Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, March 04, 1963, Image 4

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    4
"everyone In Southern Oregon
Beads The Mall Trtbun"
Publuhed Dally except Saturday bjr
MEDFORD PRINTING CO.
13 North rir SLPhXTS-slSjL.
ROBERT W. BUHL. Mitor
HERB GREY AdverUilnl Menefet
GERALD T LATHAM, ui. Mgr
ERIC W ALLEN JR, Mn;. Editor
EARL H ADAMS City Editor
HARRY CHIPMAN. Telej Edit?'
RICHARD JEWErt Sporw Ed tor
OLIVE STARCHEB Wome-l'i Editor
DAIRICKSON.lrcuUtlpnM4r
An-Independent Newepaper
Entered ae econd clese J"?',
Medtord. Oreeon. under Act of
Mercn 3. 1S97
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Bv Mill In Advance.
Dally and Sund.y-1 eerU.OO
Daily end Sunday-J moj. 10.00
Dally ina ounuaj. - -:
Sunday Only One year M.00
Simla Copy (Mailed)
By c!r"iet-And Motor Route
"bally and Sunday- year M1.00
Dally and Sunday t mo. yra
Sunday Only 1 mo. mo
Carrier and Vendori i Copy lpo
- . .-. j -m iiV Mjtilfnrrf
official raper i - - r" ,c
nlcl.l Paper ot Jackion County
United Presi International
Full Leaied Wire
U P I TelephotoNewplctura
MEMBER-OF AUDIT BUREAU
OF Cmcm-ATIONS
Advertlalnl Representative:
NELSON ROBERTS 4 ASSOCI
ATES Of'lcee In New York. Chi.
caco. Detroit, San Francisco. Loa
Aneelea. StatUe. Portland.
Denver.
NATION A I lOITOKIAt
C7 J -
Flight or Time
Medford and Jackson County
History from -the files of The
Mail Tribune 10, 20, 30, 40
and 50 years ago.
10 YEARS AGO
March 4, 1SS3 (Monday)
There was a steady rise In
employment in Jackson coun
ty during February.
Judge James Alger Fee has
adjourned federal court here
Saturday after placing his sig
nature on 700 documents.
20 YEARS AGO
March 4, 1943 (Saturday)
Red Cross campaign opens;
Jackson county goal set at
$22,800.
From Arthur Perry's "Ye
Smudge Pot" column: "The
first toadstot' has been pick
ed for a mushroom, but its
identity was revealed before
a doctor was needed.
30 YEARS AieO
March 4, 1933 (Monday)
Mrs. Ada Jolley, state pres
ident of the WCTU, visits In
Medford.
Depression shows up in sale
ot Jackson county dog licen
ses: only 426 sold to date,
compared with 1,126 last
last year.
40 YEARS AGO
March 4, 1923 (Tueiday)
Sheriff's deputies seeking
thief who obtained $15 in
burglary of Gold Hill barber
shop.
Local chamber of com
merce announces plans to re
duce dues if membership
reaches 300.
60 YEARS AGO
March 4, 1913 (Wednesday)
New services offered by
Medford department store in
elude "Babies checked for 10
cents an hour; tea five cents
a cup."
Emu Hrltt elected mayor
of Jacksonville.
What's Your I.Q.?
Nine ar tan correct It superior;
even or eliht h excellent; flue or
lis is good.
1. What defensive rock rises
above a British Colony?
2. What Wisconsin city and
an Indian sport share the
same nnmc?
3. Name six of Snow
White's seven dwarfs.
4. What famous line did
Admiral Dewey give during
. the Battle of Manila Bay?
S. Who would use a cara-
bluer, plton and bclayer?
6. Congress sits in Washing'
ton; Parliament sits in Lon-
don; where does the Storting
sit?
7. What mountain name
sounds like the combined
words for a thin cushion, a
possessive pronoun and a
trumpet?
8. A number which cannot
be divided, without fractions
except by itself Is called
what?
