The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-05-26
COURAGE IS QUEER.
The Hero Abroad is Often a Small
Man at Home


From the New York Tribune.
Courage" said the story teller, sis
something which / have always found It
difficult to define. [ have known wom-
en- who were the most cowardly creatur-
es under the sun to do amazingly brave
and daring acts under certain conditions.
| have seen men, too, who knew that
they were not brave, rise ia emergencies
and prove themselves heroic. Bat the
most interesting thing about this subs
ject is that phase Of q lnan's character
which makes him absolutely fearless in
the face Of many dangers, and yet
makes him a great coward in one or two
special cases. have friend whom I
call Il brave man lie has done two acts
alone in his life which prove his conr-
age.
HE was once il gathering OF won
en-, when a dog, showing marked signs
of rabies, came running at them. A
bull terrier was with the people, and the
strong dog snapped unfortunately at
the terrier and the women. Its actions
were quick as lightning and 50 terrify-
ing to the women that severel of them
were on the point of fainting and the
others shrieked wildly. If you have
never seen mad dog You have no idea
of its terrible aspect and Of the dread
which it inspires. But almost as soon as
his enraged animal had leaped into the
group, and even before the terrier, which
would fight anything, had jumped for it,
this man caught the mad dog around
the neck, jammed his head down to the
ground and placed his foot On the ami
malethroat, holding it there firmly and
cody until some one brought him re-
volver. He shot the dog as he held it
pinned to the ground, and his hand did
not shake in the slightest.
This same man was once crossing
crowded street in New York when he
saw a child fall directly in front OF the
feet of two ear horses. There was not
the flash of an eye in time to spare
His actions seemed quicker han
thought With one hand appraised he
caught the bit of a horse and with the
other he brushed the boy ahead and
then aside from the track. He was
dragged several feet, but was not hurt
in any way. When he extricated him
self from between the horses he Owed
into the crowd which had gathered and
hurried away to avoid the cheers which
were given him.
81 saw this man at g summer resort
smoking, as calm and contented q man
as ever was seen. Some one cried to
him that an ant had run up his arm un
der his sleeve. He jumped to his feet,
as white as chalk, looked around him
helplessly tainted.
81 once saw q woman in carriage
faint when her coaohman was driving
past steam drill and the horses wheel>
ed swiftly as if they would oyerturn the
carriage. That woman on q yacht,
when a squall struck it and when every
man on board thought his last hour had
come, did not even cry out because her
husband had said in her ear, Don't be
afraid; there is no danger"
s'Once when | was in San Francisco |
heard the rattle and rush of q fire en-
CINE coming bounding down q hill
When it struck a corner where it turned,
the driver, with the reins still in his
hands. was hurled like o saot far ahead,
falling between his horses necks. He
caught at the tongue as he went swiftly
down, got it, drew himself up, crawled
like monkey, with the horses at full
run, back to his seat, and [ saw him
second later driving furiously up Market
street. I followed that engine to the
fire and found the reckless and daring
driver unconcernediy attending to his
duties.
''There is the coolest and nerviest man
ever saw I said to the fireman, and |
told him what had seen.
Eyes, he said, he's the best driver in
the department and he's d henpecked
husband! y