The Foundations | Page 9

down. What I mean is, I
should like to get hold of those fellows that are singing the Marseillaise
about the streets--fellows that have been in the war-- real sports they
are, you know--thorough good chaps at bottom--and say to them:
"Have a feeling heart, boys; put yourself in my position." I don't
believe a bit they'd want to bomb me then.
[He walks up and down.]
PRESS. [Scribbling and muttering] "The idea, of brotherhood--" D'you
mind my saying that? Word brotherhood--always effective--always----
[He writes.]
LORD E. [Bewildered] "Brotherhood!" Well, it's pure accident that I'm
here and they're there. All the same, I can't pretend to be starving. Can't
go out into Hyde Park and stand on a tub, can I? But if I could only
show them what I feel--they're such good chaps-- poor devils.
PRESS. I quite appreciate! [He writes] "Camel and needle's eye." You
were at Eton and Oxford? Your constituency I know. Clubs? But I can
get all that. Is it your view that Christianity is on the up- grade, Lord
William?
LORD W. [Dubious] What d'you mean by
Christianity--loving--kindness and that? Of course I think that dogma's
got the knock.
[He walks.]
PRESS. [Writing] "Lord William thought dogma had got the knock." I
should like you just to develop your definition of Christianity.
"Loving--kindness" strikes rather a new note.
LORD W. New? What about the Sermon on the Mount?
PRESS. [Writing] "Refers to Sermon on Mount." I take it you don't
belong to any Church, Lord William?
LORD W. [Exasperated] Well, really--I've been baptised and that sort
of thing. But look here----
PRESS. Oh! you can trust me--I shan't say anything that you'll regret.
Now, do you consider that a religious revival would help to quiet the
country?
LORD W. Well, I think it would be a deuced, good thing if everybody

were a bit more kind.
PRESS. Ah! [Musing] I feel that your views are strikingly original,
Lord William. If you could just open out on them a little more? How
far would you apply kindness in practice?
LORD W. Can you apply it in theory?
PRESS. I believe it is done. But would you allow yourself to be blown
up with impunity?
LORD W. Well, that's a bit extreme. But I quite sympathise with this
chap. Imagine yourself in his shoes. He sees a huge house, all these
bottles; us swilling them down; perhaps he's got a starving wife, or
consumptive kids.
PRESS. [Writing and murmuring] Um-m! "Kids."
LORD W. He thinks: "But for the grace of God, there swill I. Why
should that blighter have everything and I nothing?" and all that.
PRESS. [Writing] "And all that." [Eagerly] Yes?
LORD W. And gradually--you see--this contrast--becomes an
obsession with him. "There's got to be an example made," he thinks;
and--er-- he makes it, don't you know?
PRESS. [Writing] Ye-es? And--when you're the example?
LORD W. Well, you feel a bit blue, of course. But my point is that you
quite see it.
PRESS. From the other world. Do you believe in a future life, Lord
William? The public took a lot of interest in the question, if you
remember, at the time of the war. It might revive at any moment, if
there's to be a revolution.
LORD W. The wish is always father to the thought, isn't it?
PRESS. Yes! But--er--doesn't the question of a future life rather bear
on your point about kindness? If there isn't one--why be kind?
LORD W. Well, I should say one oughtn't to be kind for any motive--
that's self-interest; but just because one feels it, don't you know.
PRESS. [Writing vigorously] That's very new--very new!
LORD W. [Simply] You chaps are wonderful.
PRESS. [Doubtfully] You mean we're--we're----
LORD W. No, really. You have such a d---d hard time. It must be
perfectly beastly to interview fellows like me.
PRESS. Oh! Not at all, Lord William. Not at all. I assure you compared
with a literary man, it's--it's almost heavenly.

LORD W. You must have a wonderful knowledge of things.
PRESS. [Bridling a little] Well--I shouldn't say that.
LORD W. I don't see how you can avoid it. You turn your hands to
everything.
PRESS. [Modestly] Well--yes, Yes.
LORD W. I say: Is there really going to be a revolution, or are you
making it up, you Press?
PRESS. We don't know. We never know whether we come before the
event, or it comes before us.
LORD W. That's--very deep--very dip. D'you mind lending me your
note-book a moment. I'd like to stick that down. All right, I'll use the
other end. [THE PRESS hands it hypnotically.]
LORD W. [Jotting] Thanks awfully. Now what's your real opinion of
the situation?
PRESS. As a man or a Press man?
LORD W. Is there any difference?
PRESS. Is there any