"THE BONNY HOUSE OF AIRLIE"

Evening Star, Issue 20422, 1 March 1930, Page 9

"THE BONNY HOUSE OF AIRLIE"

A DESCENDANT IN CANADA [From Ovr Own Correspondent.] VANCOUVER, February fl. London society has palled on one ot its prettiest adherents, Lady Kitty Ritson, daughter of the Countess of Airlie. She inis left behind her the comforts and climate ot England to spend part of the winter in a lonely cabin, miles from habitation, at Metagama. in Ontario. There with her companion, Miss Lira Wiggins, she has been spending the days on snowshoes or benind a dog team exploring the brush country, which, it has been said, won her beam two years ago when, olfeyiug an impulse, she had the train stopped at Metagama just because she liked the name

During this sojourn she has spent some weeks there as the guest of the station agent, learned what snow really can be like, how to retain one’s balance on snowshoes, and found satisfaction and delight m the unknown country that she had never found m El gland. There is a legend in the family ot the Countess of Airlie to the effect that once an ancestor sailed across the seas to Canada, tell in love with a beautiful Indian girl, married her, and took her back to live in the old ancestral castle. This, Lady Kitty says, is probably why she responded so quickly and so completely to the call of the wilds. A traveller who has visited every country ot the world, she has written several books, and was responsible for a series of articles in the London Press entitled: ‘The Underworld of Constantinople,’ which attracted much attention. She is a regular contributor to the London * Daily Mail,’ and her literary returns afford her means to travel. On her next trip she hopes to go by dog sleigh far into the northern Canadian country. There are eight white people at Metagama, and Lady Kitty’s cabin is twelve miles from the nearest habitation. While outfitting in Montreal Lady Kitty subjected herself to an interesting interview. Lady Ritson took some cf the glamoiij out of the original story sent out from Toronto to London newspaper, when silo denied that she had the trait) stopped because she liked the India, i name of Metagama. “ Just imagine mo having so touch influence with the Canadian Pacific that they would stop trains anywhere I asked them!” she exclaimed. “ London despatches slated you were ‘surfeited’ with London society?” Lady Ritson threw back her head, and laughed heartily. “in the i first place I am not a ‘ society bud,’ for I am forty. And 1 do not live in London, but in Cobham. We have to live near London, for my husband, Colonel Ritson, is bond of one ot tho biggest paper companies in England, and oi course lias to go down to the city every day. Mew could I be surfeited with Loudon society when ,1 am never in it?

As a matter of fact, it, is my husband and not myself who is the famous member of our family. He was captain of the British polo team away bach in 1913 or thereabouts, and was considered one of the greatest polo players that ever lived.” You say he is * colonel ’ and you are ‘ lady.’‘ , 11 That is easily explained. I am Lady Ritson because 1 am the daughter of the Earl of Airlie.” Questioned as to the books she had written Lady Ritson said she was the writer of ‘ Sugar and Spice,’ ‘ Gin and Ginger,’ and added that slm had a new ope coming out soon, * The Fiery Cross.’ It deals with the rebellion m Scotland in 1745, and is written under the name of Lady Kitty Vincent. Lady Kitty said she was delighted with Canada because of its snow. She enjoyed the outdoors, and to a writer it was all atmosphere.