The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-12-17

BY LADY SMITH-DORRIEN
 Copyright 1886, by United Press)
 London, Dec. 17-(UP) - Rega simplicity.
 That brief but infinitely precious formula Is a rare attribute which has given Queen Elizabeth the key to the hearts of Great Britain's masses. It was this subtle combin- atiori of something exceedingly roy al, yet at the same time exquisitely natural, which endeared her to ar almost unbelievable degree to those whos have come into close contact with her work since the World War brought her childhood to a prema- ture end.
 Indeed, I wonder how many peo- pie realize that England's new queen the Lady Elizabeth Bowes- Lyon-was still practically a child when the great war broke out? Then at the age of .14, practically over night, she switched from the usual occupations of a child to the grim business of nursing soldiers.
 NAoLhC DCCOulCo AhODPntdh
 Again almost over night she wit messed the transformation of Glamis Castle, the ancestral home of the Strathmores (her parents) into a hospital. And when she was not busy helping her mother take care of hundreds of men who came to , them from the trenches in France, she was knitting innumerable ar- ticles for shipment to the front.
 The transition must have been all the more brutal because until the great halls and stone corridors of Glamis had been silenced for the benefit of it's soldier occupants, Lady Elizabeth had used them for inter- minable games of hide and seek. the enjoyment of which was enhanced by the echoingl voices of her play mates.
 She Was A C0mmoner
 The woman who has just become queen and empress of over 400 0,000,- GOO people, was, as her maiden name indicates, commoner. True, since she is a direct descendant of Sil John Lyon. son-in-law of King Rob- ert II, of Scotland, she could claim royal ancestry. She was neverthe- less the daughter of an earl and a! such ranked with the peerage urti she became the Duchess of York and then queen.
 always think it so very won. derful of her to have been so charm ingly, naturally and beautifully roy al and yet to have always remained as adorably simple as when I first met. her. It was during visit tc Scotland some years ago. was staying near Glamis Castle, o1 which more ghost stories are told than about any other castle in the kingdoT.
 Visit To Glamis
 If only for this reason, I was de- lighted when after lunching with Lord and Lady Strathmore I was asked if I would like to visit Glamis The fact that my hostess in person was kind enough to act as my guide lent additional reality to the stories was told.
 No one can sleep in this room, " had. explained Lady Strathmore of one of the castle bedrooms. When we were first told this, we said it was nonsense. Yet, on one occasion when we let someone's valet sleep in it-"She paused, adding slowly, lon the morning after, he was found dead in bed"
 Imagine my feelings when not long after Lady Strathmore, spoke, an impish voice brought me back from ghostland as it's possessor ex- claimed for my benefit, "Oh, you know you'd have done much better to let the butler take you through. His stories are so much more blood curdlinG than mothers"
 It was the queen.
 Believe In SpOoks
 Later. she, too, spoke of ghosts