Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-13
PHYSICAL COURAGE IN WOMEN.
Rarely Exercised without n Motive,
Whether That Motive BE Right
or Wrong.

ct was very magnificent, but it isn't
warfare" said Canrobert. commenting on
the charge of the Six Hundred at Balaclava.
Whenever we are confronted with a signal
instance of female daring, we may almost
| invariably conclude in the reverse sense.
A woman's courage is rarely exercised
without a motive. 1t may be a right or
wrong one; it generally comes under the
former category. but, right or wrong, the
motive is, as a rule. a factor in the act.
Few women will fight or rush into anger
for the mere pleasure of fighting, or the
love of adventure, like men, according to
the GentlewOman: for they are timid by
nature, and the display of pluck is, in nine
cases out of ten, due to a revolt of the
mind against the will. Even in instances
such as those Of Joan of Arc and Char
lOtte Corday, where patriotism came into
play, the final practical purpose was con-
stantly kept in view; without this the
peasant girl of Domremy would probably
not have delivered her second battle: the
young gentlewoman from Normandy would
nave stopped half way on her road to the
house of Marat; for whatever Illusions the
great heroine may have foStered as to her
ultimate fate, if. indeed, her chronic state
of intense excitement allowed her to think
at all. Charlotte Corday was perfectly
aware that her deed. whether frustrated or
accomplished, would cost her life.
AT the same time. it is extremely doubt
full If the heroine is conscious of all this.
A few weeks ago Miss Lydia Fitzpatrick
was presented at John street police sta
ton, Edgware road. with a gold mounted
umbrella. in recognition of the gallant aid
she gave to a constable in the %iatter's
struggle with q desperate eX-convict. Miss
Fftzpatrlck's final aim was eminently
practical; she intended to secure the su-
premacy of law over la-wlessness, but il Is
very unlikely that the thought of rescuing
the policeman came to her in that guise.
She herself would, if asked, perhaps tell
us that she rescued the weaker from the
murderOus onslaught of the stronger.
On the same day the Duchesse Dues,
who is known in France as one of the
most fearless riders to hounds. managed,
as II by a miracle, to escape from the
sea of fire. in the charity bazar of the
Rue Jean-GoUjon. With part of her hair
and face singed, distracted with fear about
the fate of her two daughters, whom she
imagined to be in the building, she stopped
when a moments delay meant almost
certain death-to rescue a workman who
seemed to be paralyzed as to his limbs,
and who could only stand and shrek. 1
repeat, the minutes delay jeopardized her
own life. which she had so miraculously
preserved.
OF course, there are the exceptional
women, the women whom l should call
AmaZons rather than heroines, and who.
in a smaller number. correspond TO the
larger number OF men who fight for the
love of fighting. They are what the world
chooses to call the genuine pluck'd ones.
The world bestows an immense amount of
admiration upon them. because the world
rarely argues either from the physiological
or from the ethical point of view. and is
content to overlook the fact that a human
being can no more help being a
coward IMAM II can ntip D6lUS an AJAX
The coward who suppresseS his fear and
rushes into the thick of the fray Is the real
hero. Among those women who are ir-
resistibly impelled by their animal courage
to the battlefield or the walls of the be-
sieged town three or four stand promi-
nently forward.
There is Christian Davies. the Irish Anna
zon. born in Dublin about 1865. She fought
bravely at the battle of Landen, and was
rounded in the ankle. When in quarters at
Gorkum she made love to a young girl of
wealthy parents for a mere within, and
challenged, fought and dangerously wound
ed her rival. a sergeant in her own regi-
ment. The story of Christian Davies ad-
ventures is quite as wonderful as that of
Therese FigueIr. the genuine Nine. Sans
GeTe," for the Duchess de Dantzic had no
claim to the title which was bestowed up
on her by the Duchesse d'Abrantes.
Then there was Hanna Smell. born in
Worcester, who Ought both on land and at
sea, and who finally died mad at Bethle-
hem hospital.
Lastly. there was Frau Marie Hoche, who
was absolutely first lieutenant in her regi- |
ment. and gained the medal for bravery on
the battlefield. She died in 1892. These, |
however, are not the real heroines. The |
real heroine is the timid woman who over |
comes her timidity and enacts the man on |
extraordinary occasions.