THE CRIMSON THREAD

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 2, 2 July 1929, Page 9

THE CRIMSON THREAD

ORIGIN OF THE PHRASE

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, 20th June. The phrase, "The crimson thread of kinship," has been voiced so often, especially at Empire Day and other loyal gatherings, and especially by gentlemen incapable themselves of what might be termed the filigree of golden phrasing, as to become a platitude. But how many people know the origin of the new historic and overworked phrase? A Sydney newspaper correspondent, who professes to be acquainted with the circumstances, attributes the phrase to Australia's political giant of other days, Sir Henry Parkes. The story, for what it is ■worth, is related because of its interesting link with the late Lord Eosebery, ■whose death recently recalled it. When Lord Bosbery visited Sydney many 1 years ago—he had a number of interests in Now South Wales—he compared, in a notable speech, the feelings to the Mother Country of loyalty and of blood relationship to the small central red strand said to be found in ropes, cables, etc., manufactured for the British Admiralty. This red strand, so the story goes, is placed there for identification, and to guard against theft, or improper use by unauthorised persons. Lord Eosebery referred in his speech to the belief or superstition among naval men that, when this small central red strand breaks the whole cohesion of the rope is at once destroyed. Tho story runs that some time after this speech, and with it in mind, Sir Henry Parkes elaborated the idea, and coined the now oft-quoted phrase, "The crimson thread of kinshxp. ' If, therefore, someone drags the phrase out of his repertory of catch cries, you know the story of it, assuming, of course, that it is correct.