The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-09-23
Timidity Of Great Men.

Turenne, being asked whether he was
frightened at the beginning of a battle,
said: "Yes, I sometimes feel great nerv-
GUS excitement, but there are many
subaltern officers and soldiers who feel
none whatever" Condo was much agi-
tated in his first campaign. my body
trembles, :" he said, "with the actions my
soul meditates I" Frederick the Great,
at Molwitz, gave but little promise of
ever becoming soldier. It isreported
of one Of the ablest friends of Washington
that, in his first battle, his nerves quite
gave way, and that he had to. be held
to his post by two soldiers; it was as if
the hero's legs tried to carry him off in
spite OF himself. tits obvious to remark
that distinguished men, whose nerves
have thus completely broken down may
thank their stars for being distinguished.
Much is forgiven them, for they did
much service. Had they been common
soldiers. they would have received as
little indulgence for the automatic action
of their feet as the poor receive for the
malady of kleptomania.
There is, however, special reason why
allowances should be made for generals
A private has only to shut his eyes to
danger and to confront it with that chien
lie courage Of which great commander
spoke with envious disparagement. But
the skilled courage of general is IA vir-
tue of a very different order. He must,
as it were, have two selves. In deliber-
alton, he must calculate the exact amount
of danger to which he exposes his troops,
and then, in action, the calculation
must be erased from his mind. He must
often say to himself, "Peace, peace"
when he feels that there is no peace; and
by sort of military faith, he must fight
as seeing a safety which is invisible.
1t is true that Nelson exclaimed,
"What is fear? Inever saw it," But, at
the time, Nelson was young; and against
his remark may be set the saying of
Charles ", when he saw written on a
tombstone, "Here lies man who never
knew fear!' "Then," observed the EN-
peror, she can never have snuffed a
candle with his fingers :" or, as We should
say, such man can never have felt
the difficulty of emulating the happy
fearlessness Of his soldiers. -Fortnightly
Rerier.
A TOUCHING INcIpENT.-One day
some men who had been condemned to
hard labor on the public works for var
ious crimes, were occupied in repairing
one Of the Vienna streets.
There passed that way good look
ing, well-dresscd young man; he stopped
near one of the convicts, embraced him
affectionately, and went on.
A State official had been at his win
dow during this scene, and was much
astonished at it. He had the young
man brought to him, and said: my
friend, there is something very peculiar
in embracing a convict in the street.
What will people think of your"
The young man said nothing for few
moments, but soon recovering himself,
he replied:
"My lord, I only followed the die
tates Of duty and my heart, for the con-
vict is my father"
Touched by these words, and admir-
ing the noble conduct of the young
man the official fastened to tell the en-
peror what had happened. The sover.
eign recognized the beauty OF the filial
act, and gave the convict's son an i'm
portant post.
The Texas steer is something to stear
clear from.