In this matter he set a personal example and behaved, to actual rioters, with what some of his followers considered unnecessary severity, and what others viewed as wise war-ending firmness.
When remonstrated with by Mr. Cornelius Gosling-Green (caught, alas! with his admirable wife in this sudden and terrible maelstrom), for shooting, against the Prison wall, a squad of armed men caught by night and under more than suspicious circumstances, within Cantonment limits, he replied curtly and rudely:—
"My good little Gosling, I'd shoot you with my own hand if you failed me in the least particular—so stick to your drill and hope to become a Corporal before the war is over".
The world-famous Mr. Cornelius Gosling-Green, M.P., hoping to become a Corporal! Meanwhile he was less—a private soldier, doing four hard drills a day—not to mention sentry-go and fatigues. Like Augustus Clarence Percy Marmaduke Grobble, he grumbled bitterly—but he obeyed, having been offered the hard choice of enrolment or exclusion.
"I'll have no useless male mouths here," had said Colonel Ross-Ellison.
"Enroll or clear out and take your chance. I'll look after your wife."
"But, my dear Sir…."
"'Sir' without the 'my dear,' please."
"I was about to say that I could—ah—assist, advise, sit upon your councils, give you the benefit of my—er—experience, …" the Publicist had expostulated.
"Experience of war?"
"No—er—I——"