Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-05-06
WHAT Is A COWARD.
"You are 8 coward"
ga, Ton

"You are coward"
"Am II"
1t was Que OF the crowd Of boys who
were pouring out of the public school
who made the statement, another who
asked the question. Then closely
cropped rcd head and a curly blond
head, grey jacket and black one.
four fists, four knickerbockered legs
and two book-bags seemed 10 mix them
selves up in the centre OF the street.
and crowd OF other boys closed In
about them.
Not being acquainted with the rules
OF "the ring" l cannot tell you OF the
fSht, but believe that whatever the
little blond fellow who had been called
coward could do with his fists TO prove
that he was not one. be did In the In
term between the first blow and the
arrival Of a very large policeman, who
lifted the pair apart IS giant OF the
fairy tales might pair OF Tom Thumbs,
and inquired, sternly:
Say, what's the matter with yous?"
There was so much the matter in the
shade Of bruised forehead. black eyes
bloody noses and pulled lips that | i'm
asine that motherly tears were shed
over both red AID blond heads, and l
an sure that both these boys were told
never to fight again, becauce it was
both wicked and ungentlemanly.
But wha. can a boy do when he is
called q coward. And II be will not
fight be Is a coward; and the worst OF
all things is TO be that, argued Johnny.
And he is right. A boy who is that is
fight In defense sot honor, OF country
or weaker folks, let him be ready to do
it.
But there are other things necessary,
too, and great many lighting charac-
ters are arrant towards al heart; men
who, when youcome to get At the root OF
the matter, are only braggarts VIVA de-
light in terrifying peaceful people.
In many western country places are
men known as Jim the Terror" or
sam the Shooter" who are spoken OF
as having painted the town red one
day last week" and being dangerous
to the community. I've no doubt that
some boys fancy that, however bad
these fellows are. they must be brave
men. On the contrary they are the
most contemplate cowards-a record
OF their exploits will prove It. Two OF
them will rush through the town armed
to the tooth, raid the saloons and drink
some mild old Germans beer with
out paving him for 1t, smash the
sashes OF the candy store, roar hideons
oaths at the windows Of the parsonage,
overset an old man with a basket OF
eggs, devour the poor fruit woman's
apples and oranges, threaten to shoot
the polite, respectable elderly tailor on
his way home with new suit of,clothes,
demolshing things in the Chinese
laundry AMI cut of Chung Zoos pre-
cious pIgtail despite his mild petitions
for mercy, and insult country ladies
who have driven In, TO shop, but will
wilt like spinach In boiling water when
faced by three stout townsmen with
good revolvers.
I remember seeing one OF these mon
who had been supposed to threaten a
certain village with distraction at noon,
hanging out OF the 'lock-up" window
at dusk, weeping and begging Some
good Christian" for heavens sake to
give him "a chaw OF tobacker." lie
was q coward, OF course.
There is another person yon think
very brave, perhaps. Your cousin John
who is at college. He looks such hne
fellow ms he sits telling you little boys
OF the fun they have "hszin9 the fresh
men," and you think that when you are
as old as he you will "haze freshmen"
also.
Now there are few more covardly
deeds done In this world than much OF
that same college hazing, and the fact
that boys have been at 1t here and In
England, for two hundred years makes
1t no better. To heap insult and injury
on some unoffehding young stranger, to
cover him with modification when ne
naturally wishes to appear his best, TO
pain his heart and harm him physically,
can be fun to no one but q coward. Now
and then tragedy occurs, and hazing
takes another shape and becomes muir
der, and the public learn plainly that
the ripgleaders OF college hazing are
coarse, brutal and contemplate
towards. boy VINO teaseo BlIl 10
sort OF coward. | do not like the lit
tie fellow who wiliully upsets his
sisters work basket or throws her doll
down the well, or laughs at her when
she practices her music lesson. like
q little boy to whom his sisters come to
get him TO mend their toys, or show
them how to do their sums, 20 take
care Of them when dreadful dog barks,
and who is always ready TO help him.
That shows that he has the spirit OF the
protector in him, and one who has that
is never a coward.
Another thing IS very couardly-to
tell lies. You may fight all the boys In
your country, bat II you hsbltually tell
falsehoods you are coward all the
same. Sometimes 1t is the bravest OF
all things to tell the truth. DO II for
that reason. DO not have lied TO save
yourself from a reprooi or even a pun
ishment; do not know Ia your heart
that you are a coward.
TIE IIMlMVITEl GljEcT