New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-23
THE UiRIT or HEROTSM.

That was a remarkable story which came from
Port jefferson yesterday OF a woman tramplnS
I'm the storm across the ice to rescue two men
who had passed her cottage. been gone long
time and had not returned. and who, she feared.
had fallen into n spring hole in the frozen har-
Dor. Her tramping out at niShtfall listening
for sounds from the strangers. shouting Dack
enco,Ira cement to them, crawling at full length
on the ice TO bring them aid, dragging them from
the water and leading them back for shelter 10
her home, required courage. endurance. pos
session of resource and readiness 10 face dan
GER. which raised the act to the rank Of herolsm
purc and simple Yet this rescue was the work
Of woman. a fishcrman's wife, TO whom ii was
almost rs much matter Of course as any other
duty Of her simple and laborous life. Mary
SHARP belongs TO family of fcsavers. Her
husband. like many men Of his calling. has had
so many opportunities to save people from
drowning that the exercise has fixed upon him
the lifc-savlng habit, and their twelve-year-old
son is so expert a waterman as to have saved
two lives already.
This is n record Of which family might do
some partlonable boasting. but Mary Sharp says
that fishcrmens wives have TO be accustomed
to all sorts Of weather and adds: Il never could
when | thought those two men might have
fallen through the ice and were freezing 10
death" She has 50 long been accustomed To
wind and water and their dangers. has seen so
much of hardship herself. that the facing OF dan
ger and the relief OF others has become a habit
of her life In this she does not differ from
most people who pursue hazardous cangs. The
child of luxury and everybody who has Il mod
crate income and dwclls with the comfortable
surrounding, Of Il great city is n child of luxury
finds /, hard 10 appreciate The selfreliance
and neighborly impulse of those who live in
Lonely spots or maintain constant struggle with
adverse, conditions Of existence. With him the
charitable impulse and humanitarian enthusi-
assn hold sway He could 60 nobly to death in
battle He finds il sweet 10 dream Of self-sacri-
flee for IN idea. But the ambulanccs are well
manned the Fire Department does its duty. Dis
eases are not allowed 10 become epidemic ana
he is not called upon to prove what stun he Is
made Of Whatever heroism he possesses Is
latent. and he himself is AS likely rs anybody
10 doubt It's existence. The sailor, the fisher
man. The fireman. the railroad worker, however,
face danger constantly. and without the CLAM
orr over it which gives enthusiasm TO the sol
dier II is a dull fact 10 be reckOncd with by
them. and they reckon with II bravely, realizing
how they may need help and ready 10 risk all
To give help. The man who may have few
graccS II character. may be illtempcred. stingy
and hard hearted. makes readiness To take need
ful risk 10 save others from personal danger Il
part of his profession. duty not 10 be shirked,
and hcrolsm with him becomes not emotional
but habitual
An heroic action i none the less heroic because
il is almost automatic. The fact that the spirit
Of self sacrifice may thus become automatic IS
in itself Il tribute 10 the strength OF human
nature. and the ability OF the common run or
men and women to face their conditions and 10
make mp in scadfast, Unconditional devotion 10
the duty imposed upon them for whatever they
may lack In lofty sentiments or glory II Is
such Unconditional heroes, after all. who do most
to make life worth living and to make death
Ixin