The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-08-20

But people seemingly like to be
deceived at times, especially if the
delusion happens to be an agreeable
One-one to tickle the fancy and
feed the vanity. Now that the
actors of that stirring epoch have
passed. awav, passion has cooled and
time has surrendered some of its
secrets, in tracing his'chaTacter how
much of the hero is left? To be
brave and doing is the rule with
man, for he is eminently a fighting
animal in spite of Christianity and
long centuries Of preaching toler-
ance and charity. COwardice is the
exception, though brave man has
said: "All persons are more or less
towards in the dark" Physical
courage is far less rare than moral
courage-the moral courage that
dare face a world ia opposition, if
supported by consciousness of
right and justice. A happy life is
harder to surrender than a miserable
one, else why SO frequently those in
trouble seek to cast off the thrall of
an existence so irksome?
1t is related of King AntigOnies
that he had in his army a private
soldier, of a sickly, suffering APP
pearance, who in numerous engage
ments and battles, had displayed
prOdigies of valOr, yet escaped al
most ScatheleSS the horrors and
tdmult Of war. Pleased with such
zeal IN his service, the king called
the soldier before him that he might
be rewarded. He found he was lab
orlng under some severe private
malady, that caused this sickly APP
pearance, so the king placed him
under the charge Of his own physi-
clan, and after time he was cured
and rewarded further by office. But
after that time his accustomed valOr
seemed to have disappeared, and
surprised, the King asked him why
IL was so. He replied in substance
as follows: 1t means, o King, that
thy bounty and favor hath made me
a coward. The malady had before
upon me made life unbearable and
L sought in battle the noblest way
OF escape from my misery. Thy
curing me thereof hath given life
new charms, and [ no longer seek
escape therefrom.
But who are the heroes, whose
love for the welfare of their fellow |
men, like that of Jonathan for |
David''surpasseth that of a brother"
They are few and far between, nor
would they, perhaps, prove heroic
at all times and in all places. Not |
Ill pilots are like the gallant Max
we'll, who remained unflinchingly at
'he helm until be beaehed the burn
ng steamer and saving the pas
though the intense heat had
burnt and shriVeIed his feet and
egs That he was ever afterwards q
,rIpple. I'VE cannot let our mates
lie, boys" said the brave miners as
hey sought to save their damp
brothers from the mine, and
rying could but die with them.
Such men may have been humble,
ret then they were heroic. There
S a great samenesS in the clay of
which men are made. Circum-
tances often impart dignity to a
Tery commonplace action and at
'ther times detract much from a
noble deed. An Alexander weeping
or other worlds to conquer, may be
Ooked upon by some as heroic, and
many times was so in his conduct,
ut on that occasion he was far
rom it. The recital wears a
urlesque air that few men would
Ike to encounter. A little man it
you'd cover with ridicule and at
nee we would think of the lions
kin covering the ass: his brag was
ure to betray him.