An exciting and pleasant 40 years

ON OCCASIONS like this it is expected that the medalist say something about his past which presumably he thinks may have borne on the award. Since the matters discussed by the committee of award around the council fire are never disclosed, this is a dangerous thing and one to be invited only by stoics. If the medalist chances to hit on things they have approved, they may be pleased but must wear the mask of vacancy. They must wear it also if he esteems things they consider of little or no merit. It is an irreversible process. I am going to avoid both Scylla and Charybdis by the simple process of crawling overland and dropping a few fragments of my history and philosophy.