Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-05-04
rHE HERO OF TODAY.
-urNTs OF CHARACTER WHICH
oAlsE MAN TO THE FORE

- she Honors-Courage Is ROT fbe
on,v Quality Requisite In Hero
t;sa truth which has not yet come tt
e,Ilv realized that much Of the char
% 30 II an individual depends upon his
~ Of heroism. What be admires and
ue's is a good test of what he is, or
nono what he longs to be, and his heroes
~ always have a strong attractive
VIZ which will draw him a. far as pos
III .,Sa into their sphere. In I'll the various
elD os of the hero one quality remains
gp,,or rominent--courage. The can
III nj who has Distinguished himself by
.ho number of his murders, the robber
Sh;eftain who had held thousandsat bay,
.ha indian with his belt adorned with
Wv uo,ns the duelist who holds his lie
Ladror than his fancied honor, have al
4 times past been regarded as heroes.
I'D whatever estimate they now receive
~ one denies their COURAGE.
Eonallv so. the martyr'who goes cheer
s.II1 to tbe stake; the man who braves
ahloouy and conteL!lt for truth as he
SoIds #; he who risks his life to save an
0tber. or deyotas it unreservedly to the
GOOD of mankind; one who can bear and
srdure, and another who can dare and
~, oil are. in turn, heroes to those who
oUrreciate them, and all are distin-
~Ir,;sbed by the sane element--courage
Wbateyer be the virtue or the vice: what
o,er the cause engaged in; whatever the
,,ohves which govern the life-no one
noe ever been made hero, even in
thouqht. unless in some way he has shown
s+ranoth and bravery. COwardiCe and
week.-mrs., pusillanimity and fear, areop
nosed in their very essence to all hero
Ism and no merits, however great, can
form connecting link between them.
The mistake. however, which has long
haon made. and which we are only be-
Ginning to correct, is that courage alone
con make a hero. To some extent we
have given up this notion. Our present
heroes are no longer cannibals or rob
hers or duelists, however courageous
such men may have been. We have
come to admit that something else must
he united to bravery to create heroism.
And what is that something else? Is it
not some noble purpose outside of self
and its interests. The glad and willing
sacrifice for something higher than
Measure 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
fall obstacles-that is the true heroisn
which we are vaguely seeking and be
ginning to appreciate.
The prizefighter may be bold and in
hepid in giving and receiving blows;
but, except to few like himself, he has
ceased to be hero, for his purposes are
low and selfish. The suicide may have
the courage to throw away his life, but
he has not that heroic courage which
lives on, enduring, hoping and working,
in spite Of all the adverse circumstances
of his lot. The great conquerors Of tn,
world who have plunged their nations
into cruel wars for the sake Of their own
glory and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT were pre-emi-
nently the heroes Of past age, but we
are gradually learning that the true hero
of his country is the man who seeks he1
best welfare. who defends her rights and
consults her interests and who for this
great purpose is ready to take praise or
blame, to govern or to forboar to live OF
to die. Our own Washington and Lin
coin were men Of this stamp, and weare
justly proud to have them head the list
OF our countrys heroes.
Not. however. only in public life and
under the gaze of the multitude do we
find the true hero. In the home and i'll
the schoolroom. in the Office and the
workshop, in the crowded street and
open field, he may be discovered by
those who can appreciate what heroism
really is. Whoever has high and
worthy purpose at heart, whether OF
truth or duty or love, and also has the
strength and courage to work, to sacri-
flee and to suffer, if need be, for its sake
is worthy of the name.
One quietly denies himself pleasure OF
comfort or ease for the aged parent OF
the sick child. Another gives up cher
ished plans because they would interfere
with the claims of dependent family
One faces the displeasure Of friends and
society sooner than forsake his principles
another employs all his power in defense
OF the weak and against the oppressor
Our hero must be strong and brave, but
selfish, not counting the cost, in his great
desire to further his noble purpose.
Such men and women are always
among us, but in the retirement of pri-
vate life they are inevitably known but
to few. Those few, however, should
esteem it their privilege and duty to
honor such true heroism, and to extend
Its influence. Especially should the
young be taught to recognize and revere
1t. 1t should be an important part OF
the education of every child to form
within him IA true and worthy concep-
ton of heroism, and to enable him to
recognize it wherever it exists.
Too often his only idea O. it is found
In the sensational romano or in the eN-
amples around him Of men who, for
praise or glory or gain. will do daring