Clippings.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 119, 5 March 1901, Page 1

Clippings.

THE VICTORIA CROSS,

March Ist is not marked with a red letter in any of the calendars known to the world at large, bnt there are few days in the whole year so worthy of that classic distinction. On March Ist, 1857, a nor/ era in military rewards was inaugurated, and those lucky imm whose breasts are adorned with the most precious possession of a soldier should remember with gratitude and pride that on this (lay, forty-four years ago, our late Queen first bestowed the Victoria Cross on a number of brave fellows who bad won the distinction on the field. I’ritain was never very fortunate in her method of distributing rewards to her children, and only too frequently the valorous but humble private or seaman was overlooked, while the officer, with no more claim to recognition, received medals, titles and decorations. It was always felt by the nation that such a state of things was undesirable, but many days were yesterdays before the Wat Office could so far release itself from tbo entanglements of red tape as even to “ consider” the subject. On February Bth, 185 b, however, tbo Queen formally announced in the Loudon Gazette that she bad been pleased In institute a new naval and military decoration, to bo called the Victoria Cross, and the proclamation sot forth the famous condition under which the reward should be granted, “ Fot Valour,” irrespective of rank f>r anything else. One may, in view of the still flourishing icdtapeisui of the War Office, safely conclude that tbo good Queen’s personal inspiration did more towards rousing the military authorities than all the murmurings of her people. Too first distribution 'of Crosses, si sly-one in number, was made in person by the Queen in J iydoß.a-k on ’damd Ist 1857, when the diiterances in the ranks of the r;-( ipieuts’ tanging from aristocrats olUc.ts of the Household Troops to jho plainest of plain Jack Tars, was the subject of universal common', end general congratulation. Tbo .Queen herself must have been doimh.'od to have such rendered by tbo uivu who bore toe brunt of the lighting in her two foicos. On that memorable occasion the feats t.■ t gained the conveted decoration were mo e spectacular than the achievements'**""of the modern '‘khaki” days, out one finds the same impulse in then' execution as guides the hero an the South African veldt to-day. It is hardly too much to say that the little Cross, a beacon to every soldier of the Empire, did move to endear the Queen to her lighting sons and all her subjects than dm most glorious pomp and majesty which she was entitled to display. It is the memory of these things that gives the anniversary which occurcd on Friday special interest in every quarter of the Empire.

THOSE DIAMONDS

A well known actor, who has no small opinion of himself, was in the entrance hall of his hotel the other morning when a commercial traveller stopped in front of him and looked over his head in soared of an acquaintance. The actor, mistaking his purpose, -remarked— ‘ “Ah, I see you admire my diamonds. This on.” —indica:in> the stone on his shirt front—“ cost me six hundred pounds. These” —showing his cuff buttons —“cost me two-fifty each, and my wife has a trankful up in our room.” That even! *g the actor was placed at supper a one at labia, , where we!e several vacant ebafo Presently seven men, all commercial travellers, entered the coffee room and each one had a large cut-glass fruit dish fastened on h 3 breast, while glas p asms hung from each conit and ves buttO: : : Eoberly marcuing to the table at which the great actor sat, the seven men took the vacant seats, and entertained the actor with: — “Ah, I see'you adrni e our ditmords. This one ’ pointing to the fruit dish) “ cost mj a hundred thousand pounds. 'J hose (indicating the prisms) “cost sixhundrel and fifty each, and we have three waggon loads at the station waiting to be fetched away*”