Milford chronicle., 1891-06-12

shall net pause to refite the idea that a
heroine is ''rara avis but accepting this
statement, the very scarcity Of the article in
question should render it priceless on the
same principle Of the Queen Ann farthiug
which, although valueless IN itself, became
/ princeless because only four Of the coins
were struck Our glance through the records
must he necessarily brief. Beginning with
the lowest idea of heroism, simple brute cour.
/ age, reckless Of life, careless Of death. This
is scarcely worthy TIE name, because It
| occurs when the mind crazed by the excite
ment of surroundings, becomes entirely
unconscious of danger: whereas, a true
/ heroine is one who, although she fully real
ICES her peril, yet dares to meet II with
unhirchiug front. IfyOur idea Of heroism be
1 forgetfullness of danger and of life, read
the annals of the French Revolution and you
will find women the maddest spirits Of the
mob fearless. cruel as the avenging furies
and holding life as lightly as the most trif-
ing bauble. Of a more exalted character
is the courage Of Charlotte Corday and
Madam Rowland. In times ofperil woman
has proved herself capable Of prompt,
heroic and uuselhsh action. During the
terrible billiards on the westerns plains the
record of the frontier teachers in their devo-
ton to the children in their charge is one
Of unparalleled heroisui. Our own country
boasts its Ida Lewis, and among all the sto-
ries of heroism none have eclipsed the Oft
told story of Grace Darling Florence
Nightingale in her hospital work among the
British soldiers; Dorothy Dix in her work
among the unfortunate and criminal classes,
are examples of heroic effort and persever-
ance. History has recorded and poets have
sung ofthe heroic struggle Of our fore fathers !
for, independence. They have not done the
same for our fore.mothers. We know some
thing of the patriotism of Martha Washington |
Abigail Adams. of Rebecca Motto at Chafles- |
ton and dOlly Pitcher. We know that the /
destruction Of the American army at White /
Marsh. and the capture and execution Of
General Washington, were provided by the /
timely and heroic action of Lydia Darrah.
But these are only insulated and solitary ex-
amDles From the time when the American
women surrendered their cherished tea to
the Boston tea party down to the seige of
Yorktown, they showed a heroisiu unsur-
passed by the soldiers in the field Zenobia
the queen of Palmyra took the reins Of gov
erument Just at the time when she must
decide to submit to Rome or wage with
that powerful nation. She chose the latter
and with her army marched against the
Romans, although beaten, she had fought
ieroicallr and we'll France boasts of The
Maid OF Orleans, but we pass her to notice
our American couuterpart-M Miss Anna Dick
usou-the type oftfeaTless womanhood In
he great crisis Of our countrys history her {
'oice was constantly heard proclaiming :
ruths that Others with less courage, recog-
lized but feared to utter. Not less bTaveY i
md effectively did she serve her country {
han the soldier on the e-6eld To-day t
he is a wreck of her former self, broken in !
ealth and impoverished in purse. Allow
IS to digress enough to say that as Anna S
Dickinson befriended humanity let human r.
~ befrieud and shield her. and let not her "
ase be another evidence of the iueratitude e
+ republics. LucTetia Mott was the first to o
,ep from the narrow confines of woman S e
sphere" She was one of the strongest a
'orkers in the anti slavery movement and A .
ioueer in the temperance cause. She has ~
cen succeeded by others who have worked 81
obly in this cause: among them we notice al
Iiss Frances Willard who has made great OF
.crihces and deserves praise from all for a.
lie work she has so bravely done. Both she NJ
Id all who have worked with her certainly Oh
sserve the crown ofheroic womanhood "a