9. How many sides of
scalene triangle are equal?
10. Add the number of de
grees in a right angle and a
straight angle and divide by
the square of 3; what is left?
Answers! 1. Gibraltar. 2
La Crosse. 3. Bashful, Doc
Dopey, Grumpy. Happy
Sleepy, Sneeiy. 4. "You may
lira whan ready, Gridlay. ' 5
Mountain climber. 8, Oslo,
Norway. 7. Mallerhorn. 8
Prima number. 9. None. 10,
Thirty.
0(&!PUtll3HII
VjA.'sSOelATION
MONDAY. MARCH 4. 1SS3
Separation of Powers
In Oregon the Board of Higher Education
recommends a budget for each biennium. That
budget goes to the State Department of Finance
and Administration, and thence to the governor
and thence to the Ways and Means Committee of
the Legislature.
If the governor's budget is substantially low
er than the sum the Board of Higher Education
thinks is necessary for operation of the institu
tions members of the board and their administra
tive officers are permitted to argue their case
before the Ways and Means Committee.
This has been a very satisfactory process in
Oregon. Higher education has been well served
in this state.
TTHE state Senate last week passed a bill, 22 to
8, that sets up a legislative watchdog com
mittee to review the rules and regulations set by
departments between legislative sessions. That
the senators who voted for this were looking di
rectly at the state system of higher education was
evident when the president of the senate, Ben
Musa, said to a reporter, "The Board of Higher
Education thinks the legislature can t make rules
for higher education. Well, I've got news for
them!"
This measure goes now to the House where
39 of the 60 members have their names on it.
That seems to assure passage of the bill there.
If it gets to the governor we must assume it will
be vetoed. Because of the infringement upon
the authority of the executive branch of govern
ment it seems to us the governor must veto it.
But there may be enough votes in the two cham
bers to overrule that veto.
e
THERE is a little evidence in the House that
this hill mav hnvr snmr trnnhlp f.hfirp Snmfi
members of the Ways and Means Committee last
week were discussing higher education in Oregon.
It was suggested that the legislature should con
sider exercising some control over day-to-day ad
ministration of the state schools.
To this three members
Alfred Corbett, and Reps.
John Mosser spoke opposition. This was encour
aging, but it is well to note that only three or the
wiser heads in the legislature took that stand.
There are many members of the legislature
who would like to exercise full executive as well
as legislative control over almost all functions of
state government.
IN THIS conversation of last week regarding
tlm mluiinvialim nf tVin lnrrislntliro tfi VllVVlpr
education, one man suggested that the legislators
couldn't find sufficient time to administer higher
education.
We would hope that a legislative committee
that set itself un to administer higher education
would be prepared to spend a great amount of
time on the iob. Hicrher education would be poor
ly served by any legislative committee that did
not do its homework and that isn't something
that can be done in a few minutes.
There are three
of Higher Education
John Merryfield and George Layman. Members
of the legislature should
Walsh who has been on the board several years,
how much time the work takes and whether he
thinks the time he gives to it is necessary to come
to decisions.
IF THE state system of higher education is not
being well managed the legislature should
demand that, the governor conduct a thorough
investigation and make some recommendations
for changes.
But the legislature can
out violating the separation of powers so cx-
plicity spelled out in the state constitution, it
the legislature is going to hire and fire college
administrators and professors and make hun
dreds of other decisions involving the operations
of the institutions we've got to change the constitution.
Does a majority of legislators want to do that?
We think not. Pendleton East Orcgonian.
Ban Red Speakers
Those who believe we must protect our col
lege students from Communist pitchmen will sup
port a bill introduced in the legislature by Rep.
Phil Lang. It would prevent members of sub
versive organizations from using tax-supported
facilities.
We believe that bill
that its supporters are wrong on several counts.
1' irst, we believe they
seductive Quality or danger of Communist ideas,
During the depression
may have been well founded.
Sccondy, we believe supports of such legis
lation underrate the intelligence of college stu
dents and professors. Most college students aren't
too simple and naive to apply critical judgment
to Communist pitches.
