FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0982.PDF
I/IICHTI G.-W. 'buses, G. Virgilio on the 50 h.p. (Gnome) Beatty- Caudron, and others whom I could not distinguish. There was also some school-work in progress. Last week the perpetrator of "Flying at Hendon" referred to the visit of a strange machine resembling a German arrowplane, but which was said to be the m ® DECEMBER 3, 1915. Handley Page biplane. We have since learned that he was wrongly informed, and that the machine in question was one from across the Atlantic, the 150 h.p. (Hall- Scott) Sloan-Day tractor arrowplane. We, therefore, offer our apologies to those concerned, and trust that the slip will lead to no complications. ® ® " Oh, gentle lady, do not put rae to 't, For I am nothing, if not critical." I SHOULD not shine as a critic. My pen lacks that pretty twist that shall make it mightier than the sword. The words of Shakespeare heading this article shall never apply to me. I cannot even, with full justice to myself, criticise the reason why I do not criticise, failing to recognise, as I will admit, whether my own skill in matters is insufficient to justify me in criticising the works of others, or whether, having that skill, I yet refrain, from humanitarian motives. Again, it may be that I am afraid to endeavour to foist my opinion, my self-valued opinion, on others by blatant blare, even though for the moment I shine as an oracle, for fear of possibilities arising; demanding with drawal at a later period, though that withdrawal be signified only by silence. It is possible, of course, that I don't know, and know that I don't know. Anyway, I shall never shine as a •critic. Edward Bulwer Lytton's "The pen is mightier than the sword" has been so often quoted as an excuse for journalistic excesses, that one has become apt to accept it as it stands. It reads, with its context:— " Beneath the rule of men entirely great, The pen is mightier than th? sword." The italics are mine, as is also the understanding of the inner meaning of the words. And recognising that I am not entirely great, I hesitate to criticise. It is well for me that light matter only is required of me, for do I set out to criticise, I simply descend into light-hearted banter. Were I a critic, and also had the ear of one of the nine goddesses, I would, with apologies to Pope, «ry:— " Dreamer commands : your ai j, O Muses, bring : What Muse for Dreamer can refuse to sing?" And the song should be :— Mighty Dreamer ! in your great ReflectiDn*; Critic ! a little help bestow ; We do not know—we do not know. Show us the way ; point out direction ; (That is, if you have no objection) Teach u--, we crave, 10 cleave the upper air, You who never have been there. All Powerful ! in your armed-chair; Critic ! a little help bestow On we poor workers here balow. Encourage us with words of wisdom, fair, (That is, if you have th?m to spire) And let no breath of stinging censure drop ; You who never swung a prop. It is not the critic who counts, be he beneath the men entirely great, nor the man who laughs to see how the strong horse strains on the hill: better he put a hand to the spokes. All honour to the doer of deeds, even could he have done better. Credit to the man in the arena, whose face is hidden by bloody-sweat and dust. Do he but entangle his enemy in his net, he shall have thumbs down to his adversary: let him but slip in his casting, and the broid- sword shall enter his valiant breast by command. For though they sit in high places, well out of the fray, yet they shall decide, for they are the critics. Who aims and falls short again and again is yet advancing the grand cause, because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, and no great achievement was ever accomplished without both. The man who spends his money and his time in attempting to practicalise his theories has my respect as the doer of deeds, and though he fail in the main, he does not fail entirely, nor is it certain but that his seem ing failure be the first step to real success. The principle of Journalism Aviatic, as I understand it, is to look after aviation generally, nor does it appear to me to be unreasonable to exend the welcome hand to one introducing a machine of an entirely new type to the world of aeronautics, irrespective whether any material advantage accrue personally. I would not presume to suppose I could advocate its introduction into the Service, for I am not placed in a high position. Such advocating, were it printed in this page, would carry weight with it equal to that registered on the beam were my paragraph cut out and weighed. Moreover, it is just possible that the service would not accept in grateful manner their self-appointed advocate. Should, however, such a job be going-a-begging at a later period, I trust those in authority will remember me, and for that reason I beg to hand in my card. I am entirely IT. I am the Dreamer, Noted scribe, and wit. On matters highly technical, Aviatic or electrical, I am entirely IT. Nor care I for the other side, Who think they know a bit. I would guard the Services ; Pe an acquisition. All machines I deftly scan, Length and chord and gap and span. I criticise transmission ; And smile to see the makers squirm Beneath my inquisition. I am entirely IT. 946
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
