The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-08-23
THE HERO OF TO-DAY.
ELEMENTS or CHARACTER WHICH
RAISE MAN TO THE FORE.

Men She Honors--Courage 10 Not thu
Only Quality Requisite In u Hero.
IL In q truth which has not yet come t.
be fully realized that much OF the char
acter OF an individual depends upon his
ideas of heroism. What he admires and
donors In q good test of what he is, or
rather what he longst TO be, and his heroes
will always have a strong attractive
force, which will draw him as far as pos
sible into their sphere. In all the various
types OF the hero n quality remains
forever prominent-courage. The can
nibal who has distinguished himself by
the number Of his murders, the robber
chieftain who had held thousandsa ct bay,
the Indian with his belt adorned with
scalps, the duelist who holds his life
cheaper than his fancied honor, have all
IN times past been regarded as heroes,
and whatever estimate they now receive
no one denies their courage.
Equally so. the martyr who goes cheer
fully to the stake; the man who braves
obloquy and contempt for truth as he
holds it. he who risks his life to save IN
other. or devotes it unreservedly to the
good of mankind; one who can bear and
endure, and another who can dare and
do; all are. in turn. heroes to those who
appreciate them, and all are distin-
guished by the same element-courage
| Whatever be the virtue or the vice; what
ever the cause engaged in; whatever the
motives which govern the hfe-no one
has ever, been made u hero, even In
thought. unless in some way he has shown
strength and bravery. Cowardics and
weakness, pusillanimity and fear, m OPP
posed in their very essence to all hero
ism, and no merits, however great, can
form a connecting link between them.
The mistake, however, which has long
been made. and which we are only be
ginning to correct. is that courage alone
can make a hero. To some extent we
have given up this notion. Our present
heroes are no longer cannibals OF rob-
bers or duelists, however courageous
such men may have been. W. have
come to admit that something else must
be united 10 bravery to create heroism.
And what is that something else?, Ia it
not some noble purpose outside Of self
and it's interests. The glad and willing
sacrifice for something higher than
pleasure or interest. comfort or ease,
united to the courage which scorns all
mean temptations and persists in the
truth and right. as far as it is seen, spite
of all obstacles-that is the true heroism
which we are vaguely seeking and be.
ginning to appreciate.
The prizefighter may be bold and In
trepid in giving and receiving blows
out, except to a few like himself, he has
. ceased to be a hero. for his purposes arr
low and selfish. The suicide may have
the courage to throw away his life, bu1
ne has not that heroic courage which
lives on. enduring. hoping and working
In spite of all the adverse circumstance
of his lot. Tho great conquerors of tn
. world who nave plunged their nation
into cruel wars for the sake of their owl
glory and ACKNOWLEDGMENT were pre-emi
nently the heroes of a past age, but W
are gradually learning that the true her
OF his country is the man who seeks he
best welfare. who defends her rights AM
a consults her interests, and who for thi
y great purpose il ready to take praise o
a blame, to govern or to forbear, to liveo
to die. Our own Washington and Lin
"a coin were men of this stamp. and we ar
Justly proud to have them head the Liz
y of our country's heroes.
Not. however. only in public life an
under the gaze of the multitude do W
find the true hero. In the home and |
% the schoolroom. in the Office and th
i workshop. in the crowded street an
= open field. he may be discovered b
those who can appreciate what heroisl
really is. Whoever has a high an
. worthy purpose at heart, whether
., truth or duty or love. and also has ii
"A strength and courage to work, to sacr
fee and to suffer. if need be. for its SAX
is worthy of the name.
One quietly denies himself pleasure
o. comfort or ease for the aged parent
u the sick child. Another gives up che
~ ished plans because they would interfe
- with the claims of a dependent famil
s. One faces the ~displeasure of friends al
- society sooner than forsake his principle
another employs all his power in defen
IL of the weak and against the oppresse
Tn Our hero must be strong and brave, b
!. he must also be magnanimous and q
-. selfish. not counting the cost, in his gre
Il. desire to further his noble purpose.
!, Such men and women are alwa
among us, but in the retirement of p
vate life they are inevitably known b
to q few. Those few, however, shou
n. esteem it their privilege and duty
20 honor such true heroism. and to exte
its influence. Especially should I
nd young be taught to recognize and revt
Of 1t. II should be an important part
The the education of every child to fo1
s5G within him a true and worthy conc'
mr. ton OF heroism, and to enable him
aer recognize it wherever it exists.
ex Too often his only idea OF it is fou
in the sensational romance. or in the
amples around him of men who,
to praise or glory or gain, will do dari
ed. deeds and manifest a physical brave
to often ait q fearful cost to their fellt
bod men. Let rs give him q truer ideal
ing afford him q higher example.-Philat