Churchill, Winston, 1871-1947 / 2008-09-23 00:00:00
A band of thirty pieces furnished the
music, and in the opinion of the jackies one feature alone was lacking
to make the entertainment a complete success--the new drop-curtain had
failed to arrive from London. I happened to be present when this curtain
was first unrolled, and beheld spread out before me a most realistic
presentation of "little old New York," seen from the North River,
towering against blue American skies. And though I have never been
overfond of New York, that curtain in that place gave me a sensation!
Such is the life of our officers and sailors in these strange times that
have descended upon us. Five to eight days of vigilance, of hardship and
danger--in short, of war--and then three days of relaxation and enjoyment
in clubs, on golf-courses and tennis-courts, barring the time it takes to
clean ship and paint. There need be no fear that the war will be
neglected. It is eminently safe to declare that our service will
be true to its traditions.
III
"Dogged does it" ought to be added to "Dieu et mon droit" and other
devices of England. On a day when I was lunching with Mr. Lloyd George
in the dining-room at 10 Downing Street that looks out over the Horse
Guards' Parade, the present premier, with a characteristic gesture, flung
out his hand toward the portrait of a young man in the panel over the
mantel.
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