Have been reading through a collection of short pieces by the great Rachel Carson, called Lost Woods: The Discovered Writings of Rachel Carson. Turns out Carson wrote the liner notes for a recording of Claude Debussy's La Mer, and subsequently was asked to give a talk on the connection between the arts and the natural world at a benefit for the National Orchestra in Washington, D.C.
This was in the l950's, during the Korean War. She said:
I believe quite sincerely that in these difficult times we need more than ever to keep alive those arts from which men derive inspiration and courage and consolation — in a word, strength of spirit… When we contemplate the immense age of earth and sea, when we get in the frame of mind where we can speak easily of millions or billions of years, and when we remember the short time that hman life has existed on earth, we begin to see that some of the worries and tribulations that concern us are very minor. We also gain some sense of confidence that the changes and the evolution of new ways of life are natural and on the whole desirable.
It has come to me very clearly….that people everywhere are desperately eager for whatever will lift them out of themselves and allow them to believe in the future.
What lifts us out of ourselves, gives us strength. Words of wisdom, for yours truly as well…
Kit Stolz 