The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-11-12
JOTTINGS BY THE WAY.
By K E

thing to do with this fact. From
a~pathetic, the phlegmatic, to the ex-
citable being whose makeup seems
TO be nerve only, do they range.
The c~ountenance changes in color
and expression; some become eX-
plosive, and others, again, reticent,
in danger. But not every one who
turns pale and trembleS is a coward,
for it is often far otherwise. Ma
ture also invariably gives a sign to
emotional anxiety, and only a wide
experience and artificial restraint
can hide all feeling. Whatever I'M
eXpectedly tranSpires is certain to
startle, if not to alarm, %ineXperi-
ence; nor can the expected event
always be met with equiminity,
more especially if the consequences
are sweeping and disastrous in their
effect. A change of countenance
may show the magnitude of the
crisis, or that a difficulty has been
Unexpectedly recognized. Many per-
sons tremble at the nearness and
imminency of Il danger, whose rea-
son and force of will can compel
the body to meet any trouble or pain,
however fearful they may be, if the
path to be trOdden has been mapped
out and duty and honor call for the
sacrifice. Duty is q WatchWord that
has called for more sacrifice of feel
ing than any other no station being
too low, nor any too lofty, or grand,
for its comprehension and perform
ance. 1t led a Howard through the
prisons and dungeons Of Europe, a
a Lowingle forth to the field of bat
tie, though he had foretold that it
would be his death; consigned a
Huss to the fire and stake, and a
Jesus to the cross of cruci1xion.
AS with duty, SO with honor,
though to a lesser extent, for that
only should be honorable that duty
calls us to do. But honor, with true
men and Women,is not only a name,
but a reality, and every act and de-
sire is sought to be guaged by it;
nor, though to present advantage
would they go out of its paths, to
%sub5erve any selfish Interest, or sat
isfy and unhOiy longing.
1t has been said by some of the
brayest soldiers the world has seen,
that the deep, quiet and hush pre-
ceding the first gun of the battle,
is almost universally trying to the
nerves. The most phlegmatic Will
show Impotence and the brayest
will chafe at the restraint. The
hush Of expectation, the quietude
of inaction, to any hut veterans, is
demoralizing. There is a saying
that it is only the unexpected will
happen, but when it does occur, and
a general meets it by new combina-
tions, so as to avert its evils, or turn
it to advantage, to the discontinue
Of the enemy, is where the test OF
genius lies. Some are good at plan
ming anu fighting battles on paper,
who may be worthless anywhere
else. We say some men are natural
leaders, as a Napoleon in war, but
whatever may be their talents and
natural aptitudeS, proper training
will do them no harm, but in the
end much good. 1t is likewise said
to take better trained men to with
stand an assault, unless behind en-
trenchments and Notifications, than
to make one, as the united move
ment of a large body of men i'm
parts energy and impetus to the
most timid. At the battle of Phar-
salia, Caesar showed his confidence
in his well-trained legions, though
contrary to the advice of his friends,
by awaiting the attack of pompey
and his army; nor was his conf
dence misplaced, as his veterans,
though tar less numerous, stood
firm, while the undisciplined levies
of the enemy. thrown into disorder
by rapid motion, were defeated in
detail, and Roman republicanism
made way for an imperial dynasty,
A few words, or a ready answer,
have turned the tide of battle and
impaired confidence to the falter-
ing. At the battle of G~ranicus, one
of his officers in great excitement,
rushed up to Alexander the Great,
and told him that the enemy were
so numerous that their lances, iaYe-
Inns and arrows darkened the sun.
$50 much the better" answered the
king, "as then we can fight in the
shade" an answer that so inspir-
tied his followers, that they plunged
into the river and hurrying forward.
quickly Iouted the enemy and
gained a complete victory oyer a
force more than three times their
number.
But war has entirely changed its
character since those days, though
it always will be sanguinarY and
brutalizing. Then the general was
supposed to lead his men and fight
as hard as any of them. Alexan-
der, several times nearly lost his
life through his intrepldity and
rashness. Pyrhus Of Epirus fought
many single combats, overcoming
the brayest and most skilledful
champions. to die at last in the
confusion of a street fight and by the
hands Of a woman. Julius Caesar
on occasions of more than ordinary
danger, when his troops Were giving
way, took sword and buckler aud
led his men in actual conflict. The
Homeric combatS OF valiant leaders
on the plains Of Troy, has had MANY
parallels down through the long
course Of years, even to the eX-
tinguiShment of chiyairy and the