THE CRIMSON THREAD

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1929, Page 6

THE CRIMSON THREAD

.ORIGIN OF THE PHRASE. SYDNEY, June 6. The phrase, “The crimson thread of kinship,” has been voiced so often, especially at Empire Day and other loyal gatherings, and especially by gentlemen incapable themselves of what might be termed the filigree of golden phrasing, as to become a platitude.

But how many people know the origin of the now historic and overworked phrase? A Sydney newspaper correspondent who professes to be acquainted with the circumstances attributes the phrase to Australia’s political giant-of other days, Sir Henry Parkes. The story, for what it is worth, is related because of its interesting .link with the late Lord Roseberry, whose death. recently recalled it. When Lord Rosebery visited Sydney many years ago—lie bad a number of interests in New South Wales-—he compared, in a notable speech, the feelings to the Mother Country of loyalty with of blood relationship to the small central red strand said to he found in ropes cables, etc., manulactured loi the British Admiralty. This red strand, so tho story goes, is placed there for identification, and to guard, against theft, or improper use by unauthorised persons. Lord Rosebery referred in his speech to tho belief or superstition among naval men that, when this small Central red strand breaks the wholefjvjrohesion of the rope is at once destroyed. The story runs that some time after this speech, and with it in mind. Sir Henry Parkes elaborated the idea, and coined the oftquoted from “The crimson thread of kinship.” If. therefore, someone drags the phrase out of his repertory ol catch cries, you know the-story of it, assuming, of course, that it is correct.