The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-02-12


eonvulsive fit of cackling which it is out Of
her power to stop. Her courage is vio-
lent excitement. 1t is based upon fear:
unlike that of the game cock, which is
oased upon pure love of French glory, and
In many respects so destitute Of fear. AS
scarcely to be entitled to the name of cour-
age. There IS perhaps fear in the game
COCK tnat we are not acquainted with--a
rear OF defeat and loss of character: for
these animals are greatly disconnected.
humbled, and mortified when they lose the
ascendency. They become sncaks. and
lose their pride and stately demeanor. We
know that the fear of loss of honor will
make soldier engage in most adventur
Gus actions; to redeem character that
has been lost he will seek the position of
the greatest danger, and will courapeousIv
face an unequal foe, whom he would oIoi-
ly flee from, but dare not, because of the
dishonor that accompanies flight. How
much courage is owing to this fear of
shame we know not but we adduce the
TACT for the purpose of illustrating great
truth-that the fear of one evil gives cour-
age to encounter another that we should
otherwise fly from.
This accounts in very simple manner
for the extraordinary courage exhibited at
times by timid people.
When timidity is excessive it becomes n
disease, and destroys all decision of cbarac-
ter. 1t is always asking what people will
say or what people will think; and this
fear makes its possessor suspicious and un
decided what to do. OF two or more
modes OF action it hesitates which to adopt,
afraid, even when convinced, that it has
chosen the worst. 1t thus loses its
presence of mind and its unity of purposc
Courage is decided. 1t adopts a system
definitely and pursues it.
A man may be timid in physical sense,
and courageous in a moral sense: he ma,.
be tlmid in social point of view, and vet
bold as thinker. Modesty is a timid feel
ing, and yet it is an attribute that is said
TO belong to genius. Genius is bold and
courageous in the field of imagination and
invention, but sometimes physically timid
in the personol presence of man. 1t is ORR
gnal in its thoughts, and not to be sub
dued or overborne by authority in its own
peculiar sphere. Even when it suffers IL
self to be bound in allegiance to party, il
discovers its originality and its COURAGE in
tho mode Of rendering its service; with
the humble and almost craven-likc fear of
offending what it esteems legitimate and
sacred power, it yet fearlessly darcs to
serve that power in manner unprcce-
dented. 1t can kiss the toe of the pope,
and spit upon the king. It can lick the
dust before the throne of temporal sove-
reign, and laugh to scorn the spiritual pre-
tensions OF sovereign pontiff. 1t can
defy creeds and customs, traditions and
current opinions, in private society, vet fear
to pronounce in a positive and intelliriblc
manner before the tribunal of the public.
Few men are possessed of all the aspects of
courage. A man SO possessed would pro-
bably be most unamiabe and offensive
member of society. He would be too bold.
too regardless Of other mems feelings and
principles, too intrusive and obtrusive. too
independent oftime and place, of proprietv.
fashion and etiquette. In fine, he would
not be possessed of the attributes of gen
tleman, who, being the beau ideal Of a
man, must be possessed in harmonious pro-
portion, Of all the attributes of humanity,
amongst which an amiabe timiditv of
character-that is, fear of obtrusion, a
fear of saying or doing offensive things
holds a most distinguished place.
Even excessive timidity will frequently
be found in bold and original thinkers, so
as to present striking and paradoxical
contrast of character. Every mans cha.
racter has two aspects-a physical and n
moral, public and private, a political
and ecclesiastical; and the greater cult
vation of the one than the other produces
disparity that puzzles the Psychologist to
determine to what peculiar category the
individual belongs. A clergyman who is
quite at his ease in the pulpit, is nervous
and fearful when called upon to address
his feiiow-guests at public dinner. He
has habituated his mind into Familiarity
with the one sphere, but not with the other.
A soldier who has courage to meet An
enemy sword in hand at the peril of his
life, would perhaps break down with nerv-
ous apprehension If he attempted to give
utterance to complimentary sentence to II
Lady, or tremble with fear on entering n
drawingroom filed with strangers. No
man would call the soldier a coward. and
yet this fear ofsociety is nothing more than
moral cowardice. What makes him bold
in the field Of battle2 He believes him
self equal to the struggle shat he under
takes. What makes him timid in the
drawing-roomi He believes himself un-
equal to the contest of refinement. In the
rude sphere he Is strong, in the refined
sphere he is weak.
Such one-sided men are not courageous
IN the full sense of the word. They are
timid people. They lose their presence OF
mind in positions 10 which they are not
accustomed. They have noe courage to
meet every emergency, nor talent to en-
counter every difficulty. They are like a
shoemaker who modestly and timorously
listens 20 the discourse of a literary society