Batownn Baruamne_axo Oren putan iwrenvnewes"—y" Deter Rietion, "London: The Moparts 'The foreword to this book says, "The following imaginary interviews have apponred at intervals during' the last four years in "The Nation." 'They are no longer topical but they' may have acquired some reminiscent interest." This modest declaimer is quite true. The first of these inter-Views is dated November 1923 and the Tatest July 1927. "We may take this last asa good sample of the whole, "'E had been reading: the remarkable loading article in the Times under the heading "Some thoughts from the sea" and was dozing in front of the wood fire, which is acceptable in July, when Mr. Bald. win in a yachting cap and white trousers touched me on the shoulder.
"Excuse me" he said, pleasantly, out is that your deck chair?"
tt is," I replied instinctively, out sit' down on this one next to, me. I want to talk to you."
Mr. Baldwin looked unconvinced about the deck chair but complied with my roques said I, quoting—the!
chat you are availing yourself of this opportunity for an unusual and unfettered retrospect. You ought to overhaul the whole personnel of the Government, to remove Ministers who are either tired or misfits or palpably out of tune with the times (with a small t). You may as well begin at once, WhO is tired?" replied Mr. Baldwin said 1, "Who are misfits?" brains was to settle it (horrid reflection) which of our onnable body's be safe," murmured Mr. Baldwin to himself.
"Well, Winston doesn't seem to be much good at economy and Cunliffe Lister doesn't seem to be doing much good at the Board of Trade and Jix obviously ought to be at the Foreiyn Office if he's going to ran our for-ign policy and—"
"Stop," 1 cried "You won't cabinet left if you go on like this. What about those who. are palpably out of tune with the "Well, there's Salisbury, of course." Mr. Baldwin went on placidly. "He's modineval and the Lord Chancellor seemed a bit out of tune over that House of Lords business and—"
"Then I gather that you will keep tone or two and sack the rest" said "Certainly not" said Mr. Baldwin. "They don't deserve it: Tt would be a stroke of luck for them to get out now and come back fresh at the General election with their records forgotten."
"Then you don't expect the Gov-stock to rise next ses Baldwin. t's simply bound to slump. Look at our commitments. Votes for flappers which they don't seem to want. The Factories Bill which the Forty Thieves and their following detest. Another deficit for Winston and another of his budgets, all the while unemployment continuing and God knows what mischief brewing in Chit "It's a gloomy picture, certainis" said "but why choose these subjects if they are not popular and don't help to solve the country's problems?" your remedy?" he asked.
"Trust in your own' unaided in-stirists" said I. "That, as you told. the farmers, is the Englishman's way."
"But my unaided instincts tell me to get back to my pigs in Worcester shire" said Mr. Baldwin, "Exactly, follow them," I cried!
"Then get out of my deck chair" said he. It is difficult to get out 8 deck chair and in my struggle to do s0 I awoke.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.