Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-03
Mrs. Baldwin Cool
Over Hubby's Victory

Mrs. Stanley Baldwin, wife or
Britain's new prime minister. was as
calm and collected as her husband
the day he was called from the
serenity of the cool English coun-
tryside to the heat of a boiling
political cauldron and. in half hour
consultation with the sovereign,
elevated to the summit of politics.
And yet she and her children and
her husband all acted in those i'm
portant hours just as one who hasn't
forced himself into an aristocrat's
shell usually acts in times Of such
excitement, such personal thrill,
such emotional happiness.
The king had Hurried into town
from the military manoeuvres at
Aldershot to name rev prime min
lister, and the Baldvins like the
competing Curzons had also come
up from the country about the same
hour.
From his outing garb the man who
went to America not long ago to set
tie the debt changed into the long
baggy trousers, the silk-face over
coat and the top hat of diplomacy.
From Number IL Downing street,
his official home that day as chan
cellor of the eXchequer, he and Mrs.
Baldwin walked outside to an ordi-
nary taxi cab stand, summoned one
of the machines, and set off for
Buckingham Palace in answer to the
important summons from the king.
On the way Mrs. Baldwin got out,
and her husband went alone to the
door of the palace. His own private
car did not come for him until later,
but his use of an ordinary taXicab
caused no surprise, for on several
occasions he has gone afoot to see
his sovereign.
Mrs. Baldwin, one Of her daugh-
ters and a son-in-law, were outside
the palace gates, unnoticed in the
waiting crowd of hundreds, during
the time that the chancellor of the
exchequer was being transformed
into prime minister. The husband
came away smiling. stopped HIS car,
and picked up his family. He
smiled easily as he posed for the
camera men.
Arrived oEce more at home. the
prime minister and Mrs. Baldwin
expressed their high happiness in
what had transpired to change their
lives. But they were both rather
conscious already of the burden that
had been placed upon them.
Il want your prayers rather than
your congratulations" Mr.. Baldwin
said to those who stopped him at his
door to find out If he had really
been made prime minister. A few
minutes later Mrs. Baldwin, in
speaking to interviewers with the
same ease and directness that her
husband had, remarked that she
thought it was "all too wonderful"
Then she mixed a touch of regret
with her happiness, a regret that
she and her husband had never
really been able to do what they
wanted to do, had never in the
whole of their married life been able
to Tive their own lives.
I'VE did expect It," she said. 1--WE
did not hope for it, We just kept
on doing the work which lay before
US as 1t came. One must believe in
the guidance Of a Divine Hand"
She told Of her happy anticipations a
few months before, when her hus-
band told her he was going out of
politics for good. That was in
those furious days before the crash
Of the coalition and the passing of
Lloyd George. And she added that
she thought her husband had spoken
with true sincerity when he had told
her recently he wished nothing bet
ter than to spend his days on his
Worcestershire farm with his pipes
and his pigs.
The night after his appointment.
when London's political clubs had no
other conversational topic, a story
went the rounds that concerned Mr.,
Baldwin's visit that afternoon to the
king.
According to this story His Majes-
ty, after receiving Mr.. Baldwin's ac-
ceptance of his offer, said "This
makes me feel very happy, and Mr..
Baldwin replied, Il do not feel happy
at all, sir.