We believe spokesmen for all ideologies
should be given free access to campus platforms,
Permitting the expression
another is a dangerous
cedent on the campus,
society.
However well-intentioned, those who would
bar subversive speakers
would burn library books with which they clisa
grec.
We believe our young people need more ae
cess to the arguments of subversives and others,
rather than insulation from the ferment of the
world in which theywill
Journal, Salem
of the committee, Sen.
Stafford Hansell and
ex-legislators on the Board
Chairman Bill Walsh,
consider asking Mr.
t go beyond that with
should be defeated, and
overrate the anneal of
of the l'JoOs, such fears
of one idea and barring
and self-defeating pre
or elsewhere in a fret
are akin to those who
live and vote. Capifa
H
MEDFOHD
"Boy, Could We Pas
If We Ever Decided To
... Communications ...
Letters to the Editor must bear the name and address of the-writer, although under
cartain circumstances the use of a pen name or initial for publication is permissible.
The Mail Tribune reserves the right to edit all letters with a view to clarification and
condensation. Letters submitted for publication must not exceed 400 words. The letters
printed in this column do not necessarily represent the views of the paper; in fact the
contrary is often the case.
On Tax Increases
To the Editor: President
Kennedy's proposed tax cut,
already offset by the increase
In Social Security, and the
Increase in postage, appears
to have been considered by
many state's governors a di
rect invitation to share with
the Federal Government their
big bite on the income tax.
If this is a sample of state's
rights, it is state's rights (Lib
eral Style), and most of us
would rather leave our state
tax laws as they are bad
as they are. Governor Hat
field's ready acceptance of
this invitation seems evidenc
ed by his proposed slate in
come lax increase.
There is a fast growing
feeling especially in Oregon
that it is time to have done
with school-boy theories on
political economy. They have
been tried and found wanting.
What these impractical theor
ists, with no business experi
ence, can't seem to under
stand is that there is just so
much earned income. The
more the various departments
of government seize to finance
and increase their powers
over the citizens who hire
them to administer our laws,
the less money there is left
with which to pay them. Thus
they throw the whole econ
omy out of balance.
The earned income in Ore
gon is already too heavily
taxed. If Governor Hatfield
has his way, his increase in
our slate tax will hit us where
it will hurt the most. We
thought the old-time bar-room
politicians were bad enough.
But they had a sort ot thieves'
honor. And they were smart
enough not to kill the goose
that lays the golden eggs.
Maybe we ought to give the
stale back to the Indians.
Their chiefs al least did not
fleece the members of their
own tribes. If they tried to
they didn't slay chiefs very
long. And that was not such
a bad idea.
Bruce Y. klcinbmld
1719 SE Portola dr.
Grants Pass, Ore.
Rich Man, Poor Man
To the Editor: Men are live
easiest of all creatures to
know. When he speaks one
thing he means another.
Men come in two classes,
the rich class and the poor
class. The rich man is con
fusing, frightening, and sick
ening to the pour man. He
smothers the poor man with
his money for trying to have
an eaual reputation. The gov
ernment takes 10 per cent of
the poor man's nuincy for
taxes, the rich man gets 80
per cent for rent and the
poor man has a headache left.
Rich men and tHxes are
like a disease eating away
"Look st that crummy' wall falling apart. They jutLj
don't make crallimen like they ued tol"
MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD. OREGON
Those Foreign Model
Get This Thing Fixed
(wMt"laj.WP
at the poor man like a cancer.
But there wouldn't be rich
men if it weren't for poor
people. Fear of the rich man
is the greatest of all terror,
the deepest of all dread, the
commonest of all mistakes.
From it grows failure. Be
cause of it life is a mockery.
Out of it comes despair.
A rich man pays a compli
ment as though he expected
a receipt. A poor man can
live for two months on a
good compliment.
The rich man has a better
memory than the poor man.
