It is in your own interests, my man

Three examples of a sharp social division as illustrated in a Victor Whitechurch detective novel written almost a century ago. The division here is between Mr Proctor of the professional classes and Jim Webb, an ordinary working man. The person addressing them both is a senior police officer.

“Well,” he said, as he went up to him, “you gave your evidence well today, my man. We like a witness who speaks out plainly, and you did it.”

“All right, so long as you keep in touch with us. That’s all for the present. Thank you very much, Mr Proctor. You can go, Webb.” Mr Proctor rose from his chair, crossed the room and showed Webb out of the door.

Victor Whitechurch – The Templeton Case (1924)

Common enough in novels of the period, although better writers were less likely to emphasise social distinctions in this way. Unless servants were being addressed of course. It was a different world and in certain respects, perhaps less familiar to us than we may imagine.

In other respects, it is entirely familiar. We are not surprised if a confirmed social climber talks down to those lower down the social hierarchy. Neither are we surprised to find that politics and government attract professional social climbers. Do they look down on us? Of course they do, but now they disguise it.