The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-06-12
Sf(istelIaneotts.
From the New York Sunday Tines
The DespefadO'S Last Laugh.
BY CHALES SUMMERFIELD.

Hero-worship is an instinct of the human
heart. In all ages and nations, and with ev
cry class of species it bravely commands thu
key which opens the door to the temple o
fame, and, with Its fierce hand, writes the
passport to universal popularity. Prov.
ess is force of magical incarnation to
move the mhd Or infame the feelings of both
old and young. 1t is the envy of one sex,
and the admiration of the other. 1t inspires
poetry, eloquence and art, and forms the life
breath and being Of the political world
Some philosophers endeavor to degrade
this glorious attribute by the contemptuous
epithet of mere brute bravery as If the un-
rejecting ferocity of the wild beast could be
compared with the concious courage of On in.
telligent man. The lion snd tiger, in the r
most bloody battles. have, at most, but
dim perception of the fatal consequences to
festiit from their encounters, and, therefore.
their fury flows from animal impulse, with
out fear only because without the sense oi
individual peril But what we admire in the
rational hero is, the bravery of a soul &C.
qnainted with all the danger, und yet defiant
Of death. though marsbacd face to face with
that almighty foe; for, in this case the
prowess must be in Il great degree mental
and voluntary, rather than physical--a pure
manifestation OF the will far more than the
effect of organization.
Nevertheless, there are strange mysteries
and caprices connected with the siibiect as
there are many varieties OF human courage.
Some heroes. that can confront the most aw-
full periis Of particular character, shrinks
like the veriest coward from others of diff.
ferent and often less irightful description.
The bold orator, whose hnriyalled thunders
and fearless manner literally appalled, the
fierce democracy of Athens, fled ignomini-
ously from the field of Cherona; and the
worlds highest hero, who rushed through the
horror of fiery hail that swept the blood
Stained bridge Of Lodi, and gazed with fsar-
less eye on the carnage Of hundred bat.
ties, yet he turned pale and trembled before
the Cohncil of the Five Hundred.
Among the desperadoes and duelsts of the
South and West, have never known one
who has not had his "cowardly days''-sea.
SONS when he would use even dishonorable
meahs to avoid the very personal difficulties
which at other times furnished his chief
amusement and delight. Some men are he.
ross only when intoxicated. Others borrow
alltheir bravery from the passions Of love
and revenge. Many fight we'll in the ranks
tgfan army, yet fly in terror from on individ.
'ual; fbr while some display the most reck.
less daring in all single con1bats, but rnn a.
way at the first fire of platoon.
The most remarkable peculiarity and in
consistency of desperation may be found
amongthe Mexican braves of the Rio Grande.
who evince the utmost fear at the sight of
pistols. especially revolvers, but shrink not
ifotn the most terrible combat with Bowie
knives; indeed, they never refuse the chal-
lenge ofeyen an american, provided they
can have the choice of these their favorite
weapons. AS it may naturally be supposed,
4 they become wonderfully expert in the use
Of their deadly instruments. have frequent.
" seen them stand, and, without tremor or
token Of alright, hew each other in pieces,
until one or both Of the adversaries sunk
dawn dead or axhnusted
But woe TO the unfortunate enemy who
did not possess their arvelouos dexterity
with the naked dagger! The first blow, one
mortal Mexican stab. always, in such cases,
terminated the struggle by piercing the com
batant's heart;