The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-09-15

MONROE. La, SEPTEMBER Is, 1883.
Heroism Begins at Home.
baltimore SUM-
1t Is well to set before the young ex-
ainples Of herofsm aud self-sacrifice,
and TO encourage in them such no.
biliiy of sentiment as would lead them,
when occasion required it, to display
similar qualities, but 1t Is mistake to
go inflame their Imagination with tales
OF hero deeds that they shall be dis
posed to wait for great opportunities,
neslecting those that daily arise for
humble practice Of the virtues that at
men to be heroes. Historians, and to
great extent novelists, are obliged to
deal only with extraordinary events {;
they must pass by unnoticed many OF
the details In the lives of their charact-
ers, real or fictitious, to give greater
prominence to the salient events that
more strongly indicate the qualities Of
their heroes. II they did otherwise
their works would fail of their purpose,
even though they should be read.
Yet the effect of such writing upon
some minds is 10 inspire only
shadowy, unsat!sfied desire 10 do great
deeds, the contemplation of which
makes the humber duties of sacrifice
seem too petty 10 receive attention.
would like chance to initiate some
western hero and brave death 10 rescue
mother or sister from danger or dis
grace are not quite as ready and Will
Ing as they should be to save the same
mother or sister from anxiety or toll
by giving them cheerful assistance 10
the ordinary work Of the household.
The hero on the tented field is un-
doubtediy more picturesque object
than the hero 10 civil life who by
honest work, industry and sell-sacrj-
fee plays unObserved the part OF good
citizen In rearing his family and pro-
noting the welfare of his city, state
and nation. But the same qualities
enter into the composition of the unno-
ted citizen that bring the soldier fame,
aud II 1t were possible TO trace back
the lives of those whose heroism and
seif.sacrifice have made them famous,
1t would probably be found that they
ties In humble ways long before op-
pOriunity brought them into public
notice. At all events it is certain that
In the ordinary affairs Of civil life there
are many occasions where the best
qualities OF heroes-self-sacrific bra.
very, and devotion TO duty-may be
exhibited. The poor young man,
sorety tempted TO emulate his more
fortunate companions In dress and
amusementa, who remembers that he
has sick mother at home, and stur-
Oily refuses to crafty his vanity at the
sacrifice of comforts he can provide for
her, is made of such stuff ss might easily
earn name In history II opportunity
offered. The husband and father who
labors faithfully that he may maintain
= comfortable home for his family and
1T his children to become useful MEM
beers of society: the mother who is ready
10 sacrifice health or life that she may
care for her young and protect them
from dauger-these, too, have the self
sacrificing spirit that In other circum-
less common would make them
heroes of song and story. The boys
and girls who read of brave deeds, Of
service In the hospitals, of mis-
labors In distant lands, aud
who would like TO emulate the acts of
those whom they admire, should begin
ut homo with such conduct as will give
exercise 10 the qualities Of brave and
men aud women. They may
never have occasion to display these
qualities on field of acton broad
enough to attract attention, but real
heroes never think OF the applause
they may win. They seek to do their
duty manfulIy, with no care for reward
other than the satisfaction that comes
with duty done, and though they may
gratefully receive applause for their ef-
forts, that In itself Is the least of their
Those who think they
would do great deeds If they only had
the opportunity, and who in the con-
temptation of fanciful schemes of SELF
sacrifice neglect to prepare themselves
for the great work of exercise of the
virtues, may find, ii occasion should
ever arise, that they are in the condi.
ti0n OF an unframed athlete suddenly
callen upon to a display OF his powers.
The moral forces which lie at the base
Of all heroism, self.sacaitice, and sven
Of endurance, require exercises and
training as much as the muscles IL they
are to. respond promptly toa call for
AN extraordinary display of force. He
who wants to be hero when he is a
man must begin TO be hero when he
Is boy, and to be true hero requires
wauy other qualities besides proves
anl bravery-qualities that may be dis
played In civil life as well rs on the