He is superstitious and a
great observer of set days and
times. He usually surprises
the poor man by informing
him another payment is due.
It's good to have money and
the things money will buy.
Money will take you any
where but through the pearly
gates. One could get along
beautifully without money if
other folks weren't so crazy
about it.
I don't actually like money
but it helps calm my nerves.
When a man starts saying
money can do everything, that
settles it, he ain't got none.
Whenever it's a question of
money everyone has the same
religion. If you want to know
what God thinks of it look
at all the people he gave it
to. A nickle may not be
worth as much as the dollar
but it sure goes to church
more often.
E. Dykes,
173 West Gregory rd.,
Central Point, Ore.
Makes Comment
To the Editor: In regards
to Mr. Peterson's letter, 1
should like to make this com
ment. One should hardly expect
to produce life trom a dead
beginning. Jesus used the
parable of the corn to explain
the way of Truth in the nat
ural as well as spiritual life,
for both work on the same
principle.
Every Spiritual child that
God creates must start from
a living seed of truth (Jesus)
planted ill ihe mind. This seed
flows out of God, it hast to
be touched by the husband
Christ (spiritual pollinaOin)
or it will abide alone and
eventually die out. If ani
when it is touched or mar
ried to Christ it is joined to
Ihe Father and becomes whole
or one. And believe me, this
new life flows out of death as
does all existing life.
When the natural, includin
one's self recognition is out
of the picture, we are set free
and by faith wc can see the
living way. Mr. Peterson calls
a natural man his Savior. We
cannot build a Spiritual
house on a natural founda
lion: Jesus tried to tell that
Foreign News: U.S.
In Asia Unhappy About Uncle
By PHIL NEWSOM
UPI Foreign News Analyst
Notes from the Foreign
News Cables:
Influencing People
U.S. friends and allies in
Asia do not make a hobby of
criticizing Uncle Sam but for
various r e a-
sons many of
them are un
happy. The
Philippines is
unhappy over
recent U.S.
f. f' 4,
I iXr. I support for
I VTSfcl I the projected
I Yi I Malaysia Fed
eration which
"""m would include
North Borneo, to which the
Philippines lays claim.
Thailand's foreign minister
has said that the Mansfield
Committee has recommended
a gradual reduction in U.S.
aid to Southeast Asia, did not
spent enough time in the area
to get a real grasp of the
problems. South Vietnam is
yet to react officially to the
to the world. He wanted us
to look inside his natural
flesh and find the true foun
dation pf the law of life thai
God, the Father, planted
there.
Helen Prevo,
222 West Jackson st.,
Medford.
Comments on Editorials
To the Editor: As so often
before, several of your recent
editorials have rendered an
important public service. As
one appreciative and grate
ful citizen, I should like to
comment on them briefly
(though inadequately because
ot your quite reasonable
space limitations).
Billboards along the Free
way? Disgraceful! City action
to keep them out should be
made permanent and retro
active. Advertisers should
realize, anyway, thai through
travelers aren't going to turn
around at the city's edge and
come back to patronize them.
If there's any justification for
roadside "ads" they can be
effective only at approaches
to cities, but even here U.ey
should be kept within bounds.
Why not a neat, orderly di
rectory at a convenient turn
out there?
Air and water pollution?
High time effective action
was taken to eliminate them.
The serious hazards alone
make it imperative, but con
siderations of civic beauty
and enhancement of econom
ic values should not be over
looked. Prompt and decisive
action by city, county and
state authorities is urgent.
School support? How very
right you are! It is indeed
"the most serious problem
facing the state" and our
legislators should come to
grips with il realistically and
in far-visioncd, statesmanlike
fashion. Let them, and taxpay
ers, face it: the kind of edu
cation our times demand will
cost more, not less - and wc
cannot afford not to meet this
urgent need: our nation's fu
ture depends upon it!
