The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1928. HOMAGE PAID.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1928, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1928. HOMAGE PAID.

Those are very gallant gentlemen indeed, who, taking their lives in their hands seek out the secrets of the unknown in such out of the way places as the Poles. There are many notable types of men from all nations who have not spared themselves in the desires and interests of science to probe out the secrets of nature in such places. There is a very fine record of names of whom any country might well he pioucl of, for their gallantry and coinage m penetrating into the unknown without

preventing the cost and danger to hold Ul >-111 in check. The intrepid explorers wh.i have gone on. season after season in this self-imposed task remind us that the human race with all its complexities and disappointments, has in it the germ of better and greater things always; that the type of all that is greatest and best is not dying out, but is there ready at the call and response to the inward promptings to do and to dare for the national well-being. 'These thoughts are recalled by the graceful and grateful tribute paid to the memory of Robert Falcon Scott', who is an outstanding hero of the British race, by Commander 11. K. Byrd, an intrepid American, who is to-day setting out for tno South Pole on a venture no less dangerous, hut perhaps not so difficult of accomplishment, as that attempted by Scott, 'The difficulties are being minimised by the march of science which has enabled so many accessory inventions to aid the explorer, even in the rigors of the Antarctic. Aviation and wireless, and improved means ol transport will aid the traveller into the unknown more and more, till it will he impossible to find a space in the whole globe which is a secret to the iii<|iiisitiveness of venturesome man. Commander Byrd in paying homage to the memory of Captain Scott, gave utterance to a glowing tribute of the Britisher and his fortitude. Scott’s mission was a failure, but a splendid one, for behind has been left a record of personal pluck and daring which will stir the blood of all who hear the story down through the ages. Aren, who take oil these wonderful journeyings into the unknown are essentially courageous. Their presence in the hand of hemes undertaking what might be easily the impossible, is. a guarantee of that personal trait. Scott’s party and his end—a truly glorious one—was notable not for the courageous effort to roach the goal it had set for itself, but rather for the courageous spirit in which members of that devoted hand of men faced in the end the penaitv of their failure to got through. They clayed the game to the end. and the fame which is theirs, is undying. Those men did not die in vain. The remarkable record which Seott was able to leave behind as he remained alone in consort with death itself, has been an inspiration to others. The gallant American now setting out on a perilous voyage admits he was fired in his youth bv the story of Scott, to emulate the deeds which had teen attempted. Byrd’s tribute is worth the attention of every scholar at school to-day. It. revives and recalls the memory of Scott’s great exploit and his magnificent death, and is in itself an inspiration to the young of to-day. and they make take note of the moving thoughts in the minds of a gallant leader of men, and of the spiiit in which lie - sets out upon his self-imposed mission. May we net repeat the noble eulogy to which our distinguished visitor gave utterance? “1 come here to salute a hern of my boyhood,” said Commander Byrd. “I cannot do justice to his memory, for I have no gift for words, but my

simple expression is sincere, for I. have benefittctl from the courage and the character of the mail. Jt was iiu! manner in which he met his end that caught my imagination. In failure lie gained an immortal fame, in dying he left to youth a heritage that success could not have given. And so he showed that things or the mind and heart—the intangible spirit of the man—have a more enduring effect than the material results of his struggles. He showed that the way a man plays the game can he more important than the winning of the game. He showed that in death a man could leave behind to those nearest and dearest to him, however devoted to them lie may lie, a memory more beneficial than his prolonged existence. He showed, therefore, that some tilings can be more important than life. Was fate in her cruelty unkind to him? For when lie lost his .superhuman struggle, when his body was gone, lie calmly and simply wrote the words that will make his memory Helpful for all times. That is why we have come here as a pilgrimage to show our reverence by placing a wreath on the monument which you have erected to the memory of this gallant gentleman, Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Royal Navy.’’