AN APPEAL TO STIR THE BLOOD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3185, 8 September 1917, Page 10

AN APPEAL TO STIR THE BLOOD

SKACKLETON'S CALL TO MEN. ■ (Contributed by Dr. J. Allan Thomson, .Director of Uio Dominion Museum.) In tho records of the war museums of the future, where great recruiting speeches and patriotic posters will taketiioir placu as records ot the spirit of Ihe time, Sir lirntut Khackletoii's famous recruiting bpeecli, delivered in Sydney last March, will surely lake a great placo. A copy of this stirring "Appeal for Men for tho A.1.1 , ."- has been given to tlio National Historical Collection, the givor evidently realising the importance ot embodying such u valuable example of tho highest type of recruiting appeal in tho records 01 the future war museums. Here and now this speech k a thing to quote from; indeed, if it were possible one would like to gaugo its power on every.man afflicted with the ghastly malady of "cold feet" in Australasia, by distributing its living, breathing appeal broadcast:

Let us realise the claims of the spoakoi to be heard, at> put forth by himself:-

I want to say to you that in tho south wo lived through slow dead' days of toil, of struggle, dark striving and anxiety; days Hint called not for heroism in tho bright light of day, but simply for dogged persistent endeavour to do what tho soul said was right. It is in tlittt same spirit that we men of the British. Empire have to face this war. When I arrived in Soutli Georgia, the most southerly dependency of the British Empire, I (lid not know what tho word 'Anzac' meant, but I eoou learned that :t wae a title of fame and , glory that would live ns lons as the great God swings this littlo ■ world in his Almighty hands. , I cannot imagine that you men are failing to realise your debt of honour to tho inen who have gone before, to the men who have died in that temple of blood and glory, trflllipoli. There lias been talk of mistakes Nothing can detract from the name of the dead. Tho men who have died live in you., and on you rest the duty and the pride of following the trail of honour they havo blazed. ~ Death is a very little thnw;— Hio smallest thing in the world. I tan tell you that, for I ha\c been laco to face with death' during long: months. I know that death scaice ■weighs in tho scale against a mans appointed.task. . . . If any word I can say would !cad a man to go, even to die, and save his own 6oul, then the few words I am speaking to-day will havo been of value to the human race. Are there not— "Two pointe on the adventure of the One when a beggar he prepares to plunge, , ~ Ono when a prince he rises with his pearl?" Just you' plunge once, and tho moment you have put tho uniform on you stand four-square to all tho winds that blow, and saying to the world—aye, and to future generit-tions-that if you die, by God, you died a man!

"Now, when an unknown man epealcs, no matter how splendid the thoughts lie expresses, they are—for the ( world u t etrangers-only words. But when eucli a man as Ernest Shackleton speaks, tho record of his great achievements, Ue courage patience, and eudui'iiuco which enabled him to so achieve shino :lifee a living flame through his fvords, (and make them a torch to kindle tho faith of overy mail who desires to keep his sow alive It is but a sninll leaflet, no larger than lies in a fookrap envelope, vet when tho student cf the future turns over the records of the War .Mnseam section of the National Historical Collection,, no mutter how ninny years have elapsed, that appeal will stir hie blood.