Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-11-14
THE DEsrARADo's LAST LAUGH.
BY CHARLES suMMERFIELD.

CHE DESPARADO'S LAST LAUGH.
BY CHARLES suMMERFIELD.
Hero worship is great instinct of the
human heart. In all ages aud nations,
and with every class of species, it braves
ly commands the key which opens the
door to the temple of fame, and, with its
fierce hand writes the passport to univer-
sa! popularity. Prowess is the master
word of all history, and has the force Of
magical incarnation to move the mind or
inaame the feelings of both old and young
1t is the envy of the one sex and the ad-
miralion of the other. 1t inspires poetry,
eloquence and art, and forms the life
breath and being of the political world.
Some Of the philosophers endeavor TO
degrade this glorious attribute by the
cOntemptuous epithet OF "mere brute
bravery" as if the uureAecting (erocity
Of the wild beast could be compared with
tho conscious courage Of intelligent man.
The lion aud tiger, in their most bloody
battles, have at most but q dim percep-
tIon OF the fatal consequences to result
from their encounters, and therefore their
Jury flows from animal impulse, without
fear only because without the sense Of in.
dividual peril. But what we admire 10
the rational hero is the bravery of a soul
acquainted with all the danger and YET
defiant OF death, though marshalled face
to face with that almighty foe for in this
case the prowcss must be in great de-
gree mental and voluntary rather than
physicaI-a pure manifestation Of the will
lar more than the effect Of organization.
Nevertheless, there are strange myste~
ries and caprices connected with the sub>
jcct, as there are many varieties Of hu>
nun courage. Some heroes, that can
confront the most awful perils Of partic-
ular character, shrink like the VereSt
towards from others Of different and Of
ten less frightful description. The bold
orator, whose unrivaled thunders and
fearless manner literally appalled, the
fierce democracy OF Athens. lied ignomin-
ously from the field of Charonea and
the worlds highest hero. who rushed
through the horror Of fiery hail that
swept the blood. stained bridge of Lodi,
and gaZed with a fearless eye on the car
mage Of an hundred battles, yet turned
pale. and trembled before the Council OF
the Five Hundred.
Among the desparadoes and duelIists
of the South and West, have never
known one who did not have his " cow
ardly days" -seasuns when he would use
even dishonorable means TO avoid the We.
ry personal difficulties which at other
times furnished chief amusement and de-
light. Some men are heroes only when
intoxicated. Others borrow all their bra
very from passions of love and revenge.
Many fight we'll in the ranks Of an army,
yet fly in terror from an individual foe
while some display the most reckless da-
ring in all single combats, but run away
at the 6rst 6re OF platoon.
The most remarkable pecuIiari,y and
Inconsistency Of desperation may be found
lamong the Mexican bravos at the Rio
sNGrand who cvince the utmost fear at the
of pistols, especially revoIvers. bu,
9tWtnot shrink from the most terrible com
with bowie knives; indeed. they never
NSeIhe challenge OF even an American,
P"Ned they can get The choice Of these
n. 'us;Nyorite weapons. AS it may natu.
10 fa'Iy Supposed. thy become wonder
'uHy ENefL in the use Of their deadly i'm,
o, PlemeS Ihave frequently seen them
S!anu: EithOut II tremor or token oI
anrlght.Sv each other in pieces. until
one or ooN ot4he adversaries sunk dead
Iis pi..
$, b1t woe NIhe.unfortunate enemy who
an dldnot PosseNt tbeir marvellous dexterity
Id wlA the naket&seer The first blow,
to op' mortal MeIso stab, always, in such
~. caes, terminatedJ h = s,rnrole bv niprcinc
~ Among the mostSstorious dueyl;sts +
he tfs savage species o tohflict. Pedro Pa
We lcios, OF Brownsville. .~ss altogether pre
ed tninent, He boastgh, aS,ts5oN, S,Iasa @ p;'t @
&c. Enen on the Rio Grsude, beys.a nCIns sCIrs .
~ humbers in other parts Of E unANOTr ',
N N followed the profession Of r. Mspco' H'
- ~ therefore, wandered rom saFoler. and
y the river to Laredo; ana ana +. me mouth ..,t9 9
borhood mightbe seen tie ess every Si Se't,i 6is
victims, uuIths name 4eame terror
to the whote frosIier.
1sI,ar I.,n VIII The Sgs ss... 'GlPeF'ops unfa-
doomed 5nsae ri phis sds dss5a! as!
& - - sdmits of easy ex>