November 1923} THE PEACE CONFERENCE AND AFTER

untrue. Being Viceroy, I did my best. In fact, I hate ceremonial
and always try to avoid it. [I wonder whether he really believes
this.] No one can say that I have ever pushed myself forward,
advertised myself or tried to curry favour with the Press.
Lately the newspapers have re-discovered me In a way. They
say I have mellowed, which is absurd. I am what I have always
been. A man does not change at 64. I have always taken a
humorous view of life. Lately I have made a few light,
humorous speeches which seem to have astonished the
journalists—why, I really don't know, because I have made
speeches of that kind all my life. I have never been an ogre.
You ask how I learned to speak. I do not consider myself a
first-class speaker, but I have a certain facility when speaking
about subjects I know. I can say this for myself—all my life
I have been a tremendous worker, working for many years
twelve or fifteen hours a day. I have studied all sorts of things
and done all sorts of things. I should have done better had I
been more concentrated. My interests have been too many and
too diverse. I have a good memory and usually speak best on
the spur of the moment. You refer to the speech you heard me
deliver the other day about libraries. I have been interested In
this subject all my life. Therefore, it was no trouble to me to

fet up and talk about it. But had I prepared a speech, probably
should not have done so well. Owing to my infirmities—my
bad back and my bad leg—during recent years I have been
more and more driven to work, which has enabled me to fight
the pain which I almost constantly suffer. My reputation is
due in some measure to the fact that for many years I have
been braced up with a girdle to protect my weak back. This
gives me a rigid appearance which furnishes point to the
reputation for pomposity. My father was a country gentleman,
but when young I had no money and few friends and support-
ers. I knew no one. At the University I had to supplement
my meagre income by writing. Thus I earned about £300 per
annum. My friends I made for myself. Later, Mr. Gladstone
and other distinguished people took notice of me and were
very kind to me. I found them most helpful. My father was
averse to my travelling. He did not like my journeys. He
wanted me to settle down in England. Until I married my

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