I once wrote a column attributing the rise of the British Empire to the

awfulness of British women — the men wanted to get as far away from them as

possible. I was no more than half serious, of course. Britain has produced

some great, admirable women: My late mother, for one, and Margaret Thatcher

(Whom God Preserve!) for another. And <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/05/07/db0703.xml&s

Sheet=/opinion/2004/05/07/ixopright.html”>this one, who died on Wednesday.