A GLORIOUS ACT

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 148, 25 June 1934, Page 11

A GLORIOUS ACT

GIRL'S SELF-SACRIFICE

SCROLUOF MEMORY

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI, June 24. Memories of a train, tragedy on Boxing Day last year in which two little girls lost their lives on the Kakariki railway bridge, 37 miles frorn^ Wanganui, were ' recalled this af tern'oon by •the unveiling in the Kakariki School of a memorial to Frances Mason for her heroic self-sacrifice in trying to save from death her playmate, Molly Camplin, who was her cousin. The little: victims had used the railway bridge as a short-cut to thevir homes after a bathe in. the stream below. - They had not gone far on the bridge when the train, speeding on its way,-caught them and they were killed instantly., • ■:.. The memorial, the unveiling of which was performed by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) was sponsored by the Salvation Army. It took the form of a scroll—an artistic piece of work—bearing the signatures of a girl from each of the Wellington schools. It was executed by a'resident of the Salvation Army Home in Wellington, and tastefully framed at the Wellington Technical College. ■ Th© Eev. J.1 Bayliss, addressing a gathering of 250 adults and children, said that those who laid down their lives for others of their own free will belonged to a glorious company. The idea of helping others was the chief glory of the race.. The. >ray the, child had sought ito protect and shield another had been, a glorious act. Addressing the gathering prior to the unveiling of the memorial scroll, .which adorns the main wall of the school, Mr. Cobbe said that no mori striking tribute could be paid to the self-sacri-fice shown by Frances Mason than, the placing in the school of a memorial donated so sympathetically and thoughtfully by those responsible for it. "It seems clear," said the Minister, "that Frances could have saved her own life by jumping off the bridge, but instead of doing so she picked up her little cousin in an endeavour to save her, and they were both killed. : "It has been said that 'self-preserva-tion is the first law of Nature," said Mr. Cobbej "but that lis the slogan of a coward, the word of some-poor timid weakling unworthy of the name of man or woman: Frances-Mason was not a coward. She was a heroine; she sacrificed her young life for love of- her little cousin,'and in doing what seemed to her to be her duty. The bravest man living today cannot do more thanrisk his life in doing what he conceives to be his duty and in trying to shield those weaker than himself. . ■• ..

"There are thousands -who,;if placed in the same'position as this little girl, would have jumped to safety and saved their own lives. But the call of, duty .was too strong for this child and' her love for the little one "committed to her care was too great, .. and she chose the- risk of death rather than dishonour. Wiseacres; might say it was not a prudent thing she did; but duty scorns prudence, and .it is ,in great perils that brave hearts are most manifested. . . ■ ■ ~ /

"We all hope that the memory of the deed of this heroic little girl will be a bright example to every boy and girl attending this school, and that it. will-also teach those of us who are older something of the nobleness of devotion to duty. "Frances" Mason, in attempting to save" her cousin's life, did something, that .will be remembered when vfc. have :passed/away; "The scroll i%\yeiled today-will not only serve as a weerd,' but ip should also be an inspiration to other children and teach them so to live .that through life they may be honoured for" faithful-* ness to duty as Frances is honoured in death." . 'V: ~