The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-09-08
CYRUS w. Field. the Hero.

Nothing succeeds in this world but sue
cess and nothing can illustrate the worth
lessness of the worlds judgments OF char
acter and effort better than the career and
triumph of Mr.. Field. For four years
he had labored in the great enterprise OF
establishing telcgraph:c communication
between the old world and the new. He
had been separated from his family, had
dared the dangers of the deep, stood alone
in perfect confidence that his scheme
would conquer even amid the greatest
discouragements, risked fortune AID repu-
tation, withstood the appeals of tiInid
friends, and stood by his project through
thick and thin, yet nobody glorifcd HIM.
Nobe DIV felt competent to say whether he
was fool or a fanatic. There was no.
thing in all this patient heroism to excite
admiration with the multitude, and into
single d " the fate of the man was
crowded. Had the cable broke, day
out from Trinity Bay, and the hero been
compelled to return to New York disap-
pointed man, he would have been pitied
or despiscd, and be.n allowed to sink,
without any practical public sympathy in
his behalf, into whatever place he might
find.
But the cable held together. Heaven
smiled on the long and patient struggle,
and the moment the cord was tied to the
continent, the country rang with the he
ro's name. Cyrus w. Field was at once
written upon the roll that bears the record
of the worlds heroes; and from hence
forth his will be counted among those
names the world will not willingly let die.
Yet, he would have deserved for his hero
ism no less in case of failure than he has
received for his success. He was the
same man when, hundred miles from
Trinity Bay, he was absorbed by his labor,
his anxieties and the uncertainties of his
enterprise than he is to-day. The great
struggle of his life was then all but com
pleted He was in possession of every
clement of character, every well formed
purpose, every great heroism that he held
when he landed the cable; but, if the
wire had broken, the wise world would
have turned up its nose, and Mr.. Field
would have been allowed to sneak unno-
ticed to his home, provided he was capa-
Bile of such a thing as sneaking.
Thus it is the world over. No man
is valued for what he is and what he does,
up to certain point in the accomplish
ment of his purposes; but if success crown
his efforts, then the shout goes up, and
the cannonade eanonizes his name. The
value Of the worlds opinion of man
would thus seem to be small; and if there
be any who are struggling alone, in any
scheme, for any purpose, with faith in
God and in themselves, yet pining for
popular recognition and praise, let them
learn from this that the worlds praise
can have little value to an honest nature
If they succeed in producing q result
which the world can see and comprehend,
then they will have praise; but if q life
Of trial and heroism issue in disappoint-
ment, there is no remedy. The world
will pass on with a sigh or sneer.-
Popular applause may be very pleasant
and very sweet, when it is well deserved,
but generally it is no index to the worth
of its object. Of all things in this world,
we know Of nothing more senseless and
shallow than fame. 1t is only in a few
hearts than any undetermined man finds
that recognition that truly inspires him,
assures him, strengthens him. If a man
find these few hearts that thoroughly un-
derstand and appreciate him, let him be
content; for the world will swing its hat
as wildly over dancing girl, or bloody
captain, or cantatrice, or n winning
horse as over the hero of the hour-the
renowned Cyrus w. Fiold.-.Springfeld
Republican.