As History Sees Us

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 60, 16 August 1940, Page 5

As History Sees Us

HE author of a recent anthology for English soldiers says that in his search for a single book for all moods he was tempted to fall back on The Sentimental Journey. In New Zealand a better case could be made out for a pocket edition of the recently issued Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. After all nothing is quite so interesting, so stimulating, and so reassuring as the company of men and women who can talk to us when we want them to talk and never in any circumstances contradict us. The three thousand men and women of this Dictionary are all, without exception, dead. But they all, without exception, did something during their lives to save them from early oblivion. In one case at least it was to-commit a crime; but whether they stole sheep or begged for votes they contrived somehow to keep themselves out of time’s dustbin. Here they are still, and they are remarkably good company. There is excitement even in their names. Who was Charles Thomas Ick? Could you write an essay on William Gittos? Did you know that one of our early magistrates was William Powditch? Every South Islander knows of Cass. But who was Cassius? Have you heard of Krippner, born in Staab? Of Lowe and Lowes? Of Luck as well as of Luckie? Of Chaffers and of Chew Chong? Each of these has a place in our gallery of. fame, and has earned it. But if you had heard their names in Egypt or on Salisbury Plains would you have realised that you were among your own countrymen? And we have not begun yet to look into individual records. Take Alfred Saunders, Vincent Pyke, Henry Sewell, Scobie McKenzie, William Lane, and Robert Andrew Loughnan-to select half a dozen at random. Study those careers one by one, noting the variety and pondering over the actual achievement, and ask yourself whether you have not been walking too low on your heels. Wander through this gallery with Dr. Scholefield and you will come away walking on your toes.