The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-23
ELEVATED HERoIsM.

There are heroes and heroes The heroes
of the battlefield afford the most familiar
type, but of these it has not been always
true that those answering to the most
crucial tests have filed the largest space in
history. Many such have died ''unhon-
ored and unsung," while their commander,
who at the time of the test occupied dis
tant and safe position with feld-glass in
hand, enjoys the credit of their heroism.
The railway and marine service, the ever
imperiled fire brigade, the police and peace
officers in general have in turn furnished
numberless examples of self.sacrifcing
and Hottest hefoism.
But at the state house in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, the other day, was per-
formed feat which presented two of the
rarest qualities of generalship, strategy
and courage, prudence and heroism. Most
unfortunately and unjustly the current
reports do not give the name of the hero of
/ the occasion, a Napoleon in daring, Won
Moltke in his abundance of caution.
1t seems that 100 scrubwomen were re-
quired to cleanse and care for that Augean
stable, the state capitol of Pennsylvania.
There were zoo applicants, representing the
supposed 'pull" of not less than 1900
voters of the dominant party. That
meant the appointment of 100, who will
growl that one dollar day is but a poor
pittance for the hard work that will be re-
quired of them; the disappointment of
$50, and the screaming indignation of
themselves and the ballot-wielders who had
backed them.
But, as Mr.. Cleveland has so eloquently
and so oft remarked. "a public office is
public trust, and from the list 700 appli-
cants 10 had to he chosen and $50 left out
in the cold. When the time came for an
nonncing the selection the rotunda of the
capitol was crowded with the 700 brawny
Amazonian aspirants, their countenances
expressing combination of anxious ex-
pectaney and threatening doubt. Those
'honored" with the right of appointment,
and to whom would accrue all the graft
tude of the preferred, ignominiously fled
the scene. In the face of that formidable
assemblage their craven hearts failed them.
Their clerk also, Who according their di-
rectlons, had made ont the list of the
favored, remembering that he too once had
a mother, showed the white feather and
declined to make the announcement.
But 1T is proverbial that every crisis in
human affairs produces the man to meet
It, The hero who met this one was the
man who runs the elevator. With the
spirit and the air of Curtius he volun-
teered TO jump into the breach. But when
he came TO view the surging and excited
mass, being married man and therefore
not without experience, he concluded not
to make Daniel of himself, and go clear
down into the lions den, but anchoring
has elevator midway between the first and
second floor, he, in clear and ringing
voice of authority from that safe eminence
tiled 10 hearts with Joy and $50 with
anguish.
The scene at Olympia, when the 81 Re-
puhlicans announced their intention to go
into caucus, and when the Calkins-Ben-
nett-Ewing riot occurred, was feeble
imitation of the greeting accorded TO this
hero of Harrisburg. With quick hand
the truth Of history sorbids the calling of
it steady-he set the machine in motion,
descended to the cellar, aud with palpi-
Eating heart made retreat-d Ia Fabius-
through rear exit. His name and tame
deserve to be embalmed in grateful and
appreciatlve conntry's history Ii there
be any who doubt il, let them try similar