A Hall of Heroes.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7760, 11 March 1905, Page 3

A Hall of Heroes.

An article appears in Pearson's Magazine on the German "Halls of Heroes"—the two magnificent buildings in which men and women who have made great names for themselves;) in the national history are immortalised. The writer says "We in England have no such Hall of Heroes ; we who have produced so many men and women who have held our esteem l]through many an age have no great national nionu- ! ment to contain their names engraved upon stone for the future generaI tions to read and ponder upon. The ! idea of a Walhalla has, however, more than once been brought forward. At the time when our soldiers were returning from South Africa the question of a lifting memorial to those who had fallen' for their country was raised, and a Hall of Heroes hinted at. lint for some reason or other the subject never got beyond the paper stage, and England is still far Iteh'ind her ' Continental neighbours in this reIspect. True, she has her Westminster Abbey ; but, ulas, it is overcrowded now, and ?or the great names in peace and war of the twentieth century will be found but little space within its sacred walls. Wha't we want is a real Hall of Heroes—heroes of all desoriptions, of all ranks, nnd of all ages. Heroes in peace as well as in war—truly great men who have lived for their country, truly great men who have died for her. In this respect Germany has set us an example which it will !kc well for us to follow—and enlarge

upon. We never had a better opportunity than the present, when the gallantries of the South African battlefields are still fresh in our memories, and a Hall of Heroes in Peace and War such as our own country should erect ought to be universal in its conception, with a council of the world's leaders to s'it ill solenin conclave to judge of those whose names should be immortalised not' only by a bust, but by a tablft, too, upon which their titles to the great distinction should be engraved."