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Cherry Blossom Shoe Polish
Dan & Charles Mason, pioneers of the shoe polish industry in Chiswick
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The Dan Mason Memorial Gateway 2
Miss Milin said: -

“I am happy to-day to speak for the girls of The Chiswick Polish Company, both in the factory and in the office, and I want you to feel that whilst the voice is the voice of one, the sentiments come from the hearts of all. To-day ia a very proud day for us. We meet to honour a very great gentleman who moved modestly in our midst. Mr Dan Mason indeed needs no memorial amongst us, his own people, who enjoy every day benefits in the great industry which he founded, but we have hoped in raising this memorial that it might be not only a token of our affection for the man but a testimony to the work that he did, that many seeing it might pause to think that here was a pioneer of the new spirit in industry, a man who realised that ‘unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain who build it,’ It was, you will agree with me, a most happy inspiration which made this memorial take the form of gates. The ancient had said, ‘ Death the gate of life,’ May these beautiful gates inspire us, as we think of him who has passed through the gates of live before us, to try each one to play worthily and unselfishly our part in the home, in the workshop, in the office and in the factory and so make a happier England and indeed a happier world, thus carrying on what we all know was nearest to the heart of him we all honour,”
Plaque fixed to pillar of gateway
Mr G Little (as representative of the Liverpool Works) Said: -

“ I feel that it is a great privilege to take part in this Ceremony to-day and to say a few words on behalf of the Liverpool workers. At Liverpool we enjoy the same advantages as prevail for the employees of The Chiswick Polish Company and have the comfort of knowing that there is some provision made for our old age by the splendid Pension Scheme which recently received the enthusiastic support of Mr Dan Mason. We feel grateful for those benefits not only on account of the advantage we derive from them but also for the spirit which lies behind them. We appreciate the privilege of paying our tribute to-day in recognition of the great service that the late Mr Dan Mason has rendered to humanity by his generosity and ever readiness to assist the sick and the suffering. Although I have been a number of tears with The Chiswick Polish Company and know the great work on behalf of the Chiswick Hospital, the Club for Ex-service Men and Cots for Babies yet the recent knowledge of his extensive and lavish gifts to the hospitals and other Institutions has been a revelation. ‘Deeds not words’ has been the inspiring force behind this great work on behalf of the poor.

“The Gateway will ever be an emblem of Victory, for duty well done, and a lasting memorial of the great service to Mankind which Mr Dan Mason rendered so lovingly and willingly.” 
Mr Salanson, representing the London Sales Staff said:-

“I am not going to speak in a way officially. In raising these gates as a lasting memorial, as an outward and visible sign of the great feeling of respect that we all held for Mr Dan mason, and I may ay hold for him still, we feel that he is not lost us, for a man’s constructive work liveth forever.

“It behoves us to endeavour to leave this world a little better than we found it and it can be said of Mr Dan Mason that he certainly did this. In a measure this is the debt that success owes to the race of mankind, and right royally did Mr Dan Mason pay that debt.

“It can be said of him that he did good by stealth and sought no self aggrandizement; it has often been said that a man is distinguished apart from the common host by the work that he does and in this way Mr Dan Mason was distinguished. His personality was indeed a personality that made itself felt.

“I came under that personality 31 years ago, and have remained under it ever since, and never have I during all that time had any desire to sever myself from it. We certainly owe Mr Dan Mason a great debt of gratitude, and we can only hope to replay it by remaining loyal and showing gratitude by giving of our best and endeavouring to maintain and uphold the magnificent business that he gave the best of his life to establish.”