THE   CIVIL   SERVICE	75
way in which it fits the educational system of the country. From
the products of elementary school, secondary school and
University it picks those whom it thinks suitable, and for the
most part they remain in separate grades throughout their
work. The British Civil Servant enters his work young—no one
can enter after the age of 24—and the majority continue in it
all their lives.	~\L Q 1 S €'\ ~L~ "X .*
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The examinations are not intended to test any special know-
ledge of the public services. The age of most of the candidates
makes  this  unsuitable;  and  although  a  University  student
aiming at the Administrative grade might acquaint himself with
the facts, a knowledge of public administration in 1938 is not
by itself the best qualification for a life of administrative work
for the next forty years. Enough of his time will be consumed
in mastering details when he is in his post; the time before that
is better spent in getting a wider knowledge. The examinations
seek,   therefore,   to   discover   intelligence,   adaptability,   and,
particularly  for  the Administrative grade, personality.   The
undergraduate will find that any recognised University course
will serve as a preparation for .die Civil Service Examinations.
The written examination is supplemented by a personal inter-
view.    Though this is useful far discovering the candidate's
fitness, it opens a door to a kind of unconscious favouritism.
However impartial the examiners strive to be, that candidate
has an advantage whose speech and manner are pleasing to them
personally, who has been to a school whose name they know,
who, in short, shares their social culture. This is particularly
true of the Foreign Office, where much stress is laid on personality.
Certainly the result of the system is that the large majority of
administrative posts are held by men from the old Public Schools
and the older Universities. They are extremely loyal public
servants; but, inevitably, they will find it easier to co-operate
with Ministers of their own class than with those who come
from poorer homes  or have had less  expensive schooling.
Reform of the examination system jVWild not remove ;thi
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