The Progress., 1897-10-02
THE WHITE BADGE OF HEROISM.
Men generally are not deficient in
physical courage. They Will fight at


need.
Any injury or affront is usually read
lily resented, particularly Il the per
ton to vndicate himself or to avenge
the wrong. Bullies, confident in their
bodily strength, or in the knowledge
that they are armed, viii not hesitate
t. attack wantonly and witout provoca-
ton persons physically weak or known
IL b unarmGd.
m his it will be seen that there
- many sorts of bodily courage. Man
IS ct the head of the list OF fighting an
mails, and q 5 such he has subdued a
the others and broken them into sub
mission. But physical or animal cour-
age is not the only SOFT, nor is it the
highest and truest type of what is
called bravery. There is a moral cour-
age growing out Of obligations to duty
and right that is above all others, and
he. who would rise to the heights Of he
roism must possess It.
4 hero is CTle who dies or risks his life
for a right. for principle, for devotion
to a duty, fer fidelity to a trust. It is
not strength or RI goodness of body, but
greatness of soul, with fxedness of pur
pose to do right, that makes heriosm.
rors of the stake, the rack and the
wheel Of the dark ages, rather than
surrender their faith, were heroes of
the highest type: but so are the men
death i'm the faithful discharge of duty.
The red badge Of courage" so much
o naunte ID by y, The Lomansst is nothing
deathless love and devotion with which
men and women who never saw a bat
tlefeld have braved death in its most
loathsome and dreadful form WATCHING
and nursing in the sickroon7.
1t is easy enough to be brave amid
the eXcitements of battle and spurred
ON by patriotism and ambition and
love of glory There is an electric thrill
which passes along the line Of battle
where the men march shoulder TO
shoulder. or whore the cavaliers ride
knee to knee. Each SnIdier feels the
courage and energy of his neighbor and
aas the dead and wounded drop out, the
living close up the ranks and each man
not difficult to be brave under such con-
ditions, and when the line goes forward
or When 1t retreats. Just SO long as the
living chain OF closed ranks can be pre-
served every man will share in and be
part OF the courage and prowess that
animate the whole
But let the lines he broken and all
organization is lost ~,7 order and svs
tenn are overwhelmed by all the ire
naendous forces of confusion and chaos.
!t IS re sauce uui puet'' of Waterloo.
o ohe STAN m p ' of Bull Pun. Courage
ceases to have any red badge There is
no place left for bravery although
there might be for hero,su Even M
noleon galloped away from Waterloo in
army" Sahd
The men who have fought on MANY
nat tlsneidS and have made the WORLDS
bloodfest history are, nevertheless can
soIe OF running away in a most disor
ueriy panic; but there is no retreat no
h ous no panic for the martyr and the
nero. Filled with q sense of duty in
splred with devoted fidelity to some
trust confided to them. they are ready
20 lace every peril and to expose thair
aenuer ana shrinking flesh to every hor-
ror that can assaiI TIM
,out most dreadful of all. every such
ueVotee TO duty goes alone. He or She
IS not hailed with the ranturous. IN
S,plrlng acclaim of an applauding pub
nc. There is no line Of battle Win
waving fags and martial music. There
IS no electric thrill of sympathy. but
t taen nero and heroine goes alone to
the sacrifice and to the, slaughter ~ ~
u.,ust pc. What great souls are some
tli1-es enthroned in feeble bodis.
AK about the red badge Of co,,r-
ags Far above. in the hearts or NAV
ana IN human honor and glory. and
aassiy farther above In the celestia1
hAure or the sky, should be the White
nauge on heroism made Of the nurit,y