Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-08-31
Bravery VS.. Foolhardiness.


Something more than ten years age
man jumped from Cunard steamer
in mid-ocean during heavy storm, in
the attempt to save sailor who had
fallen overheard. The sailor went down
before the would-be rescuer could reach
him; but the latter swan about for an
hour until he was picked up by the
steamers crew. He showed no signs
of exhaustion, and that was the begin
ming OF his career as long-distance
swimmer, whose name was to become
known the world over for endurance in
the water. For the daring attempt to
save fellow-creature's life he received
from the Duke of Edinburgh the first
gold medal ever given by the Royal HUI.
name Society. That act was bravery.
The man S name was Matthew Webb.
Last week man jumped from small
boat into the rapids of the Niagara
River below the Falls. His purpose was
to swim the rapids, which no human
being has passed through in that way
and come out alive. This was the
reason for his trying ito do what no.
body had ever done before him. The
warnings of the MANY victims of the
whirlpool rapids and of friends were OF
no avail. Within twenty minutes from
the time the man dove into the water he
had been carried more than mile down
the stream; had thrown up one arm as
in despair, and had disappeared in the
whirlpool to be seen alive no more.
This act was foolhardiness. The man
was the same Matthew Webb.
1t is important to draw the line be-
tween the foolhardy and the brave. In
the minds of many the line seems to be
very ind;stinct. A good deal of fool.
hardness parades under the banner OF
bravery. and gets the applause due to
bravery alone. The readers of the daily
newspapers have been informed that
the spectators on the banks of the river
cheered the "brave" man as he dis.
robed for his fatal effort. He was a
brave man when he faced death to save
another. He was a foolhardy man
when he faced death simply to show
what he could not do. 1t was brave
thing the other day at Atlantic City
when man jumped from a pier into
the surf to try and rescue two young
girls who were struggling for life there.
1t was foolhardy thing when two edi.
tors down in Virginia stood up to let
each shoot at the other. 1t was brave
act when Engineer Seeds dashed into
the flames that enveloped his engine
cab and stopped the engine, at the cost
of his own life, but to the saving of the
lives of many others. 1t was a fool
hardy act that was purposed by the
man who wanted to Jump from the
Brooklyn bridge into the East River, to
prove that he could do it without kill.
ing himself.
The line is Very plain one. When
life is risked in behalf of other lives.
that is brave, noble, heroic, and rises to
the greatest height of which human ma
ture is capable. When life is risked at
the post of duty, that is bravery. Liv-
ingstone, in his efforts to open up dark
continent to civilization and Christiani-
ty, was brave man. To stand firm
against persecution and sneers and
wickedness requires bravery in a Christ
ian man and woman. To be good and
true in any sphere requires bravery.
But to risk life merely to make an ex-
hibition of I" bravery" and for nobody 5
benefit or rescue, that is foolhardiness.
Captain Webb possessed bravery, there
is no question as to that; but when he
was not contented to use his endurance
and skill for the good of others or use
full ends, but must be ever reaching out
toward more and more difficult feats,
which simply served to show off what
ne could do, he passed over from brav-
cry into foolhardiness. If we pity him,
it is that man who might have been
so useful and put his courage to good
account, should have proved so foolish
and thrown his life away for worse than
nothing.
Bravery is one of the noble traits.
Foolhardiness is as ignoble as coward
ice, and is wicked. The world needs
bravery; it is always overstocked with
foolhardiness.-N T. Examiner.