HOW TO FILL THE CAP.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLII, Issue 12822, 14 April 1916, Page 4

HOW TO FILL THE CAP.

The gap in the Southland ranks of the Fourteenth Reinforcements recalls to our minds how another gap was filled. One morning, we are told, a vast chasm appeared in the Forum, or public square of Rome. The citizens tried to fill it up with cartloads of material, but in vain, for the pit appeared to be bottomless. Alarmed for the safety of the city, they consulted the Oracle to know what they must do. The Oracle said that the chasm would never be filled up until the most precious thing in Rome had been cast into it. The most, patriotic men and women thereupon threw in their gold and their jewels without'stint, but the yawning abyss gaped as widely as ever. At fast a knight, named Curtius ("Shorty"), declared that the most precious thing in Rome was a brave man. Accordingly, arming himself- in the panoply of war, and mounting-his horse, lie galloped at full speed into the gulf, which closed ; over him for-ever. There is profound truth in the old fable, for national extremity demands the sacrifice of the most precious thing in the State. And in the last resort, the judgment of the greatest nation of antiquity is as true-to-day as it was 2000 years ago—the, most-.precious thing in the State is a. brave, man.