The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, NOV. 8, 1894. "ONLY A STOWAWAY."

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 114, 8 November 1894, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, NOV. 8, 1894. "ONLY A STOWAWAY."

». The press and struggle for exi&ten ■<• in these times are doing much to sap the unselfish and other of the higher qualities of civilised humanity There is no doubt of that. So much is it the caeo that lovers of their fellows ofttimes utter a wail for tinchivalry tb»t is gono. There is general trend that wzy which bodes ill for the modern socialistic jUtopia, but, thank Heaven, the inherent worth q[ human nature in largu measure, it uot jn the main, still survives — still holds the inner curtain of the fort. Chivalry is not dead. Jt has changed its character, perhaps, and instead uf being the exclusive atttibute of a knightly feir, it is now to be found among every rank and station when men «nd women are put to the test. T heso expressions have only ono source and illustration juat now. In future when wo want a parallel to the magnificent self devotion of the heroes of tho " liiikeuhead " we must turn to tho immortal stowtttvd&sseß of the illfated Wair nrnpii, aud tl*H dying Sir Thilip Sydney, on the neid «f Zutpheu, huooing bis cup of water to tUe

grounded soldier as an example of worshipful chivalry, is for ever sclipsed. The stowaway of the Wairarapa taking the little boy on his i back and fuciug that long midnight ] Bwiui for the life of both through tho ] tumultuous waters of the Barrier coast, has given to the world an example of chivalrous heroism per* [ fectly complete in its magniGceuce. [ " Only a poor stowaway " but a man | [ and a hero every inch of him. His deed should make us forever proud of the lace to which we belong, for by such deeds and such men are the best and noblest traditions of our race to be maintained. Such considerations are, alas, of little counterpoise, at the sad moment, to the poignancy of grief aud suffering of those who directly feel the blow of the Wairarapa calamity, but the " i if t in the cloud " to thoso who can appreciate such deeds, are the 6coues of heroic self sacrifice with which the wreck will be forever associated, and tho picture and lesson for all is supplied by the noble hearted stowaway aud bis chivalnc protegee. It is one of the grandest lessons hutuauity has hud giren it iv our day. Only a " stowaway "—two ocean waifs, but two such heroes !