AN IRRESISTIBLE APPEAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 24 April 1937, Page 3

AN IRRESISTIBLE APPEAL

STANLEY BALDWIN AND THE BAD BOY It is never too late in the day to tell a good story of a good man. Here is one which the “Children’s Newspaper” believes to be true of Mr Baldwin.. The Prime Minister will have forgotten it, but the culprit remembers. He was a junior clerk in Mr Baldwin’s office, and years ago it was his delight, with one or two other young fellows, to plague an old clerk, teasing him mercilessly and shying bits of blotting-paper at him. One day, when the mischievous lad had been up to his tricks and roused the old clerk’s anger so that he chased him across the room, he flung open the door, dashed out of the old man’s way, and ran headlong into Mr Baldwin. A little time afterwards Mr Baldwin sent for the boy. “My lad,” he said, “I want to say that if I were your age and were in an office with an old clerk I think I should treat him as you do. But I think if I were your age and someone asked me not to treat him as you do (asking because they appreciated the services of this old servant) I should promise not to do it, and I should keep my promise.” It was an irresistible appeal.