P. Toms Vexed

Small but shrewd St. Albans tailed in last week behind the numerous English towns and cities which are raising funds for charity this summer by aping Coventry's famed Lady Godiva Procession & Carnival (TIME, June 16).

At Coventry charitable Peeping Toms get for their money the following eyeful: 1) One large white horse; 2) One pair of pink tights (blanket-thick); 3) One enormous wig of flowing hair sufficient almost to enshroud the wearer; 4) One bare-faced Coventry girl who sits on the horse, concealed by tights and wig. Last week P. Toms, disgusted by the Coventry swindle, swarmed to St. Albans, drawn by this foursquare, unequivocal guarantee:

Come one! Come all!! At St. Albans for sweet charitee the Lady Godiva will ride as God made her! Absolutely as He made her!! Come one! Come all!!

Exactly as advertised Lady Godiva rode through St. Albans last week, sticking out her pink tongue at the P. Toms. Her hair was short. She wore no tights. Each limb and contour could be seen--but now and then she barked.

Afterwards, to irate P. Toms the manager of St. Albans hospital fair adroitly explained why he had shown a white fox terrier bitch as Lady Godiva. "Some other towns, now, may not be like St. Albans," said he meaningly, "but our girls--bless their sweet hearts--are all good girls! Not a one in the whole town would show herself in tights and false hair. So's 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."

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