A DAILY MESSAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1929, Page 8

A DAILY MESSAGE

1 am glad it was a WOMAN ! Ei.I’BUT IhrniiAiii) once told a story founded on fact. It was about a b'l low named Rowan, who carried a Icttei to Garcia. The whole world took notice o! that story. America was at war; Garcia was a soldier, hiddmi away in the mountain fastnesses ol a hostile country. Neither mail nor cable could reach him. America needed his co-operation; he had to lie reached—but how? Ami it came about that a follow named Rowan was told by the President to take a letter to Garcia. The President had no idea where Garcia was; neither had Rowan; hut lie didn’t ask: he set out to deliver that letter— and only death could stop him. In three weeks and lour days lie crossed a continent.an ocean, a jungle. He pressed through a hostile country, telling no man ol his mission hut he delivered that letter to Garcia. The intrepid daring—matchless initia live —peerless courage—amazing endurance which distinguished even moment of those three weeks and lour davs of .incredible hardship constitute an epic of heroism. Rowan did a great thing—hut Hubhard told the world about it. Rowan delivered the letter to Garcia —hut Hubbard’s telling ol it has inspired thousands oi other Rowans to carry a letter to Garcia. Rowan did a great deed gloriously—hut Hubbard, inspired by its glory, immortalized it. When Hubbard wrote that story the geds were very near him. He produced an inimitable gem, the first great modern Sermon on Efficiency. Hut this story is of Rriwan. Hubbard is dead. Garcia is dead. Did I dare to say “ dead”? Only those are dead who can no longer influence the living, and. while one man lives who can read his story ol the letter to Garcia. Hubbard will not lie dead. And Garcia cannot die. because Hubhard and Rowan lived : between them they have given him immortality. Rowan is being, but not as the man who carried a nation’s message to Garcia should be living. And I am glad it was a woman who reminded America that, just as Rowan cut away tbe jungle from his pathway to get America’s letter to Garcia, sAmerica should cut away the jung! from Rowan’s pathway as his years decline towards the Most. It was a woman member erf Congress who pointed out that Rowan had furnished America Her greatest moral lesson, and who reminded America of her moral obligation. It was she who presented a bill to Congress by which Major Rowan was promoted to the honour and emolument of a Major-General for valiant service. All honour to Representative Florence Kalin ! A warm heart is as necessarj as a cool head in polities. And it is good for a nation to remember those win) have made her greatness. As for you and me. let us, too, remember Rowan, when we are called upon to carry a Message to Gaici.i . _M. PRESTON STANLEY.