"GREATER LOVE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 149, 26 June 1934, Page 5

"GREATER LOVE."

BRAVE LITTLE GIRL. GAVE LIFE TO SAVE COUSIN. SCROLL OF MEMORY UNVEILED (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, Monday, j Memories of a train tragedy on I Boxing Day last year in which two little girls lost their lives on the Kakariki railway bridge, 37 miles from Wangamii, were recalled yesterday afternoon by the unveiling in the Kakariki School of a memorial to Frances Mason for her heroic self-sacrilice 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 their 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 instantlv.

The memorial, the unveiling of which was performed by the Minister of Defence, tho Hon. J. G. Cobbe, was sponsored by the Salvation Army. It took the form of a scroll—an artistin 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 was tastefully framed at the Wellington Technical College. The Rev. J. 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 way the child had sought to protect and shield another had been a glorious act. Addressing the gathering prier.-te the unveiling of the memorial scroll, which adorns the main wall of the school, Mr. Cobbe said that no more striking tribute could be paid tr the self-sacrifice shown by Frances Mason than the placing in the school of •α-mcmorial donated so sympathetically and thoughtfully by

those responsible for it. "It seems clear," said tho Minister, "that Frances could have saved her own life by jumping off the bridge, but instead of doing so sho 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. Cobbe, "but that is the slogan of a coward, the word of some poor timid weakling unworthy of the name of man or woman. France's Mason ivas not a coward. She was a heroine; she sacrificed her young life for love of her littlo cousin, and in doing what seemed to her to be her duty. The bravest man living to-day cannot do more than risk his life in doing what he conceives to bo 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 we have passed away.

"The scroll unveiled to-day will not only serve as a record, but it should also be an inspiration to other children and teach them so to live that through life they may be honoured for faithfulness to duty as Frances Mason is honoured in death."