Betancourt? Yours wag a
magnificent reply to Frank
Koch and all equal)" misguid
ed souls who follow the mis
erable, un-American Smoot-
Bircher line of "susnicion.
fear, hale, slander, lies, villi-
fication. Americanism, in
deed! What a travestiy upon
it! Have these people no re
spect for truth and honor?
Their dastardly attacks upon
Komulo Betancourt play right
into the hands of the commu
nists whose hatred for him led
them to make repeated at
tempts to assassinate him and
thus not only :o sabotage, but
to end, his efforts to make
democracy work in Venezucl
after its years of eclipse un
der ruthless dictatorship.
Now, a final word concern
ing James K. Shafcr's limited
concept of brotherhood. Our
Bible teaches us that all men
are Gods children, that
Christ's love encompass's all
men. however sinful. Our
brotherhood also must be in
clusive to be real. We may dis-
aurce wun incorics or sv
terns of government or even
oppose them, as wc must in
the case of communism. But
wc canno' revile nor hale anv
man. else our profession of
brotherhood proves a fraud.
Arnold Eusene Jenny,
Rogue Valley Manor.
Medford.
Questions Reasoning
To the Editor: After read
ing the article on pay in
creases for county employees
(2-2o-6;i). I question very much
the reasoning of Judge Mil
ler. "Judge Miller said 90
days accumulated sick leave
was too much . . . Few em
ployees use the present 45
days accumulated sick
leave . . ."
It seems to me that if t!'.
county employees don't use
Mansfield report criticizing its
regime but Madame Ngo
Dinh Nhu, president Diem's
influential sister-in-law said
"certain foreigners" see her
country as an "experiment
ground."
Japan is Irritated at plan
ned U.S. cuts in textile im
ports coupled with demands
that Japan spend more for de
fense. The Japanese also feel
that the U.S. helped under
mine the South Korean mili
tary junta, thus endangering
attempts to put Japanese
South Korean relations on a
Washington Report
By William
(e) United Feature Syndicate
ANOTHER DIVISION
Washington - Another
spring is to bring another bit
ter division within the Su
fTTyTF ? preme Court
j Jand within
l " f J the United
HSt jStates-de-
t e r m i n ing
II whether any
f chemical
trace of reli
gious feeling,
however vol
untary and
white non-sccterian,
is to be allowed expression in
the public schools of the Unit
ed States.
The court last June for
bade as unconstitutional the
voluntary recitation in New
York schools of a 22-word
non - denominational prayer
prepared by the school au
thorities. Now it is to decide
two other questions:
Will constitutional govern
ment be threatened if such of
the children of Baltimore as
may care to do so continue
to open each school day with
Bible reading and by repeat
ing aloud the Lord's Prayer?
Will constitutional govern
ment be threatened if such
of the children of Pennsyl
vania as may care to do so
continue to open each school
day by hearing a reading of
ten paragraphs from the Bi
ble? e
CESSIONS of the Supreme
Court itself are opened
wun an invocation of God's
blessing upon its work Pub.
lie officials, including the
President, traditionally take
oath upon the Bible. The Na
tional Anthem the one an
them of every man. woman
and child, whatever his re
ligion or the lack of it still
recognizes the existence of
God.
All this notwithstanding
however, the outlook is not
good for those school children
who wish to participate in
ceremonies acknowledging
that divine mercy and divine
justice still exist in America
of increasing materialism and
private hopelessness.
For the arguments recent
ly heard before the justices
on the Baltimore and Penn
sylvania cases which prob
ably will be settled along in
June - -have strongly indi
cated that some, at least, in
tend to read the doctrine of
separation of church and
state" in such a way as to
permit God to be mentioned
in the schoolhouscs hereaft
er only under one's breath.
IHE first amendment to the
' rnnctitlltinn rlarn, (
religion: "Congress shall
make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise
thereof." This is where the
doctrine of separation arose.
But surely the true issue here
is not that someone is trying
to make an "establishment of
religion" namely, to set up
one state church superior to
all others.
Surely the true issue in
volved here is involved in
the latter half of that amend
ment, that forbidding inter
ference with the free exer
cise of religion.
