{"id":2770,"date":"2014-03-20T15:36:17","date_gmt":"2014-03-20T15:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/drp\/?p=4098"},"modified":"2014-03-20T15:36:17","modified_gmt":"2014-03-20T15:36:17","slug":"spring-musings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/combo\/2014\/03\/20\/spring-musings\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring musings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today is the vernal equinox – the first day of spring.\u00a0 72 years ago, Nile Kinnick<\/a> reflected on its meaning from the U.S. Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.\u00a0 His words about the trajectory of the ongoing war are startlingly prescient, before turning his thoughts to springtime at home.\u00a0 Thanks to DRP’s Wendy Robertson for finding this letter today, and to the DIYHistory<\/a> participant\/s who transcribed it.<\/p>\n

\"Nile<\/a><\/p>\n

Nile Kinnick letter to his brother, Ben, March 21, 1942<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

“…today is supposed to be the date of the vernal equinox, when the sun’s center crosses the equator and day and night are everywhere equal. As surely as the world is round the sun will begin to rise earlier and set later, we shall have more light than darkness. Time and season wait on no man. And so it will go with this war. As the stars in their courses indicate the shifting seasons so do they proclaim that goodness shall triumph over evil, hope over despair. There has been so very little sunlight to cheer either America or Britain since the war started, and even now the prospect is dark and foreboding. However, the “spring equinox” is approaching. It will be born of blood and thunder in the year 1942. Fierce will be the fighting against superior odds, and disadvantageous will be the circumstances, but when the smoke and blood have been cleared away, the Allied Nations shall be more nearly on an equal footing than at any time since the adversary set upon them. And then in 1943 the drive will begin. Slowly but surely, gaining momentum with every assault, the foe will be beaten back until once again sunshine & light have gained dominion. The year 1944 will see the termination of this fearful struggle, and once again we shall make an attempt to prevent the recurrence of such an holocaust.”<\/p>\n

“But enough of figurative speculation, and on to lighter things. Spring in the midwest, oh, that is a glorious season! Soon the countryside will be green and fresh, the heavy hand of winter will be shaken off – and, yes, the grass will be a grab and a half high, and picnics will displace the afternoon schedule.”<\/p>\n

*******************<\/p>\n

This year, spring looks about as colorful as this photo, A spring day at Bellevue IA, 1910s, from the Mary Noble Photograph collection.\u00a0 Click the photo and zoom in, and you’ll still see some smiling faces.\u00a0 Both the Noble <\/a>and Kinnick <\/a>collections are part of the Iowa Digital Library<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\""A<\/a><\/p>\n

“A spring day at Bellevue IA,” 1910s<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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