FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1916
1916 - 1104.PDF
DECEMBER 14, 1916. ONCE again the time has arrived for me to pen a few words of greeting to my readers. I wish, even as I expressed the same wish a year ago, that this time I could think that the season's greetings so easily spoken or written carried with them the possibility of being consummated to the full. Unfortunately, this year as last, we have the one time festive season upon us under conditions such as to make joy and merriment appear but hollow shells. Some of us there are, no doubt, almost impossible as it seems, who have been little affected in that which touches them most closely. Some there are over whose house the dark angel has hovered with seeming Tinfair persistency, devastating once happy and prosperous families almost to the extent of extinction. Just at a period when in times of sanity we should be thinking and preparing for the home-coming of those sons whose livelihood has called them away from the home fold, we are called upon to brace ourselves for the ordeal of bidding them goodby and God-speed on their way to fight for their King and country. Is it possible under such circumstances to wish the old wishes ? Does " A Merry Christmas " sound blessingless—the reply a hollow mockery ? I think not. I believe that vrith all the trouble and strife, with all the death and mutilation now rampant throughout the Empire, the old wishes have the same magic power, the reply the same loyalty, as ever. I have offered my sincere good wishes so many times on this page in happier times, I feel I cannot let the season pass without the usual expression of good will, asking that one and all will accept that it comes from the very bottom of my heart. If we cannot be entirely happy this Christmas fi •' Ibj f **' > * • Ak. / 1 ' VJ**- -^9^-4, ,-. ;- \ i season, as in days gone by, let us at least be as happy as we riiay, and hope that the time is not so very far distant when we may look upon life as not entirely composed of suffering and sorrow. Every cloud has a silvery lining, and although it may seem difficult to believe in justice and liberty at the present moment, let us believe, and be sure, that they will prevail when the Power that has the shaping of the world's destiny shall think fit and proper. In the meanwhile we are men and women of superior intelligence, and with the fortitude to suffer with equanimity when called upon by some power outside our influence. Then there are the little ones to consider—those small personages who are so great, in that it will be to them this country will some day have to look for protection. Born into a world of sorrow, they happily are innocent at the moment of the under standing of that which goes to the making of turmoil and strife. Let them have their Christmas tree. Let that old impostor Santa Claus go his stealthy round of little cots, filling up little stockings with good things, the while rosy-faced boys and girls sleep with one eye open to defeat his admirable intentions. And if a tear should fall, as no doubt it will and should, at thoughts of long-past little stockings, and little boys grown big, try to comfort ourselves with the thought that this is as it must be—that this old world cannot stand still, that things must come and pass away, and be gone for ever. That even you who are so pleased to enact the old rdle of pleasure-bringer must some day bring sorrow at your passing. It is progress. It is evolu tion. It is fife. So while we live, let us be happy as we may be. And so a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to one and all, H H 0 E H !H E 'E !E BE E E B E As seen from above, in the land of the Huns.—The Penitentiary at Bruchsal. E EI E E a E m E « E EEEEEEEEEEE IO96
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
