Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-03-01
Heroisrn.


theme. A very intelligent audience was assem-
bled and were delighted. But for the credit of our
CITY should have been larger. Balls will be crowd
edo an excess, yet lecture that bears
the same relation to such frivolitieS, as the
sparkling diamond does to the lump of clay, is
comparatively thnly attended. But people all
the world think more of their heels than their
heads.
The lecture in point Of thought, language, and
eloquence, certainly one of the ablest ever
delivered in this city. 1t was decidedly SUPERIOR
to Mr.. Whipple's former effort, and evinced such
a complete mastery of words, profound depth
of intellect, that those who heard it were started
into admiration and surprise.
The lecturer introduced his subject by an anal
yss and description of the heroic element in man.
1t is the wine of life, the electricity of mind 1t
is the genius in action, and it clothes thought in
SinewS and muscles. II is sentiment which ives
the whole nature a tendency to an ideal standard
Of conduct which lifts man up and out of him
self into sympathy with some grand thought. The
hero condenSes his intelligence into will not ma
king ethics but history. Such man is ever the
object of great love or great hatred-greater than
that class appositely termed by the lecturer Sneaks
These are the natural antagonists and oppoStes to
the hero. They have the audacity TO call them
selves men while it requires strong effort to lift
them 10 the very inferior level of contempt. Their
characteristic is disposition to evade the reouile-
ments of common honesty; they have sickly per-
ception of mind and soul within them, and af-
ter all, it is but the mind and soul of sneak
|.
In one word, they are too me:n to be called bad,
too low to disgrace the dignity of evil.
The true hero-more noble theme-next occu-
pied the attention of the lecturer He is 10 crea-
ture of impulse His vital ideas have their beginn-
ing IN sentiment. His heroiSm is no er tenpore
work of transient influence-it is a steady fire
which darts forth tongues of flame, and flies 10
noble and exalted deeds. 1t condenses into con.
Scous sentiment into heroic character, until heart
mind, and will, gush out in one grand purpose
n he 10 n Wit oil =,
Intelligence has the force of will and will the in
sight and foresight of intelligence; he is not perch
ed upon dizzy peak of thought, but established
upon the broad table-land of character. Painters,
SAID the lecturer, have ever represented heroes
eyes as If looking into futurity; sparkling as il
were with the fire of ambition; exhibiting no fear
of DEATH for that is lost in his intense conscious
ness OF life This is what he pants for and pa It's
it high above the considerations oil self
Mr.. Whipple considered the hero in four-fo Id
manifestation, according 10 the idea on which his
upward glance is fixed; the Hero as the Soldier,
as the Patriot, the Reformer, as tile Saint cor
responding to the ideas OF Glory, Country, HUI
mainly, and Heaven.
As the opposite to the soldier hero, he cited
Louis Napoleon, that man without soul, whose
coup d etat wa but u clever piece of rascality to
get higher saary-was of that class which better
graces the Newgate calender than history He
was put in ludicrous comparison with the sublime
courage of a true hero whose actions embody the
fine frenzy of the lyric poet, of such men as Han
nibal, Cesar, Wallenstein, and Napoleon. A fine
instance of heroic patriotism is seen in RobesDierre
who, only Al the peril of his life, addressed the
head of the French Senate thus, president of
aSSaSSins hear me-" The words If Gonsalyo are
also cited; when about entering battle, the powder
magazine exploded, panic seized The army, and
all would have been lost had he not shouted,
''Soldiers, Heaven tells us by this we shall have
no need of powderp' The lecturer mentioned the
heroic audacity of Napoleon on his return marc h
from Eliza, every incident of which was an epical
stroke.
Chatham is termed by Mr.. Whipple the tyne of
the patriot for Washington was more than pa-
trot The anecdote where he declared to one of
the English generals that he served under prime
minister that trampled imnoSsibilitIes under his
teet,' was graphically told. And the characteris-
tic sentiment and heroic remark of Burke was CT
ted, when he was illuminated for his advocacy of
American rights, FThe charges against me are all
OF one kind, that have kept in sight the cardinal
points OF justice and faith respecting this war; and
IN every accident, IN pain, in sorrow, in depres-
sion, in distress, will call this to mind and be
comforted.'
The reformers entitled TO the name of hero the
speaker designated those persons whose position
calls Tor great sacrifice in society. Milton, who
was content to abide in the eternal night of blind
ness rather than forego his heroic work, was offer
ed as the exemplar of this class. He was a hero,
like the Italian, who would rather take one step
forward than one backward. :.
Mr.. Whpple gave glowing AMI beautiful pic
ture OF the saint hero This hero excels all Others
in strength, elevation, and glory. He SURVEYS all
things in their relation to God. Therese the pous
saint, old and infrm. but imbued with the herosm
ofheayen, having but two sous in the world, said,
tIherese and two sous are nothing, but Therese,
two sous, and God, are something's" But we can
follow this splendid lecture no further. Almost
unconsciously have we heightened out our imper-
feet memories of it, which will serve more than
anything else to give many taste of the great feast
they have lost. We trust Mr.. Whipple will visit
Cleveland again.