San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-02-14
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY IA, 1897.
THE SALVATION OF SELF.

When the Nazarine was put to death
by his enemies, as he endured the
fortunes of his execution, the taunt
was flung in his face, He saved 9th
ers, himself he cannot save" Some
how, from that day to this it has been
esteemed a disgrace, or ut least self
ishness for man to save
himself. Whether this is so or not
depends altogether upon conditions
circumstances, surroundings, aSSocia-
lions. 1t is purely n matter of COM
parisons. When the darkie who kept
reiigiously out of the way during an
engagement in the late war, was call
ed to account for his cOwardice, he
seemed perfectly Indifferent to the
charge, and when asked if he thought
his life was worth more than the lives
of those around him who had exposed
themselves to the bullets of the enc
my, replied, 81 'spect it is boss, it's
wort mob to me SIR
AS general proposition a mans life
is worth more to himself than it is to
any one else, not excepting his wife
or his children On those rare Occa-
sions when that life is not worth more
to him it is wise and proper to hold
1t at the demand of others, but those
occasions are rare. This does not in
cIude those special classes who are
entrusted with the lives of others, and
by accepting that trust are commmitt-
cd to care for those others first and
themselves only when there is no more
that they can do for these others
Such are the railroad engineers and
the ship's officers and crews, as we'll
as those in other responsible positions
where the lives of others and their
safety is given to them as a trust.
Outside of these classes the eXigen-
cies are rare in which self-sacrifice
pays.
There is a sentiment on this point
that is more hOnOred in the breach
than in the observance. The idea that
il is heroic to sacrifice ones self for
another is run to seed in this genera
ton. 1t is an idea that has led to
more fool reckleSSness and with no
good results than any one other idea
that is allowed to control human ac-
lions This is true, even on the low
plain of physical movement. The de-
sire for nOtoriety that leads so many
reciklessly to rush into danger to save
others has nothing really to commend
itself to approval. 1t is not every
man who should give his life for ev'
cry other man, even if by so doing he
could save another life at the expense
of his own. That other man may not
be worth half as much to the world
as the one who sacrifices himself. and
the world loses.
Not only so, but comparatively few
people in this world are either cool
headed or quick-witted enough to at
tempt the rescue of others from peril
Gus situations, without more endan
gering life that conserving it. Those
who are trained for these life saving
services are specially equipped there
for both by nature and education
and to these experience is added. The
of reSCueS from fires. Hoods
sudden dangers of all kinds, shows
that about as much life is sacrifice,
as saved in the attempt. That the eX
posture is wise under these CircumStan
ces may we'll be doubted. The yalu
of life is an uncOmputed thing. NJ
one is competent to Judge of its wort
or worthlessnesS, save the owner o
it, and OftentimeS he least of all.
is this uncertainty that among Othe
things makes the reckless Offering o
life Oh the altar of danger to be re
buked
No one can read the history of
day on this continent or on any 9th
er without concluding that the pre-
vailing reckleSSneSs is growing in II
carelessness of life, and the means O
personal safety. The counting Of deaf
in a thousand ways is daily recorde
in the public prints, not under tina
head but under circumstances tina
justify it, Life as a thing to be va
ued is lost sight of. 1t seems to be tn
last thing desired, the last thing COZ
served, the last thing whose need
and better methods of being are col
sidered intelligently or wisely guarC
ed. Fathers and mothers are suppose
to care for the health of their chi
dren, but they live with them in place
and under conditions that defy thu
healthineSs so essential to life tn;
can be enjoyed The life of childhOO
is sacrificed in a thousand ways b.
fore and after conscious birth. and IL
conditions thereof preclude happy {
healthy babyhOOd. childhood or adu
life
The mystery that enshrouds OF
coming and our going in this wOrl
only adds Othe volume of reasons tn
lies all along the line of this matte
Life is a possession that once forte
ed. once lost can never be regaine
What its pOsseSsOr shall lose in tn
is more to him than all else, for VIII
it is lost it is lost forever, so far
knowledge actually goes. To rec
lessly put that life in pawn is to u
derrate the most valuable pOssessi
of human existence to uudprrate q