Introduction

Measure and Proportion

”I openly admit that I despise averageness. It knows nothing about proficiency, and therefore leads an easy and stupid life.”
This sentence of Thomas Mann is rising before us again, common and inevitable. With it, the great writer almost desperately defended himself from the invasion of puffed up mediocrities who took over everything, already in his times. Perhaps they knew what they want, but they didn’t know what they can. Epilogues were horrible, but quickly forgotten. This now looks the same. Throughout the planet. Mann somehow managed to let it alone, but for us it will be very difficult.
While working on another issue of National Review, we entered the world of passionate researchers of birds, studied folk culinary heritage in Deliblatska Peščara, listened to kafana versions of old chronicles in Zemun. We assembled a realistic biography of Josif Runjanin, the Serb who composed the Croatian national anthem. We reminded of the hundredth anniversary of painter Miodrag Protić, rediscovered elegist Krstivoje Ilić and football miracle-worker Bora Milutinović… To cut the story short, you’ll see for yourselves.