Wodehouse in Exile Page #5

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In this case, I suspect with

a great deal of publicity.

To show the Americans what

nice people we are.

We don't want them in the war, do we?

There are an awful lot of them.

All he says

is that we are feeding him.

If you are thinking you can get him

to do a commercial for Germany,

forget it.

He is the typical, loyal Englishman.

"The first time you see

a German soldier in your garden,

"your impulse is to jump ten feet

straight into the air and you do so.

"But this feeling of

embarrassment soon passes.

"A week later you find you are

only jumping five feet."

"The chief drawback of being

an internee is that

"you are away from home

a good deal."

"It is not pleasant to think

that by the time

"I see my Pekinese again, she will

have completely forgotten me

"and will bite me to the bone - her

invariable practice with strangers.

"And I feel that, when I rejoin

my wife, I had better take

"a letter of introduction,

just to be on the safe side."

Why is this funny? That he

will not recognise his wife?

Does he not like his wife?

It is English humour. It is

why Wodehouse is a famous genius.

I do not understand it.

Apparently, he is writing

some humorous pieces

about life in this camp of his.

Maybe that can be good

for us, Werner.

How?

Get on to the Lagerfuhrer

at Tost and tell him

I have a proposition I wish him

to put to the great Wodehouse.

But Wodehouse is not to know

it comes from us.

This is funny! Very, very funny!

The chaps seem to enjoy it.

I really did enjoy it.

It reminded me of my time as a guest

of His Majesty's government!

This passage - when you are being

driven away from Loos prison.

"Summing up my experience

as a gaol bird,

"I would say that a prison is all

right for a visit,

"but I wouldn't live there

if you GAVE me the place.

"On my part, at any rate,

there was no moaning at the bar

"when we left Loos and..."

You read this bit. Please.

"I was glad to go.

"The last I saw of the old Alma

Mater was the warder

"closing the door of the van

and standing back

"with the French equivalent of,

"Right away!"

"He said, "Au revoir" to me,

which I thought a little tactless."

Just because we are at war,

it does not mean we cannot laugh.

My view entirely.

You like this room for writing?

It's very kind of you to

give it to me.

It's... er... it's a padded cell.

Rather appropriate, really.

What you write. About the camp.

It is very funny.

Very, very funny.

Like Bertie Wooster and Jeeves. No?

Well...

You should broadcast these writings.

Well... I'm rather... tied up here

at the moment.

Indeed.

But soon I think you will be free.

Will I?

You are almost 60, Herr Wodehouse.

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