Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-11-30
COURAGE AND vALoa.


tian Wen as Heather.
Macaulay was in sympathy with us
al when he spoke of the '.placic cour-
age with which Charles confronted the
High Court OF Justice as having s.half
redeemed his fame" We reverence
valor in the evil doer; nay, even when
it manifestly inspires wrong actions,
we find it impossible, in spite Of the
condemnation OF our higher reason, to
withhold our respect from that daunt-
less courage which scorns consequences
and defes death. An appeal to the
deepest feelings of our nature assures
US that courage il one OF the noblest
qualities which man can possess; that
it is. indeed, as the Roman, too, be-
tieved, the root and reality of all virtue.
regard courage as the mental correl-
alive 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 the
high soul sustains and rules the weak
body. and makes of the invalid or the
weakling or the hypochrondriac hero
Few men ever possessed q higher order
OF courage, both moral and physical,
than King William ILL.,, and yet his
whole life was one great struggle be-
tween strong will and sickly body.
lll-health marked him as her own
from earliest infancy, but the
fiery spirit that was within him
ON a hlad biry, 10 +,.;,,r,1,.t, ,x,,.x.. ~ ,,s;
and suffering to which his bodily all
D1ents condemned him. There are, of
course, many degrees of courage end
less varieties in it's manifestations, but
my own experience leads me to believe
that this virtue in man follows the
same natural laws as obtain in the case
OF horses and dogs. The better bred
all three are the greater will be their
innate pluck. In the weli-born man,
however, there is found another eIe-
ment of the higher value. The man
proud of brave father, or, still mora,
Of a long list of brave progenitors,
| even If fate has been so cruel as to
give him thin blood and timid dis
position. we feel bound to 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 ap-
| palling danger-will enable him to
| play the part of the hero, and to play
| it well. To understand courage one
must have thoroughly studied cow
ardice in all its phases. and they are
| infinite. 1t is the most subtle of men
tai diseases, the existence of which
may never be known to any but the
man whose heart it gnaws at. When
| the day arrives on which all hearts
shall open, we shall, | am sure, be as
tonished to find that many of those
who have passed muster in our
ranks as brave men will plead
in extenuation OF sins COM
| mitted the astounding fact that they
were towards by nature. Hence arises
! the question as to which is more worthy
Of respect, the man who so conauers
his ignoble spirit and in so doing serves
the state effectively, or he who, born
with all the instincts or natural virtues
which go to make up the tEs-7e man,
shines as the hero whenever heroism is
needed. Whatever may be the answer
there can be little doubt as to which is
the more lovable character You may
respect the former, but you are
whether you like it or not, drawn
irresistibly to the latter. There i,
nothing so fascinating in man "a
reckless courage. The philosopher
with his feet in hot water or in the en-
iOyment of an easy-chair over a com
Portable tirestde, may strive to persuad,
others and himself that the man VIII
triumphs over his fears and is thus en-
abled to act, when in the face of dan
Ter, the part of brave man. is tn,
more to be commended. His logic ma,
oe good, his reasoning unanswerable
but in that crowd of men which con
stitutes an army in the field. prejudic
will be against the man who has t
cong uer himself, and with one accor,
he daring, fearless young fellow vii
De the leader whom all will applau,
and prefer to follow.-L0rd FotseIey
Ia FoYtAightly Rsrislc.