(2 of 4)
¶Other and even more weighty Britons than the editor of the Times joined cautiously last week in the strange game of saying things off the record which they knew would be rushed into print outside England but not inside. Thus the Home Secretary, Sir John Simon, one of the Empire's greatest legal minds, while refusing to address himself to the judicial aspects of a marriage of the King & Mrs. Simpson, intimated that already His Majesty's conduct is fairly disgraceful.
Viscount Sankey, who in 1929-35 was the Lord Chancellor, intimated that he saw no judicial or constitutional obstacle to King Edward's marrying Mrs. Simpson if His Majesty is so inclined. Intimated the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt. Hon. Captain Edward Algernon Fitzroy: "You can take it from me that the King is determined to and will marry Mrs. Simpson."*
¶Mrs. Simpson entered this world at Monterey Inn, perched about a mile from Blue Ridge Summit in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Last week the wealthy, horse-breeding obstetrician who attended her mother, Dr. Lewis Mines Allen, former Professor of Obstetrics at University Hospital, Baltimore, said: "I remember the incident only vaguely, but I do recall Wallis as a little girl. She had long hair and was pretty and exceptionally magnetic in her personality."
¶Twice-divorced Mrs. Simpson's twice-divorced first husband, Commander Earl Winfield Spencer U. S. N., lay bedded last week in San Diego, Calif, after a hunting accident. Said he: "She is a most attractive woman and has one of the strongest characters I have ever known any person to possess. She is a lovely person, intelligent, witty and good company. 'Stimulating' is the word which best describes her charm. Our marriage lasted eight years, and we parted twelve years ago. I think Wallis Simpson is a wonderful woman. In whatever future she may choose—into whatever places it may take her—I wish her my very best. She will always hold my respect and admiration."
¶Of Mrs. Simpson's historic first glimpse of the then Prince of Wales, at a Naval ball in Coronado on April 7, 1920, Commander Spencer recalled: "I remember the Prince was pointed out to us early in the evening, but neither Wallis nor I commented, except to murmur our surprise."
¶Mrs. Simpson was chaperoned by her "Aunt Bessie," Mrs. D. Buchanan Merryman of Washington, D. C., during the first year of attentions paid to her by Edward of Wales (TIME, Sept. 24, 1934). Last week it appeared wise for the chaperonage of Mrs. Merryman to be resumed and grey-haired but gay Aunt Bessie rushed to England on the Queen Mary carrying the gun-metal bag she was given by H. R. H. during her previous chaperonage.