Dressing the Window

When asked if there would be any sur- prises in the Governor-General's speech, the Prime Minister replied that he could not say whether the programme would create surprise or astonishment.

The Head Political Window-Dresser entered
the office of the Great Man to confer upon
the question of the new season's display.

"About our window, sir," he said diffidently.
"We have several dozen yards of nicely colored
surprise that I think might serve as a background."

"Um," replied the Great Man thoughtfully.
"We have used that stuff before. Still, with a splash
or two of bright colored astonishment it might do
for one more time."

"And a little touch, perhaps, of striped amazement,"
began the window-dresser.

"Tut, tut," answered the Great One. "We must vary
our color scheme a little. Have we no new goods in stock?"

"Very little, I fear. But we might camouflage some of
the old stuff with dye and that sort of thing. I could work
up a good line of bright red bewilderment, or some spotted
consternation—"

"Blithering blazes!" cried the Great Man. "Have you
no originality?"

"Well, you see, sir, you have used up the stock so fast
for past window displays. There are a few lengths of pale
patriotism left, but I'm afraid it's rather stale. We've a few
odd remnants of withering contempt left over, but I think
the customers are about sick of that."

"What a staff!" moaned the Great One. "I seem to be
served worse and worse every year. If the opposition
windows were not full of junk we should be ruined."

"'Scuse me, sir," broke in the office boy. "But I seen a
whole pile of common-sense in the basement the other day.
'Ow'd that do?"

"Bright boy!" exclaimed the Great Man. "The very thing!
So old-fashioned that it will look like new."

"But I'm afraid I should not know the stuff, sir. I've never
used it before," said the Window-Dresser.

"Bosh!" cried the Great Man indulgently, as he dismissed
the underling with a wave of the hand. "Get the boy to show you."