Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-05-05

was prepared by MIS-. James CnrlS'
tie of this place, daughter Of the
late Judge j. S. Taylor Mrs. Chris
tie has made several trips to the
native land of her husband, and the
title she gave the article was "My
Memoirs" After SO long time we
finally got the consent of Mrs Chris
tie to publish it, which we know
will be keenly appreciated by read
ers Of the Democrat. The paper
follows:
AS memoir writing seems to be a
popular American pastime l see no
reason why |, too, should not go
modern and jot down a few OF my
past experiences, however lacking
in Importance they may be.
Since you are destined to accom-
pany me in these aimless rambllnss
/ trust you will have patience II
assume the characteristics OF the
flea and fit from scene to scene
for | warn there will be no
continuity of thought or place. |
may be here in my native land one
moment and the next III Bonnie
Sc tland so far across the sea. we
my even stop over in jolly old Lon
dcn town for cup OF tea on a
Journey to gay Paree"-who
kr }ws? don't.
Travelled On A Visa
Speaking Of nay ''native land
perhaps / should. at this point, re-
my Ane-ican citizenship. l was
of being disowned by this country
I siways called my own, my native
lard. 1t happened like this.-In
the year 1919 when / was married
to a certain Scotchman, according
to The laws of this country and to
those of Great Britain also, l lost
my citizenship and became citizen
of the same country as that of my
husband. Naturally and unwilling
ly OF course, l was compelled to for
felt all my rights to vote at the
polls A few years later Mr.. Chris
tie became naturalized and l as
sumed that | automatically regained
my American citizenship. | was
still entertaining this thought when
a few years later we planned a Wis
it to the British Isles, but | was
rudely awakened to the realization
that. according to the American
laws, I was still a British subject
and would be compelled to GO
through the process of natural
ization in order to again become
citizen of these United States. Be
ing refused a passport from this
country / applied to Great Britain
for the much desired passport bu1
was refused on the grounds thai
under British laws / was no longer
a citizen of that country since my
husband had rejected the king ano
became an American citizen. I'm
fortunately no legal provision hat
been made by either country fol
cases of that nature. There l was
country-a predicament l shall new,
er forget The authorities at Wash
ington and London conferred ano
an agreement reached by which
should travel as citizen OF nc
country on visa signed by both
British and American officials. My
visa arrived just three days before
we sailed and it is needless to sa.
how welcome that little piece of pa
per was My visit to the Isles was
limited to three months and / wei
remember the notice / received
few weeks before | sailed for homo
warning me that were my return tt
the United States delayed | woulc
be subject to arrest. However my
inconvenience as traveller caused
by this unique arrangement Wert
comparatively few. | was compell
ed to pay head tax on entering
each foreign country and on re-en
tering this country My disem
barking was delayed for severa
hours while I stood in line with the
rest of the foreigners. | mingled
with about every nationality con
ceivabe for we had sailed on the
Aquitania, one of the largest yes
sells at that time and there were
several hundred immigrants aboard
1t seemed a most absurd predica
ment to be in although il was 9
most interesting experience and ar
unforgettable one. 1t was most en-
tightening and entertaining watch
ing the aliens before me run the
gauntlet of immigration officers al
though | will admit it was not quite
so amusing as my turn approached
The others had been examined by
two rows of doctors and officers,
one row on each side of them, who
not only looked at their throats
eyes, ears, etc, but most thorough
ly searched their heads for vermin
and asked innumerable questions OF
q personal nature. cor course In
terpreters were used, for few could
speak English). 1t was all very
funny until my turn came and then
/ was so nervous / could scarcely
remember my name and my age
simply left me entirely.
However when / commenced ex-
planning who | was and just why
was there, the officers were all most
kind and sympathetic and lenient.
The usual procedure was omitted
and one officious looking gentleman
offered me his arm and escorted me
past all the other examiners, pre-
senting my case to few as he pass
ed. | never felt quite SO important
in all my life. He explained to me
that there had been few cases
similar to that of mine and express
ed his sentiments in regard to such
inane laws in no uncertain terms.
| might add that that law in which
I figured has long since been re-
pealed. A few weeks after arriving
home | received my naturalization
papers and once again became a
full~fedged American citizen so my
story has a happy ending after all.
In Scotland
Well now that ] am again one
of Uncle Sans children, my travel
ing difficulties are over; so with a
quick rub of Aladdin's lamp, here
we are in dear auld Scotland. AS a
stranger in this land Of "dour"
Scots I at first believed that epithet
was due them for ! received a
stronp i,11praccjop of chilIippcc and