Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1884-12-05
Everyday HerOisms.

handlers, and, indeed, all those enpap-
ed IN manual labor of erecting n ten
story ediiice, should appeal quite as
strongly to the general appreciation as
the dangers encountered by the aero
naut, the mountain. climber, the Jungle
searcher, or the lion hunter. And vet
while the deeds of the latter are ad L.
mlrlngly recounted, those of the for
mer are ignored.
The man who trained himself for
trapeze performances at a great cleva-
ton knows exactly the strength of
rope and bar. Knows the sustaining
ana projecting power of his muscles
and has the inspiration of an applaud
ing and sympathetic multitude to
quicken his courage. The sailor who
climbs the rigging has athletic skill
ana confidence, born of frequent trial.
In the supporting power of rope and
mast and yard. The man who walks
the tight-rope has closely calculated
all chances and has, BY long practice.
acquired thorough knowledge of the
means for preserving his equilibrium.
The nunter who goes out to meet the
dangers of the forest is ever on the
alert, believes his rifle unfailing. and
reels the eXultation of his successful
prowess. But the man who, trowel in
hand, stands at the perilous edge of a
tall and trembling scaflolding, ,awakens
no sollcitude among the people hurry
ing along the street below. He is ONLY
man at work. And yet his dangers
are qdlte as formidable as those that
threaten the man on the wire, the atlya
lete on the trapeze, the hunter in the
forest or the sailor in the rigging. He
must take for granted that no one of
the thrOng of men engaged with him
upon the building has made and is
making mistakes. He must proceed
confidently from wall to ladder, under
topping derrick and over narrow
gangways, when he has no positive.
personal assurance that everything
about him is safely progressing.
Though long immunity from accident
may render him Indifferent to the per-
ills that environ him, and though his
appreciation of his own heroism is
dulled, his work is none the less he
role for all that. The spectacle of
man carrying a heavily-wcighted hod |
from basement to roof, up long line
OF insecure ladders, does not thrill the !
average spectator, but put human
being into the hod instead of the bricks. !
and the carriers arduous climbing in
stantly eXcites intense interest. The
carrier, however, encounters the same
peril in both instances. Let painter |
gradually lower himself down the front |
OF great structure plying his brush as
he goes and few pause to note him.
were there a fire at the top, though |
neither the wall nor his rope were
threatened, his successful descent |
would be cheered.
The workman who thus daily places |
his life in jeopardy ought to evoke the
most intense admiration for the hero
ism he displays, even though he is
his courage that cities grow IN splen-
did appointments. The impulse that |
animates him springs out of his love
for home and wife and children. Why
should he be forgotten when examples
Of Valol and devotion are cited? The
fact that he carries Il trowel instead of
a lance, Il nod instead of gun, ham
mer instead of IA balance-polc, plane
instead of an alpcn stock, and the fur
ther fact that his labor is useful in
stead of spOrtivc-a matter of advent
urc in an ordinary walk of life, rather
than in an unusual one should not
make him less conspicuous for heroic
spirit. And, though workman is
willing to bravely set about given
tasks. for certain specified wages, with
al h.lr l,ti a.,
ploy him have no right to ignore the
risk OF life he encounters He is en-
titled, most assuredly, 10 all possible