The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-05-27
the COURAGE or \ GENTLEMAN OF WIDE experience as frontier
w0NANH00n. man, soldier and iu list, recently remarked

WVWH"oOOO 4
ME: Women are more truthful than men; they exhibit more gratitude
they are the supeHors OF men in physical courage"
This testimony will doubtless appear not a little startling to many Mn
have ever regarded woman as "the weaker VESSEL; but l believe it will h
confirmed by every careful student Of humankind. That woman possess
more moral courage than man is generally admitted: but that physical 18th
necessary correlative of moral courage does not appear to have occurpdb
the average individual. The two yirtues-f they be indeed binary are h
interdependent that enforcement is practically impossible. Why does a child
accused Of a misdemeanor confess its fault and accept punishment, when. NJ
a subterfuge it could escape castigation? Because it fears the scourege d
conscience more than the maternal slipper. 1t must choose between two
evils, and it elects the least. Without moral courage it would liz, becaus
unable TO accept bodily suffering that could be avoided. When the soldier
PUSHES upon shotted guns we call it physical courage; when a yoluptuous c
man denies the improper opportunities of her lover we call it moral courage
Iyet the sufficient causes Of these actions are Identical The soldier does not
desire to be killed or crippled, but breads the deserter's shame more thanur
guns of the enemy and the woman considers self-denial preferable to dis
honor; hence courage, call it by what name you will, is but the balancing
but one evil against another, and the acceptance of what the world elects
call the lesser. 1t is great physical and little moral courage: but such o.
jections are idle without some knowledge of the ethics of dogdom and the
moral concept Of the savage YOU. can measure the moral courage of man
beast until you have ascertained the moral code applicable to the ciyinzata
or intelligence Of his kind. The different races OF men and the various o.
des Of animals diverge widely in their natures, some being mild, the
murderous' We can not measure the hart by the standard of the hound
nor the gentle-souled Bengalee by the ferocious Brtisher who finds pleasure
in useless efuson Of blood.
a New York merchant chattering to a reporter recently, asserted that
men re more honest than women-prompter in the discharge Of their debts
He evidently overlooked two very important facts, viz that a woman can
often obtain credit where her husband cannot, because it is a more dencsh
matter to refuse her, and that with men to whom credit is extended a np
tation for commercial integrity often constitutes an important plt of tei
working capitol. A woman who neglects to settlc-especialy if she pos
tact and beauty-is not bounded so fercely as the male maingera
Good name in such matters is with women merely a sentiment, while with |
the average man 1t is business; hence the male rascal will frequently ms
while the female rogue, having nothing tangible to gain by an ahectatond
honesty, laughs her tradesmen to scorn. Much of the shopifting is done b. /
women, they having better opportunity for that kind of knavery; but of t4
forgeries, burglaries and embellishments a vast majority are the work of men I
Junius Henri Browne-angels and ministers of grace defend us! wMr
did he find it?-has been telling the few old maids and amic mugwumN I
who still worry through Harpers Weekly what he doesn't know about
"Womans Courage He assures us that women affect a timidty they E
not feel, because their supposed helpessness is considered a charm by thew
posite sex. l trust Junius Henri Browne will not topple his name over on meH 4
dissent from his very pretty but undigested dogma. tt is neither cowarGm 3
nor affection that make o many ladies scream at sight of a bug or mouse
but sheer nervousness. You seldom sec a healthy countrywoman clamM
upon a table to avoid a harmless creeper. Our clty-bred American women
are neurotc; but this i'll is being rapidly alleyiated by the sensible Outdoor
exercise now coming generally into favor. A rightly constituted man ghM
res in a courageous woman--a woman all womanly, without a suggestion h
aggressive mascuinity; but who could, if need be, go to the block as brauF
as Marie Antoinette, strike as deadly as Hannah Dustin, or emulate tM8
deeds Of SaragosSas beautiful lioneSs when SPANS enemies we're II
'Foled by a womans hand before a battered wall" II
Chappes like Junius Henri whose sidewheel whiskers and tergeminoN#
titles are giving them spinal curvature, may fancy hysterical maids; but L
|sure-enough American, competent to raise a crop of world.compelersa s
bearing his trademark, prefers a Grace Darling or aMoIyP Pitcher. iii
knows that, if mated with her equal, such a mother would never suckh&
worthless sons. Junus IIenri. next informs us that while women may posi-
s@s certain kinds of courage, she has not that which enables her to fcH
physical danger with forttude, to look on CHASTITY wounds o sustain great
bodily suffering. wonder who told him that? If knew so little about
women ia never undertake to manage one. Women does not, as rule 70 i
sent an insult with a blow or do the Amazon act, because forbidden by Gus
tom and weakness of body. She does not court danger tor the sake of gain
ing a reputation for courage; but when confronted by it, will, in almost cyl
cry instance, bear herself as royalty as her big brother, and that without The
powerful prop OF PRIDE upon he leans the lear OF that cursew which o'aststh
male coward. Women encounter the pcris of the frontier, of shipwrA
conhagraton and the distress of fame with heroic fortitude. In new con
tries she is not infequcntly a daring rider and a splendid shot. When aW
OF fire is raised in a crowded hall or thcatcr, the men are usually the frtt
drop the Inch pin out Of their suaviter in mode and start stampede. AM
experienced physician will testify that women bear pain and encounter death
with greater forutude than do men-that they become more readily ach
toned to the sight of suffering and the CHASTITY scenes of surgery. Many
our most celebrated hospitals arc under the immediate charge of womel
notably the Charity Hospital at New Orleans, with it's 10000 patients pei
annum. Let a child be injured, and a woman who has never looked upon
wound will minister to it with a steady hand, while a man who has trd
dozen sanguinary battlehelds, becomes faint, distracted, useless.
A woman is capable of grander heroism, greater sdfsacrefce. nobs
morality than man, and for the simple reason that her nature is, SO TO sneak
of a finer texture-becausc she is less a brute than is her companion. Hs
courage differs from that Of man much as the courage OF a higr.bred gentle !
man differs from that Of a Bowery bouncer. The latter really enjoys a bp
tai fstcuf, but a thread Of cold steel will stop him. To the gentleman
brusing bout is an denominations: but he will take his position before a dead
shot with apparent indifference. 1t is this higher courage which womaa
II she starts more readily at trihes she will 60 with a steadea
ftp to the supreme sacrifice. A finely constituted mind instinctiyely shrink
from the brutal; but where honor principle. or the wellbeing of loyedoms
= concerned, 1t is ready to led the fororn hope. 1t faces Inevitable death
with a placid brow, while the 'nerve' If a coarser nature either breaks COM
petely down or INDUCES in mock bravado. Man is incapable of that inten
sMy OF suffering, mental or physical, which a delicate woman often uncom
plainingly endures. II men instead Of women were required to suffer tN
pains of parturition there wouldn't be enough people left on earth in twd
hundred years to organize a baseball nine and I'D be the first laddie.bu cl
10 take the vow of celibacy under such a dispensation. Courage! The TIM
a hornet, while severe pain to- man is madness to a wonan; vet the fM1
will dance while the latter, after one startled scream of surprise, sH
about doctoring herself. The fact of the matter is that maa
have amounted to much had not the Creator sent women to staj
he miserable savage against the tree of knowledge and shoulder nine.tenthI
n his troubles, while he's snorting like a mad bull over the remainder and
imagining himself a hero I'm very fond of the ladies-but / wouldn't h