Any minority, including the
ultimate minority of one pu
pil, has the undoubted right
to refuse to participate in
any religious exercise. This
columnist, for one, would
support such a right to the
end. But does a minority have
the right to forbid the ma
the 45 days, then they won't
use the 90 days. If this is the
case, it won t cost the taxpay
crs anything, so why not let
them have the additional
time? Most working people
do not eagerly anticipate us
ing up accumulated tick
leave, but when t h e need
arises it is wonderful to have
it available. Judge Miller's
comment indicates that the
cost of the additional time
would be negligible. If he is
right, and I assume he is. I
believe that the county budg
et would not be endangered
by offering this additional
benefit to the county employ
ees. G. Smith
2665 Syringa dr. I
Medford.
it 5 M
Friends, Allies
normal basis. The Japanese
feel that U.S. attempts to dis
courage China trade only
make Peking more isolated
and belligerent.
No Test Ban
Observers in London and
Geneva are ready to write off
as a total loss the current
Geneva nuclear test ban and
disarmament conference. The
chances of agreement on a
test ban treaty, safeguarded
even by a minimum of intei
national controls are rated
near zero. Khrushchev has
said he will make no conces-
$. Whit
jority such an exercise, if
this be their faith and choice,
on the extra-ordinary argu
ment that if the majority do
choose to pray this somehow
invades the rights of the mi
nority? If so, what becomes
of the second half of the first
amendment?
IF SCHOOjj children violate
the cpMM ifnf inn hw imlnn.
J
tary prayer aknowledging a
divine being, what of singing
the Star-Spangled Banner in
school, having in mind its ex
plicit acknowledgement that
"In God we trust?"
Is respect for tradition it
self to be declared unlawful,
on the ground that some peo
ple reject tradition? If one
child chooses to pray, does
he really make "an estab
lishment of religion?" How
in God's name if the ex
pression may be pardoned
does he harm the child who
does not wish to pray? Even
if, as atheists claim in im
measurable sadness, faith is
only a legend, is it in any
way ugly? Are beauty and
gentleness and tenderness
also to be declared unconsti
tutional? In the Days News
By FRANK JENKINS .
From Salem:
A panel of three circuit
judges took under advisement
a motion to dismiss a labor
union suit seeking to bar the
state from using convict labor
in the construction of a new
women s prison.
The judges heard argu
ments by the state and an
attorney for two union offic
ials o"er whether the unions
nave power to sue the state,
rpHIS is the background of
tile situation:
Use of prison labor on the
project was authorized recent
ly by a majority vote of the
Oregon State Board of Con
trol, which is composed of
the secretary of state, the
state treasurer and the gov
ernor. At the session of the
board at which the use of
prison labor was authorized,
Secretary of State Appling
and State Treasurer Bolton
approved it. Governor Hat
field voted against it.
Appling and Belton said it
would cost the state $18 mil
lion per biennium if use of
convict labor and inmate
labor were outlawed in state
institutions. Governor Hat
field, presumably, opposed
the use of convict labor on
principle.
QRGANIZED labor brought
v the suit because it felt
that construction of state fa
cilities should be accomp
lished by FREE labor.
The legal question involved
in the hearing before the
three circuit judges is
whether the unions have
power to sue the state, and a
decision on this point is ex
pected in a few days.
Trial of the suit has been
set for March 12.
CO MUCH for the facts.
In conclusion, let's take
a look at the principles that
are involved. In the relatively
small state of Oregon, the sum
of S18 million isn't hay. There
arc roughly 1.800,000 people
in Oregon. The addition of
$18 million to the cost of gov
ernment would mean an addi
tional tax of $10 per person
or $40 for a family of four!
jut-
" It isn't just the $18 mil
lion. It's the principle of it.
