Warren sheaf., 1897-06-17
4Q0arr t1faf
Thursday, j une II, 1897.
ORATIONS AND ESSAYS BY THE
# GRADUATES OF THE WARREN
HIGH SCHOOL. 55.5.s5
sHEROEs OF THE DAY.

birth, till the setting Of life'S sun, is
one continuous, unbroken struggle.
The battles are increasing and
widely diverse. There are battles
with circumstances, BATTLES with
temptation, battles with humanity
and BATTLES with self.
As on the bloody field OF martial
conflict, SO on the battle field OF life,
are found the coward and the hero.
And life's heroes are of two classes.
Lauded by thousands OF tongues, re-
vered by history's pages, honored by
the whole world, is the one class.
Unknown, unhonored. .unrecognized.
nnrewarded, all about us exists. the
other. .>ss "A.
IT'S natural that our conception
OF hero should be a daring, dashing
leader who is the first to expose his
life for his country or his fellow man.
We can not but honor and praise
such a man, so noble a heart. Yet
it requires no more great amount OF
heroism on his part, to perform
these brave deeds. His maker gave
him brave heart and he can not be
other than a brave man.
Is there not more true heroism in
the man whose timid, shrinking ma
ture is terrified by the thought of
battle, whose maker ordained, to
follow, not to lead, .and yet whose
truly noble nature, takes him to the
front when his country calls? a
Is not the timid, terror stricken
man, who firmly keeps his place mid
shot and shell, when his nature, the
nature his God has given him, bids
him.: flee, more deserving of prais
than the daring man whose nature
urges him onward, who could not
linger it he would? Is there more
heroism in the heart OF the. man
whose intellect and daring gives
him the command ofa army. than
IN the heart OF the nurse who gives
her life to the care Of the wounded
soldiers, when her woman's nature
shrinks at the very sight OF blood? y
From history's standpoint our.
famous generals were heroes; and
most truly are they so called. But
the timid, yet noble men, and wom-
en-? All, they are heroes of every
day. And every day heroes often
wear strange, sometimes repulsive,
nlantles, which our careless eyes do
not pierce and thus the truly heroic,
heart exists undiscovered. =
Stephen A. Douglas was repulsive
to many, was criticized by many,
many lejoiced when ne was defeated
in the presidential contest with Abra-
ham Lincoln. Yet, says Parton;
''All his errors were quickly forgot
ten, when at the outbreak Of the
civil war, SO soon after his defeat, he
grasped the hand Of his opponent
and pledged to him his strength and
faith, thus showing the true nobility
OF his character.
But we need not remain upon the
battle tied, or follow history's
pages, to find these heroes. We
need only allow the cloud ofcareless-
ness, Ito roll from our sight; we
would not slight them, did we but.
see them in their true light. Here
are two young men; see the flashing
eyes, zclenched hands and flushed
brow OF the. one; hear the hot angry
words which pour from his. uncon-
trolled lips; compare him to his com-]
Panion, whose flashing eyes and
clenched hands bespeak terrible
anger, but whose pale face and
tightly compressed ips,s denote self
control. Now listen to the words OF
the poet: @s .4is5 III,
But Of all the foes we meet #
None SO oft mislead our feet,
Like the foes which dwell Within
And surely we must agree with him
who said He is a hero who con-
quers SELF n 4. .3!55ss ....17Ts
But look beyond this scene; notice
that small culprit standing before
his stern Master; his. small hands |
work .cOnvulsively, and the great
tear drops falling from those fright
ened eyes would ! melt any heart save
that Of q school master.
But there is another present here.
See near by another small pers on; 81,
her hands are clasped tightly behind
her andlher great bright eyes gaze
straight into those Of her teacher.
Listen, while she tells him that the /
punishment due the little culprit be-
fore him must be hers, too; listen
while OF her own free will, though
her childish heart is filed with fear
which struggles wildly with her
sense sense Of right and honor, she CON
fesses her part in the violation Of the
school rules. What wonder the
words, - Little Her roine, 2 break from