Qy. Article by American denouncing English public schools

This hasn't much to do with Orwell, but seems likely to ring a bell
with the types who haunt this group.

About 50 years ago I read a funny article, probably published in the
1920s, by an American who had spent some time in England and had
become aware of the existence and political importance of the public
schools, which he described as having all the earmarks of a highly
successful racket. He quoted a recently elected prime minister
(perhaps the one Orwell called "a hole in the air"?) as saying that he
hoped at least half his cabinet would be Old Etonians (or whichever),
and speculated on the effect if an American president were to express
the hope that at least half his cabinet would be graduates of Andover
or Exeter -- or P.S. 136.

Google is unavailing, but perhaps someone here will recognize the
American.
--
--- Joe Fineman joe_f.RemoveThis@verizon.net

||: Live each day as if it were your last. Someday you'll be |
||: right. |

On 13 Aug, 04:38, Joe Fineman <jo....TakeThisOut@verizon.net> wrote:
> This hasn't much to do with Orwell, but seems likely to ring a bell
> with the types who haunt this group.
>
> About 50 years ago I read a funny article, probably published in the
> 1920s, by an American who had spent some time in England and had
> become aware of the existence and political importance of the public
> schools, which he described as having all the earmarks of a highly
> successful racket. He quoted a recently elected prime minister
> (perhaps the one Orwell called "a hole in the air"?) as saying that he
> hoped at least half his cabinet would be Old Etonians (or whichever),
> and speculated on the effect if an American president were to express
> the hope that at least half his cabinet would be graduates of Andover
> or Exeter -- or P.S. 136.
>
> Google is unavailing, but perhaps someone here will recognize the
> American.
> --
> --- Joe Fineman jo....TakeThisOut@verizon.net
>
> ||: Live each day as if it were your last. Someday you'll be |
> ||: right. |

The "hole in the air" was Stanley Baldwin (See the Lion and the
Unicorn). He was Prime Minister three times: 1923-24, 1924-29,
1935-37. He was educated at Harrow so dunno if he's the PM in
question.

Might the American be Thurber? Just a guess. I have the Thurber
Carnival here and couldn't spot anything there.

N