The Day
HIRTY years ago The Day was der Tag-the day on which Britain would go down to Germany. Now it is the day (we hope) on which the menace of Germany will be ended for ever. And we believe that it is near; perhaps very near; a date in this year’s calendar. It may be dangerous to be so hopeful, but it is a risk that most of us are taking. The question is: Are we risking anything else? Have we prepared ourselves for the day when the earth and the sky and the sea will become suddenly silent; when millions of men and women will be asking where they go next; when tensions ease and disciplines slacken; when_ servants will be riding on horses and princes walking in the streets; when doors are shut in factories and the sounds of grinding cease; when no one will want guns or bombs or land mines or depth charges; when some of us will be too weary to think and some too frightened to change our clothes and our jobs? It is not to. be expected that peace, when it comes, will see even the victors go delirious with joy-unless perhaps in Russia, where it will be easier to rejoice than anywhere else because it will be clearer what peace means. In most countries, including Britain and the United States, one cloud will go and another descend — less terrifying, of course, but real enough to moderate the sunlight. It will not be just a case of coming into port after stormy seas. The port will be entered; it is now in sight; but showers and gusts of wind will follow, too. For we are wiser and sadder and more realistic than we were twenty-five years ago; not too sad to rejoice when the time comes, but not foolish enough to think that we can then eat our bread and drink our wine as if Providence had already finished with us. When Providence has finished with us we are dead; but if we want Providence to stay on our Side during the next twenty-five years we have things to do that will tax all our wisdom and all our courage and our strength-and it is time to begin thinking about them. :
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 11, Issue 267, 4 August 1944, Page 5
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379The Day New Zealand Listener, Volume 11, Issue 267, 4 August 1944, Page 5
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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.
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