Pleasing The Groundlings

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31083, 11 June 1966, Page 16

Pleasing The Groundlings

[By

WHIM WHAM]

Ten billion dollars was spent each year by the United States and Russia on their space programmes ... it would be better if attention were directed towards solving the world’s food problems rather than getting men on the moon.—Sir Walter Nash, M.P., in the House of Representatives. The Time has come, Sir, when we may as well Admit that Space has lost its first, fresh Charm. All (or Most) People that on Earth do dwell Must likewise feel that it could do no Harm To concentrate on Projects less vertiginous, Farming the Planet where We are indigenous. Public Imagination, once, was Captured That’s the correct Expression, I believe By Men in Orbit, and their first enraptured Reports we were delighted to receive. Their Comments now come coldly back to Earth; The Computers and the Experts judge their Worth

When Cameras, flung into the Moon, record The Holes and Hummocks of its ravaged Face, I expect I should be proud I KNOW I’m bored! Haven’t We always known it for a Place That Distance only lent Enchantment to, Unlikely to reward a nearer View?

Space and the Moon “have Little for the Tourist,” That’s evident with each successive Probe. Ah, Moon, Thou (in Particular) allurest Me less than the dustiest Desert of THIS Globe Diana, Cynthia, howsoe’er Thou’rt called, Thou’rt barren, and unbeautiful and bald!

Sir, I imagine WE shan’t be consulted About Man’s further Forays of this Kind, What Camera, Man, or Beast is catapulted And Where, precisely? Still, We may remind The Brains in Charge, Supply could be refused, Once We mere Earth-worms cease to be amused!