Month: September 2010

Gour

Thursday’s Piece

“…..Therefore ’tis meet

That noble minds keep ever with their likes;

For who so firm that cannot be seduc’d?”

(William Shakespeare, 1564 – 1616)

John Lentell

19th February, 1969)

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Gour

Wednesday’s Piece

“When she inveighed eloquently against the evils of capitalism at drawing-room meetings and Fabian conferences she was concious of a comfortable feeling that the system with all its inequalities and iniquities, would probably last her time. It is one of the consolations of middle-aged reformers that the good they inculcate must live after them if it is to live at all.”

(Saki – Hector Hugh Munro, 1870 – 1916)

John Lentell

18th February, 1969

Gour

Monday’s Piece

“The Noble heart, that harbours virtuous thought,

And is with Child of glorious great intent,

Can never rest, until it forth have brought

Th’ eternal Brood of Glory excellent.”

(Edmund Spenser, 1552 – 1599)

John Lentell

16th February, 1969

Gour

Sunday’s Piece

If among us at this time of crisis, conflict and challenge we have men with noble hearts and virtuous thoughts they are not conspicuous nor, apparently, in the vanguard. If there are such men and if they truly desire to serve, or even to be great, they will never again in Rhodesia see opportunity such as this. From my humble standpoint I beg of someone to take the lead.

John Lentell

15th February, 1969

Gour

Friday’s Piece

“In 1931, the country was up to the eyes in hell-broth. The complete complete collapse of a vast eddifice of sham, pretence, humbug and hypocrisy could no longer be concealed even from a people who, through thirteen years of ‘peace’, had shown little disposition to wake up to the facts of life. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald’s government ‘went to the country’, taking Mr. Baldwin and Sir John Simon along in hand-in-hand. They made their celebrated demand for a ‘doctor’s mandate’, which was, at long last, a rceognition that the patient was in a very bad way. The patient, shaken to the soul, placed himself in their hands with a lack of reservation rarely witnessed in English political history. The doctor’s bill came in 1939….”

(‘In the Meantime’ – Howard Spring, 1889 – 1965)

Now why did I choose this quote?

John Lentell

13th February, 1969

Gour

Thursday’s Piece

I am without a political leader and I think this is true of a large number of the electorate – decent Rhodesians who are sick and tired of the hugger-muggering. This is not Zambia. Nor is it South Africa. We could be the Switzerland of Africa – a peaceful nation of skills, hard work and hard currency (a venue for International peace conference!). But I see little hope of this under our existing leadership and, sadly, no convincing alternative has as yet been proffered.

John Lentell

12th February, 1969

Gour

Wednesday’s Piece

(This piece was rejected by Rhodesia Herald editors / censors and not published)

Sophisticated mercenaries! Some were here before UDI, many have come since – detained or drawn by the spoils to be had. Unscrupulous and without any sense of patriotism. In effect – subversive! They couldn’t care a b….r about Rhodesia – that’s beyond doubt. All of which I am frequently told is just human nature and that in Rhodesia it is no worse and no better than elsewhere. What a pity. We used to be different, we used to be better – that was our strength.

John Lentell

11th February, 1969

Gour

Monday’s Piece

“We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths;

In feelings, not in figures on a dial.

We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives

Who thinks most – feels the noblest – acts the best.”

(Philip James Bailey, 1816 – 1902)

John Lentell

8th February, 1969

Gour

Sunday’s Piece

“Nothing really matters except the answer to the burning question, “Am I going to live or shall I vanish like a bubble?” What is the aim and issue of all this strife and suffering?

(Bronislaw Malinowski, 1884 – 1942)

John Lentell

7th February, 1969

Gour

Thursday’s Piece

“Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world – though the cant of hypocrites may be the worst – the cant of criticism is the most tormenting!”

(Laurence Sterne, 1713 – 1768)

John Lentell

4th February, 1969

Gour

Wednesday’s Piece

Gives not the hawthorn-bush a sweeter shade
To shepherds looking on their silly sheep,
Than doth a rich embroider’d canopy
To kings that fear their subjects’ treachery?

(William Shakespeare, 1564 – 1616)

John Lentell

3rd February, 1969

Gour

Tuesday’s Piece

I think that non-citizens should keep their noses out of Rhodesian Front politics, Centre Party politics – out of politics altogether. But I am also of the opinion that in our peculiar circumstances loyalty is divided when so-called Rhodesians have cash or other assets (nest-eggs!) in South Africa, Switzerland, London, Hong Kong or where-have-you. Sorry to harp on this but I feel strongly about it.

John Lentell

2nd February, 1969