The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-05-02


it Mr.. Ancient: Well; | have no
objection to that: | presume 3 set
tied pastor on that rock is not over
burdened with revenue, yet | should
be sorry that he should think that
was the orly reward he had. His
name-we will teach it to our chill
dren; his name, like that of Mary
that broke the alabaster box, shall
be known and revered forever; and
we will say that in the storm and the
peril he did an act that made him
dear to the race and to manhood.
Another one, nearer to our door,
don't know his name, but mean the
engineer on the ill-fated Stonington
train-when he was found in the
morning he, unwarned. Standing out
upon his engine. 6ashing forward at
all speed, SEW br the headlight the
danger he was approaching, and he
wa found upon his engine with one
hand on the throttle and the other
upon the brake. Instead Of leaping
off he stood and died at his post.
Rushing into death he was a hero.
He did not know it; it was not for
the sake of having men say he was a
hero that he did it. 1t was easy for
him to die; but being dead he yet
lives. for such men shall not be for
gotten.
1t is the fashion to heap opprobrium
on the race Of aborigines, such of
them as remain the poor dregs of a
mighty people, and also on the
mighty people as they were before
the Anglo Saxon race had, step by
step, crowded them out Of all they
had and look down upon them be-
cause they are helpless. But it is
strange to see one so large souled as
Beecher almost apologising for the
good word he says of them in his
sermon on heroism. 1t seems to
some of US, at least, that in their
hunted, waning, perishing condi-
ton; even in their occasional out
breaks Of helpless violence, they are
the incarnation of the heroic element.
1t would have been nothing strange
for an Indian to do what Rev. Mr..
Ancient did so nobly-but w'7
would have spoken Of it or though
of it if it had been one. Nothing
strange, almost a matter of course,
for an Indian to be found meeting
death as quietly, as bravely as did
the engineer Mr.. Beecher alludes to,
in any place he felt to be his proper
position.
Mr.. Beccher says "There is cruelty,
mesnness, revenges and almost every
vice that disgraces manhood" but ]
believe that it has never been denied
that in the lowest, most debasing
IOTil5 VI vice llC IHNtldIio ait la hhl-
passed by the white and negro races.
1t seems like q poor illustration Of
ones appreciation of heroism to
speak with untruthful severity of
those who have no means Of defense.
1t is proposed to bestow on the
Reverend Hero of the Atlantic dis
aster {there were many heroes) a
pnrse in token Of our appreciation of
his wonderful bravery and achieve
ment. 1t is probable that he could
use some money wisely and satisfac-
torily, but Judging of him by what
he has shown to the world is it not
probable that he would feel humili
ated by receiving it in such away. 1t
seems like a low tendency in the
present age to set money value on
everything; even to express our adj
miration of high and noble qualities,
indollars. Almost it seems as though
we knew no way to crown a victor
but with gold. Laurels are obsolete
honors. are considered empty, we may
have-nay we are thankful to know
we do feel some thrills of apprecia-
ton of grand and noble deeds, but
they are very vain if they do not
consummate in dull, prosy bank
note way.
"There were giants in the earth
in those days" but if there were
giants in the earth now and they did
great deeds, they would have more
money than they could use, and we
might be obliged TO recurr to some
old-fashioned poetic way of admir-
ing them, or perhaps, grow ourselves
into some new mode of sympathy
with them.
THE Ke1,stOue Good TemDlQr.