Panel text reads:
Black Mountain College
Black Mountain, N.C.
Dec. 7, 1941
Dearest folks,
it seems so funny to be writing a letter today, after all that has happened. The day started out like any other Sunday around here. I had most of my studying done, and was feeling very good. Around 10:30 I went up to Paul’s to give back a book I had borrowed. Roman came up later on, and the three of us had a swell time just talking about Paul’s work. the manuscript of his new book had just come from the publisher’s for correction, and we helped him with that. By 3:00 o’clock Roman and I went to the studybuilding because he wanted to work on his new room. As we are going through the hall Bob B. came up to us and asked us whether we had heard any news. Upon our question as to what kind of news, he told us that Japan had declared war on the U.S. Both of us felt at once relieved that it had finally happened, and yet puzzled that it was Japan who did the attacking. Paul, to whom we brought the news, said that it was the beginning of the end of Hitler, when the latter had to resort to Japan’s attacking the U.S. in order to stop whatever little help we have been able to give Russia.
We went back to the lodge after that little illumination feeling very depressed and gloomy about the whole affair. Everybody was in that depressed mood, because we realized that this was finally destroying whatever was left of the world as we knew it, and the effect it would have on the future of the college and ourselves. It was after dinner that Lise K. and I got together in the lobby to discuss what was really happening to us, and most of all what the positive values were that might still be in the world. After rather lengthy searching we came to the following conclusion: After all it does us not much good to ask why we exist or what we live for, or what the purposes of life may be. We realize that there is no God, but that there is a lot of beauty in the world. We do not believe in the nobility of man, but we know that men have written great literature, thought many thoughts, thoughts about the questions of life and death, that they have composed great and beautiful music and art. We do not believe in any utopia which will make everybody happy because of some new political system, but we do realize that all people are in the long run dependent upon one another for the bare fact of living. What then are the values that remain for us to hand on our children, values that will be true even in the changed world after the war and struggle that is coming to us and to them? “Every human being has a right to food, shelter and clothing. Every human being has a right to affection and happiness (even thought that is relative) and to the security arising from self-confidence and the relations with other people. The right to breathe fresh air, to enjoy a sunset or sunrise, or a moonlight night, the self-realization that comes out of a love relation between two people, the right to enjoy music, literature and art, the right to think and to worship, the right to learn-all are the birthright of every human being.” Those are the positive items were are going to teach our children, and those are the things to see ourselves through the struggle ahead of us.
I am not sure whether we or the next or even the immediately following generations will achieve a state of existence in which those right will be put into practice, as a matter of fact, I seriously doubt it. However, as long as they remain in the minds of people there is a hope for their eventual realization.
With those ideals in mind we are willing to make the sacrifice of our life, of fighting a war, of eventually marrying and having children, if we are not killed in the process of war. I think that I am to face whatever is coming now with comparative peace of mind, even though I am aware that my friends may be killed, and that it will be “tough” going for the rest of life. Another thing, no matter how hard the going may be, I shall always try to see the brighter side of happenings and get all the genuine happiness out of life that there is to gather.
So much for the effect of the day on me. The rest of the week I spend in my usual fashion studying and thinking about vacation...
After our philosophical discussion a couple of us got together and read the Bible and some other poetry. I found a very beautiful poem by William Blake in my anthology.
Auguries of Innocence
To see the world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
An eternity in an hour.
I thought you might life it. I like it very much.
Gisela Herwitz was nineteen years old on December 7, 1941.
Black Mountain College
Black Mountain, N.C.
Dec. 7, 1941
Dearest folks,
it seems so funny to be writing a letter today, after all that has happened. The day started out like any other Sunday around here. I had most of my studying done, and was feeling very good. Around 10:30 I went up to Paul’s to give back a book I had borrowed. Roman came up later on, and the three of us had a swell time just talking about Paul’s work. the manuscript of his new book had just come from the publisher’s for correction, and we helped him with that. By 3:00 o’clock Roman and I went to the studybuilding because he wanted to work on his new room. As we are going through the hall Bob B. came up to us and asked us whether we had heard any news. Upon our question as to what kind of news, he told us that Japan had declared war on the U.S. Both of us felt at once relieved that it had finally happened, and yet puzzled that it was Japan who did the attacking. Paul, to whom we brought the news, said that it was the beginning of the end of Hitler, when the latter had to resort to Japan’s attacking the U.S. in order to stop whatever little help we have been able to give Russia.
We went back to the lodge after that little illumination feeling very depressed and gloomy about the whole affair. Everybody was in that depressed mood, because we realized that this was finally destroying whatever was left of the world as we knew it, and the effect it would have on the future of the college and ourselves. It was after dinner that Lise K. and I got together in the lobby to discuss what was really happening to us, and most of all what the positive values were that might still be in the world. After rather lengthy searching we came to the following conclusion: After all it does us not much good to ask why we exist or what we live for, or what the purposes of life may be. We realize that there is no God, but that there is a lot of beauty in the world. We do not believe in the nobility of man, but we know that men have written great literature, thought many thoughts, thoughts about the questions of life and death, that they have composed great and beautiful music and art. We do not believe in any utopia which will make everybody happy because of some new political system, but we do realize that all people are in the long run dependent upon one another for the bare fact of living. What then are the values that remain for us to hand on our children, values that will be true even in the changed world after the war and struggle that is coming to us and to them? “Every human being has a right to food, shelter and clothing. Every human being has a right to affection and happiness (even thought that is relative) and to the security arising from self-confidence and the relations with other people. The right to breathe fresh air, to enjoy a sunset or sunrise, or a moonlight night, the self-realization that comes out of a love relation between two people, the right to enjoy music, literature and art, the right to think and to worship, the right to learn-all are the birthright of every human being.” Those are the positive items were are going to teach our children, and those are the things to see ourselves through the struggle ahead of us.
I am not sure whether we or the next or even the immediately following generations will achieve a state of existence in which those right will be put into practice, as a matter of fact, I seriously doubt it. However, as long as they remain in the minds of people there is a hope for their eventual realization.
With those ideals in mind we are willing to make the sacrifice of our life, of fighting a war, of eventually marrying and having children, if we are not killed in the process of war. I think that I am to face whatever is coming now with comparative peace of mind, even though I am aware that my friends may be killed, and that it will be “tough” going for the rest of life. Another thing, no matter how hard the going may be, I shall always try to see the brighter side of happenings and get all the genuine happiness out of life that there is to gather.
So much for the effect of the day on me. The rest of the week I spend in my usual fashion studying and thinking about vacation...
After our philosophical discussion a couple of us got together and read the Bible and some other poetry. I found a very beautiful poem by William Blake in my anthology.
Auguries of Innocence
To see the world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
An eternity in an hour.
I thought you might life it. I like it very much.
Gisela Herwitz was nineteen years old on December 7, 1941.
Artwork: 1995.98.1
December 7, 1941/"Dearest folks"
This work was created for the 1995 exhibition Remembering Black Mountain College curated by Mary Emma Harris in conjunction with Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center and the BMC alumni reunion organized by Mary Holden Thompson, founding director of BMCM+AC.
24 x 18 inches
In copyright
Gift of Gisela Kronenberg Herwitz.
Gisela Kronenberg Herwtiz, Dearest folks, 1995. Printed paper on foam board. Collection of Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center. Gift of the artist.
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