AN OLD IDENTITY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22467, 30 July 1938, Page 20

AN OLD IDENTITY

TO THE EDITOB OR THB PRESS. Sir —As a never-failing listener-in to the “Man in the Street” session from 2ZB, may I enlarge a little on the reference made on Sunday night to a one-time well-known swagman known as “The Shiner.” Though m many ways typical of many more travellers in Wanderland, this remarkable character of a bygone age and generation is worthy of some slight enlargement on Sunday night s reference. That reference brought vividly back to my memory a vision of that gentle-hearted traveller on life s rugged pathway, the courtly-man-nered, clean-living, deeply religious, and highly educated gentleman, whose physical and intellectual stature marked as a prince of men. He followed a simple creed, and lived a simple life, but Confucius or Omar Khayam could teach him little of philosophy, culture, or life s highest aspirations. He was one who cared little for life’s baubles, yet gathered much of eternity’s treasures, who loved and was loved by little children, whose visits were welcome at all times to prosperous homestead or humblest cottage. He travelled the path he chose, the road to anywhere, always homeless but never friendless. He has long since passed on to that shore where all alike are equal, prince or pauper, success or failure, where there are no misfits. The only monument to his memory is the regret of all who knew him. of the passing of one of Nature’s super gentlemen who owned no man master and claimed all men friend —clean, upright, fearless, and free, “The Shiner.” May his spirit rest in peace.—Yours etc., m y let ug remember , Hornby, July 25, 1938.