The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-11-10
COURAGE AND vALOR.
Attributes That Are Applsuded by Chris
tian as Well as Heather.


tian AS Well as Heather.
Maeaulay was In sympathy with us
all when he spoke OF the "placid cour-
age with which Charles confronted the
High Court OF Justice" rs having "half
redeemed his fame" We reverence
valor in the evil doer; nay, even when
IL maniiestly inspires wrong actions.
we find IL impossible, in spite OF the
condemnation OF our higher reason, 20
withhold our respect from that daunt-
less courage which scorns consequences
and dehes death. An appeal 10 tho
deepest feelings OF our nature assures
us that courage is one of the noblost
qualities which man can possess; that
IL Is, indeed, as the Roman. too. be-
lieved, the root and reality OF all virtue.
/ regard courage as the mental correl-
ative and equivalent OF perfect health
And my experience has taught me that
high courage Is generally accompanied
by bodily soundness. OF course, In
stances do continually occur where tho
high soul sustains and rules the weak
body. and makes OF the invalid or the
wcakling or the hypochrondriac hero.
Few men ever possessed IA higher order
Of courage. both moral and physical,
than King William Ill, and yet his
whole life was one great struggle be-
tween n strong will and n siclly body.
lll-health marked him rs her own
from earliest infancy, but tho
lery spirit that was within him
enabled him TO triumph over the pain
and suffering 20 which his bodily nil-
nents condemned him. There arc, of
course, many degrees OF courage, end
less varieties In its manifestations, but
my own experience leads me TO believe
that this virtue in man follows the
same natural laws as obtain I'm the case
of horses and dogs. The bctter bred
all three are the greater will be their
innate pluck. In the well-born man.
however, there Is found another ele-
ment OF the higher value. The man
proud Of "A brave father, or, still more,
Of IA long list OF brave progenitors.
even II fate has been so cruel as 20
give him thin blood and timid dis
position, we feel bound 10 sustain what
Is commonly called 1.-THE honor OF his
name" The struggle within him may
possibly strain every nerve, but his
pride will conquer his weak spirit. and
In the hour OF trial-aye, even of APP
palling danger--will enable him 10
play the part OF tho hero, and TO play
II well. To understand courage one
must have thoroughly studied COW.
ardice in all its phases. and they are
infinite. II Is the most subtle OF mem
tai diseases, the existence OF which
may never be known 10 any but tho
man whose heart il gnaws at. When
the day arrives on which all hearts
shall open, we shall, i am sure, be as
tonished 10 find that many OF those
who have passed muster in our
ranks as brave men will plead
In cxtonuation OF sins COM
mittcd the astounding fact that they
were towards by nature. Hence arises
the question as TO which Is more worthy
vi ItHpttls lllc llluu WllO 81 tODQutfH
his ignoblo spirit and in so doing serves
the state effectively, or he who, born
with all the instincts or natural virtues
which go 10 make up the brave man,
shines rs the hero whenever heroism is
needed. Whatever may be the answer,
there can be little doubt as 20 which Is
the more lovable character. You may
respect tho former, but you are,
whether you like IL or not, drawn
irrcsistibly TO the latter. There Is
nothing so fascinating in man as
reckless courage. The philosopher,
with his feet in hot water or in the en-
joyment OF an easy-chair over n COM
Portable freside, may strive TO persuade
others and himself that the man who
triumphs over his fears and Is thus en-
abled TO act, when in the face OF dan
ger, the part OF brave man, Is tho
more 20 be commended. His logic may
be good, his reasoning unanswcrablc,
but in that crowd OF men which con-
stitutes an army in the field, prejudice
will be against the man who has 20
conquer himself, and with one accord
the daring, fearless young fellow will
be the leader whom all will applaud
and prefer 20 follow.-LOrd Woiseley.
ia FOrtnightiy ReUieU.