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VARNISHING POINT FOUNDATION

LETTER FROM ROSCOE BIRDS, 17 AUGUST 1949

TO HIS ASSOCIATE ARTHUR ROSEMARY (1926-1989, R.I.P.)

... John Adams once wrote to his dear Abagail,

"I must study Politicks and War that my sons may have liberty to study Mathematicks and Philosophy. My sons ought to study Mathematicks and Philosophy, Geography, Natural History, Naval Architecture, Navigation, Commerce, and Agriculture, in order to give their Children a right to study Painting, Poetry, Musick, Architecture, Statuary, Tapestry, and Porcelaine."

How this quote haunts me these days. Here's the trouble with it, Arthur; I remember we grew up so sure that we had just about reached the end of man's drudgery, and soon we might frolick and play all our lives in comfort. If not us, at least our children! And our industry might be to thank for making it so!

But to see it this way, you must misunderstand what it means for a thing to be easy. When Gutenberg built his famous press, the monks and scribes in their monestaries did not go on to operate presses of their own. They were relieved of their duty: gone their hard labor, and so all the fruits of it!

And the walls were covered in Easy words... howling manifestos, pamphlets... advertising. In ancient Mesopotamia, the scribes lived like kings! To write was a life's voacation (sic), not a chore. Not just a way for me to remind you that we need to pick up milk and eggs.

Not to say that I long for the days of mass illiteracy, Art, and I pray you do not take me for the worst kind of elitist. But my heart sinks. When a thing is easy, no one gets to live by it anymore.

I write this to you now, so that you may understand why I have undertaken the actions you will soon hear of. I assure you there is nothing in my work so damning as what the papers will print about it. I ask you to keep me in your prayers, and do try to keep an open mind about what you hear. You have always kept an open mind around me before, and I'm sure it cannot be easy.

I have seen a future. I believe it will be our own. No sense thinking about it idly now, I must go and make myself useful in ensuring we will survive it.

All my heart,

Roscoe