Salute to France
N this issue we pay a tribute to the genius of France as it has expressed itself,in music, letters, art, and graceful living. Twenty-five years ago the people of France met, and with the assistance of their allies broke, a wave of political barbarism. To-day they are standing beside our own people a second time in defence of civilisation. No nation has risked more, or suffered more, for the decencies of life. Without its aid liberty would hardly have survived. But the world’s debt to France dates from the Dark Ages, and almost from the dawn of history. The French have had their ugly days as we have had ours, but they were civilised before the Roman conquest, and very soon after the conquest were teaching their masters manners. Nor did the light which shone for the Romans ever quite go out. We must not be extravagant or sentimental, or pretend that it is possible to look back to the days of chivalry and beyond them and see nothing but a gleaming line of light. The truth is not quite so radiant as that. But we can say that France throughout most of her history has been a light shining in a darker place, and still is that light in the shadows enclosing Europe to-day. If Britain’s contribution to civilisation has been politi¢al and religious liberty, the contribution of France has been the art of rational living. The French are intolerant of bigotry, but suffer fools cheerfully enough when they are nothing worse than fools. Even when charity fails them they turn ironical rather than violent. In other words, they have learnt how to live. But they have also learnt how to die-the supreme achievement by a race to whom every moment of life is precious. It is because they know how to.live and know how to die that we salute them from New Zealand. The barbarians who have driven us together are working day and night to separate us, and wasting their time. The French know, as we do, that their light would go out if they were isolated and overwhelmed.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19400329.2.18
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 40, 29 March 1940, Page 12
Word count
Tapeke kupu
355Salute to France New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 40, 29 March 1940, Page 12
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in