In the' ring
Sir: Your book review (15 January) of The Viceroys of India recounted one well- known anecdote about the Willingdons: your readers are entitled to another. Lord Willingdon, a Viceroy in his seventies, suc- cessfully promoted cattle-breeding; and on one occasion he and Lady Willingdon, ar the centre of separate groups, were admir- ing a prize bull in a cattle show ring in Delhi. The vice-president of the cattle breeders' association remarked excitedly to
Lady Willingdon that the bull performed his services three hundred times annually. 'Most interesting,' said Lady W, and, after a pause, 'Would you kindly go and tell His Excellency that?' Hurrying to the Viceroy the official trumpeted, 'Your Excellency, Her Excellency wishes me to bring to your notice that this bull is rendering services three hundred times per annum.' I see,' said Lord W. 'Presumably with three hun- dred different females?' But certainly, Your Excellency.' Would you,' he said, 'kindly go back and tell Her Excellency that?'
E. N. Edwards
PO Box 238, Port Aransas, Texas, USA
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