CHAPTER XI 



ON THE SHELF, 1907 



How IT FEELS TO BE "RETIRED" 



Reprinted from the Daily Chronicle by permission 



On the shelf How does it feel to be " retired"? Nothing 

 to do Some other old boys Shall I shave for the 

 remainder of my days? A long white beard Firm 

 resolution. 



How does it feel to be retired ? How does it 

 feel to have nothing to do ? This question is 

 quite new to me; this is my first " retired'' 

 morning ; for, although I began to retire a fort- 

 night ago, it has taken me all that time to settle 

 seriously down to the new occupation of having 

 nothing to do. Now, at length, everything is 

 settled, and here I am in my arm-chair, asking 

 myself for a job. Retirement doesn't mean 



relapse into idleness and vacuity; rather than 

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