“The interview was very brief —

‘Why do you want to go?’

‘I don’t know, I just want to.’

‘You look fit enough are you perfectly healthy…?’

‘Perfectly fit.’

‘What is wrong with your eyes?’

‘Nothing.’

“At this I could have kicked myself for not removing my spectacles before going in to see him. I scarecely knew what to say, but replied almost without thinking, ‘Many a wise face would look foolish without specs.’ At this he laughed, then seemed to be thinking of something else for he remained silent for several mintues. ‘All right, I’ll take you,’ he said and with that pushed me out of his office.”

— Alexander Macklin