Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-10-26
THE HERO OF TODAY.
ELEMENTS OF CHARACTER WHICH
RAISE MAN TO TIE FORE.


1t is truth which has not yet come tt
be fully realized that much Of the char,
acter of an individual depends upon lis
ideas of heroism. What he admires am
honors is good test Of what be is, cf
rather what he longs to be. and G1a / zoe.
will always have a strong d. GactiYe
force, which vii! draw him =, .l,a3 pos
sible into their sphere. ia ~! lie various
types of the hero on" GUt,:;:;y remains
forever prominent--IouraGo. The can
nibal who has distinguished himself by
the number Of his murders, the ro}Uer
chieftain who had held thousands at bay,
the Indian with his belt adorned with
scalps the duelist who holds his l"c
cheaper than his fancied honor, have Ill
in times past been regarded as heroes,
and whatever estimate they now receiV"
no one denies their courage.
Equally so. tie martyr who goes cheer
fully to the stake; the man who braves
obloquy and cOnteH@pt for truth as he
holds it; he who risks his life to save an
other. or dev0t1s it unrescrvedly to the
good of mankind one who can bear and
anu dllOIllCL w ~ CtIil oiiO anu
do: all are. in turn. heroes to those who
appreciate them, and all are di3tin-
guished by the sar3a element-courage
Whatever be the virtue or the vice; what.
ever the cause engaged in: whatever the
motives whirl govern the l!fe-nO one
has ever ben made Il hero, even ir
thought, unless in some way he has shown
strength and bravery. Cowardice and
weaknc IS. pusillalinlity and fear, are op
posed III their very essence to all hero
ism. and no merits. however great, can
form 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 or rob
bers or duelists, however courageous
such men may have been. We have
come to admit that something else must
be united to bravery to create heroism.
And what is that something else? Is 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 prizetghter may be bold and in
trepid 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 Il 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 forbear. to liveor
to die. Our own Washington and Lin
coin were men of this stamp and we are
Justly proud to have them head the list
of our country's heroes.
Not, however. only i'll public life and
under the gaze of the multitude do we
find the true hero. In the home and In
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
+ruth or duty or love. and also has the