PERSONALLY. I cant es
cape the conclusion that
WORK is good for those who
have ben unfortunate en
ough to have committed a
crime and have been convict
ed and sent to what we HOPE
is an instittion devoted not
only to punishment but to
REFORMATION and REHA
BILITATION. I'm so old-fashioned as to
believe that reformation and
rehabilitation are more apt to
be accomplished when the
unfortunates ho have
strayed from the straight and
narrow way arc kept busy at
useful tasks than when thrv
re CONFINED I.N IDLft
NESS. M
Sam
sions. The U.S. has said it
cannot go below what it con
siders the safety margin of
nationals which at the mo
ment stands at seven on-site
inspections.
There have been sugges
tions that only direct ex
changes between Khrushchev
and President Kennedy can
break the deadlock. But even
these would do no good if
Khrushchev maintains h i s
present take-it-or-leave-it atti
tude. De Gaulle Holds Lin
President Charles de Gaulle
is said to be confident he can
hold the line against a new
wage-price spiral, head off a
major show - down with or
ganized labor and prevent in
flation undermining the Gaul
list "hard" franc. He hopes to
do it by bearing down on food
prices and offering regular
periodic consulta t i o n s be
tween the government and
labor unions.
Hope For Nuclear NATO
United States officials in
Paris are more optimistic
about prospects for a multi
national nuclear fcrce inside
the North Atlantic Treaty.
Preliminary sound ings . by
Presidential Envoy Livingston
T. Merchant have indicated
substantial support from
about one-half of the NATO
member states. This, of
course, does not include
France.
Strictly
Personal
By Sydney J. Harris
(ci Field Enterprises. Inc.
CREATIVE PROCESS
"That was a most amusing
piece you wrote the other
day," remarked an acquaint
ance at lunch.
"You must
have been in
a very good,
mood." I nod
ded, and turn
ed to soma
other subject.
As it happen
ed, I remcm-
h tt r A rf 4l,.,t
Harrn day quite well
- and 1 had been in a terrib'a
mood. My cold was worse, my
plane was late, and my funds
were low.
One of the deep and un
fathomable mysteries of tha
creative process (if I may usa
so pompous a phrase to de
scribe my own little efforts) is
that it seems to bear no direct
and immediate relationship to
ones mood or feeling, situa
tion or circumstances, at tha
time.
Most of Robert Louis
Stevenson's endearing and
amiable tales were written
while he was writhing on a
bed of pain. Sorr of Mo
lari'i gayest and most feli
citous melodies were com
posed while he was in the
slough of despond, seriously
ill, deep in poverty, utterly
depressed. Glorious Sonets
of exaltation have been
written in prison, and rol
licking comedies have com
out of the most wretched
personal conditions.
It is loo easy to say that
the creative process acts as
a compensation for reality,
o that wc use art to coun
terpoise the weight of life.
For just as often, happy
works are created in happy
times, and tragic works in
tragic times.
What seems to be true,
however, is that creation is
largely a process of the un
conscious rrMnd, with the
conscious holding only a
light hand upon the reins.
And just as a horseman
with a heavy hand cannot
get the most out of his
steed, to an artist who tries
too consciously to manipu
late and direct lhi nronsi
finds himself stumbling to
a halt.
The only rule in the world
of creating is that there is no
rule. Some work best in ona
mood, some in another; soma
need the spur of failure, oth
ers the glow of success: soma
require stimulation, and oth
ers solitude; some respond to
the pink of sunrise, others to
the purple of twilight, and
still others to the blackest
midnight.
Every writer, composer,
painter, needs to "get in the
mood ": and this is effected by
various magical rites and in
cantations - sharpening a cer
tain number of pencils, eating
apples, taking a long walk,
drinking copious quantities of
tea or coffee, or some equally
absurd (and equally effective)
preparation for the deep
plunge into the unconscious
for the buried treasure of the
mind.
But not the bad cold, nor
the late plane, nor the low
funds, can account for what is
written or painted or com
posed at any given time. Tha
forces here at work know
nothing of such matters; they
are busy translating the past
into the future: and the pres
ent is quite forgotten whc(
the dive begins.