OUR HEROES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1285, 28 February 1883, Page 2

OUR HEROES.

London “ Truth” has the following ; —“ The extravagant lengths to which the authorities, eagerly seconded by a legion of silly snobs, have eulogised and rewarded the Egyptian ‘heroes’ are beginning to provoke a strong reaction, People having recovered their senses, have commenced to recognise the folly and absurdity of all this frantic exultation. There has been comparatively ten times more feasting and inspecting and decorating and hurrahing than sufficed after either the Crimean War or the Indian Mutiny ; and as to royal recognition these fortunate campaigners have received infinitely more than did the heroes of the Peninsular War or of WaterlooThe entertainment to the Duke of Teck is surely the climax of this long series of tiresome and ridiculous demonstrations. The Duke is an amiable and popular gentleman, and I make no doubt would make a dashing cavalry officer. But surely to hold a staff appointment, with really nominal duties, is not a service which should be recognised with a sword of honor. Of course, it may be said that the Duke of Teck, at least, saw as much active service as did the Duke of Connaught, and that in the midst of a hailstorm of rewards it is hard that he should be left out, From Lord Wolseley downward there has been for several weeks past a cock-crowing, for which, happily, it would be in vain to seek for a precedent in the history of England. I wish these heroes would condescend to take a lesson from the Duke of Wellington, who, when he returned to England, after Waterloo, was asked by Lady Jersey, in the midst of a crowded drawing-room to ‘ give them an account of the battle,’ to which he replied, ‘ That is easily done, ma’am ; they pummelled us and we pummelled them, and I suppose we pummelled the harder, as we gained the day.’ ”