Britannia's Calendar of Heroes. By Kato Stanway. (G. Allen and
Sons. 53. net.)—The plan of this book, which comes with a commendation from the Head-Master of Eton, is to arrange the great deeds which it commemorates according to the days of the year. No day wants its hero or heroine ; for indeed there are more than one to be mentioned, with an interesting diversity of achievement. Here is a day taken at random (June 6th) :— " (1) Sergeant G. Syman, RA.: unmasks a battery under heavy fire in Crimean War. (V.C.)
(2) Captain John Mackenzie, Seaforth Highlanders : worked two Maxim guns and cleared stockade in Ashanti War. (V.C.) (3) Quartermaster W. Bridges, R.N.: went down to shell-room after an explosion and prevented further catastrophes by wrapping up the fragments. (Albert medal.) (4) Lily Taylor (9), clergyman's daughter : drowned in trying to save her sister."
Would it not be a good thing for schoolmasters and parents to possess themselves of this book and, on proper occasions, read out the day's record? It should not be turned into routine, but made something of a festival.
Previous page
