FRANCE REMEMBERS HEROES.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1934, Page 21 (Supplement)

FRANCE REMEMBERS HEROES.

THE FESTIVAL OF THE SEA. We like the way the French put aside a day each year as the festival of their heroes of the sea, gathering in the Sorbonne, the’ Paris University, all those whose deeds are to be rewarded. Breton caps, fisherfolk’s cardigans, and sailor collars, ruddy-faced men, women, and children for that day take the place of students and books. The first name to be called at this year’s festival was that of the coxswain of the Camaret lifeboat, which in 21 journeys saved 60 lives. He was presented with a cross and declared a Knight of the Legion of Honour. Then'came the coxswain of the lifeboat Marshal Foch, who had taken his boat out through 27 storms and saved 81 lives. Madame Foch presented him with a gold medal and kissed him in the name of the late marshal, who had christened the boat. . After the names of 46 lifeboats came 49 cargo and fishing-boats, and then the names of 102 individuals, several of them children who had rescued other children, from drowning. The loudest applause sounded when twelve-year- old Roger Rivaal went up to receive his medal, for though hie has only one leg, the other being paralysed, he had jumped into the sea and saved a child. WHO’S AFRAID OF RUSSIA. THE IDEA THAT BEATS POLITICS. To-day the foreign seaman who lands friendless in the Russian capital, with a queer feeling somewhere, sees the welcome sign Medical Station for Foreign Seamen on a building named after that ■great Norwegian explorer and League-of-Nations man Nansen. Here he gets the advice and help he needs. Ten years ago he would have had just to go on worrying. For it was ten years ago that Norway had her great idea; Why not establish welfare stations for seamen in all the great ports of the world, all run on parallel lines so that the seamen would know what to expect? In each country the guiding spirit was to be the Red Cross, and the uniform plans were to be worked out through the League of Red Cross Societies in Paris. As the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies of the Soviet Union did not adhere to this League there was some doubt if they would come into the scheme. But they did, and the Nansen Station in Leningrad stands to-day as a proof that the idea of human helpfulness can triumph over all the differences of opposing political doctrines which rend nations asunder. We see the great tempestuous Russian Bear following Norway’s peaceful lead to make the world a less heartless place for - “those who go down to the sea in ships.” MEET QUEEN ELIZABETH. Now we come to the year 1558 when the great Queen Elizabeth came to the throne of England. Whatever people say about this queen, she was a wonderful woman, and England’s might certainly developed during the 45 years of her reign. As a child, Elizabeth was very sweet and very “knowing.” She used to write long letters in Latin to her friends when but nine years of age. Her learning increased as time passed until, at the age of 25 when she first wore the crown, she was, perhaps, the cleverest woman in the world. Elizabeth’s features are said to have been more handsome than, those of Mary queen of Scots. But it is also said that she had little fascination and, although many men wanted to marry her, not one seemed to love her as the beautiful Mary was loved. Meeting Queen Elizabeth in person, we would probably think her too "mannish” in speech and manner, despite the fact that she dressed in very gay garments.

Elizabeth was a Protestant, and therefore hated Spain and that country’s efforts to make the civilised world Catholic. This queen fought Philip of Spain’s claim on the Americas for years, winning in the end with the defeat of the great Armada. She died at the age of 70 on March 24, 1603, a lonely woman and the last of her line.