HONOUR TO THE BRAVE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1948, 3 January 1914, Page 10

HONOUR TO THE BRAVE.

How strong tho worship of 'heroes it was evidenced oil the ' occasion. . recently, ..of. tli© -presentation. of tho medals to. the. survivors. of the Scolt JiiKpodition, and to the representatives of tho dead Wrou3 (writes '.'Alien" from, Lyndon on November 15, in tho "(Hjao' Witness"), Tii.o. presentation was m t.ha large theatre at Burlington Gardens, and every scat was occupied long lielore Lord Gtiraon took tho chair. Tho casket containing medals which had been won by her husband had already been handed to Lady Scott, at tho aiiiii* ycrsary mooting of the lloyal Geograph- §? I I :! Q ' ; J'> to Mrs. Wilsferi, widow of i)r. \\ ilson, anci Lieutenant Victor Campbell, tho commandcr of the northern party which passed two winters i'ar from the base auiidst many hardships, toiwre then, Lord Cur?,on announced, tho fiOMot.y had <loeidf»d to striko a- special medal to ha presositoi to ail wlvo took part in tho expedition, officers mid men, and to tlio representatives of ihoso who perished. Tho medals bear a good likeness of Captain Scott on one side, and on the other side .a representation of : tho party of brave though disappointed men who turned to faoa ilia tori i lilo return journey from the goal of their accomplishment and failure, and which was to he tho.ir last journey, their last great, effort tu. "quit thcinselvcs liko men." Cheers and toafs mingled in tho on* thusksra _ which greeted'. tho v.-otnen,' who received-tlio tokens of-a world's honour.of their bravo dead. Tlio Italian Ambassador, on behalf' of the Italian Royal Geographical Society, presented medals nnd diplomas to Lady Scott, Mrs. "Wilson, Mrs. Oates (mother of Captain Oates), and Sirs, Bowers (tho mother of Lieutenant Bower's). Tho Ambassador kissed tire hand of each woman as lift made tho presentation, and loud cheers rose iii honoui' of theso proud, though . bereaved, wives and mothers Tho wife of Petty-officer Evans could not bo present, and it was announced that tho medal would bo forwarded to her, Mr. Bayniond K. Priestly, who was a member of Sir Ernest Shackloton's Antarctic expedition, and who added to his scientific experience and shared the adventures of Scott's northern party, gave a detailed account of tlie journey. It was originally in* tended, he said, to explore King Edward's Land, but that proved • impossible; and tlio patty ivero landed in • icteria Land, near GVi.po Ada-rCj where tho first year was spent and soiiio exploring done bef-ove tho Terra Nova returned and toolj the party to what they called "Inexpressible Island.," wboro they spent an uncomfortable winter, for they had only expected to ho there six weeks, and tlio gales kept the ship away for sis months. Tho ration Was two and one biscuits, alternately a day; 12 (afterwards- reduced to ■cigi.it) lumps of sugar'every Stindhy awl every alternate Wednesday; over/ Saturday a stick' of chocolate weighing J Joz.; a few raisins on birthdays and ij.io hist day of each month; and three teaspoouftils of cocoa five times a week, three teaspoouftils of tea oil Sundays and the leaves reboiled 011 Mondays, and about half as much seal and bhibbot as tho usual allowance. To a woman there is something pa* th.etical.ly sweet and boyish in thesg strong, able, clever men ico and snowbound in tho desolate, white . Wastes, cut off from all the 'worid. celebrating °{?° liajidfnl of iSKiiiSrj marking- a - feast-Say lyith sugar. AVeM, the bravest are ever "tho ten'dcrest, and it is tk-daring and tho lug men ivtio at heart are-ilie.. simplest. And woman, will go oh loving "grit" iij moll, just as long as men love sweetness and chann in her/ Sex rivalry there may he; wholehearted contempt and boredom of the man who a.sstinies tniditioiw! prc-enrinoiifo and muscular superiority; but for tho man who can give for his ideal—even if it be hfs dog—tlici* aro worshippers ever willing to stoiid at the foot of his cross.