been accompanied by reverence which was almost patriotic. For this very reason, many people have decried the commerciaism which has characterized the most recent version of the event.
 While 1t is too early to anticipate results, there is possibility that the affair at St. Albans this year will re- suit in slightly different attitude to- ward these pageants. The populace has become rather fed up with the conventional camouflage and they most certainly won't be hoaxed by dog again-so it is well within the range of possibility that hereafter the pageants will be reserved for their birthplace only-Coventry.