Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-16
QUEER REWARDS FOR BRAVERY.
FREAK Gifts That Have Been Present.
ed for Signal Heroixm.


ed for Signal HerOism.
From tie Philadelphia Times.
In ancient times for a deed of special
bravery or heroism the fortunate mortal
was crowned with a laurel wreath and
H'ayhap verses were composed in his hon
or. During the days of chivalry many titles
were given away to the recipients who
proved themselves heroes and in modern
tlh-es soldiers for such deeds have been
presented with medals, but it remains for
Ihe MODERN everyday citizen to evolve
1feaklsh rewards for some brave deed
Last March schoolmaster belonging 10
Town IN Alsace was seized with cramp
"hlle in bathing, and if one of his col
leagues who was at hand had not hastily
Invested himself of his outer garments and
at the risk OF mis- life plunged in and
brought him to land the disciple of Plato
would assuredly have been drowned What
was MS rescuer's reward? Did the burgh-
erS OF the town crown him as a hero for
making such brave and difficult rescue ?
NO. He was prosecuted for bathing at a
prohibited spot, with its resultant fine and
costs.
About four years ago the house of rich
f1ampShlre e Gentleman was in the owner s
absence broken into by burglars, who but
Tor the intrepid1ty OF the butler in attacking
them single-handed would have made off
with large haul, including a superb dia-
nond ring valued al over $1,000 On his
return the gentleman effusively thanked
MS servant, and promised that on every
anniversary of the abortfve burglary he
should be permitted to wear the ring he
had saved.
A similar though somewhat more gen
el Gus spirit prompted a well-known physi-
clan to have on April 10 Of each year a
mechanic named Foster as his guest On
that date ten years ago this man STONED
runaway carriage, at great risk, which
contained the doctors wife and daughters
For nearly year Foster heard no more
of the affair, and indeed it had almost
passed from his memory, when he was sur
p1ised to receive note from the doctor,
asking him to dinner, and, in order that he
might come decently clad, directing him to
apply to a certain tailor, where he would
be supplied with a new suit.
A well-known scholar, now deceased,
whose name was household word among
students of classical literature. was once
set upon by roughs, and had it not been for
the efectual interference of a laborer who
CHANGED to be passing would have been
severely handled. A fortnight later, when
at ms invitation, his rescuer called on him,
he overwhelmed the man with grateful
speech and finished by declaring that as
his proWess would had he lived in the
golden days of Greece, most certainly have
won for him the highest honors at the
Olympic games, he had taken upon himself
to procure from Greece the prize that had
erstwhile crowned the victor's deserts-an
olive leaf. This he presented to his
amazed nearer, Whereupon the latter re-
marking in high dudgeon that he had no
time to waste with fool who wouldn't
even stand the price of a drink dashed the
classic garland to the ground and left the
room in rage.
No more singular reward for heroism
however, can well be imagined than that
which certain John Nesper will carry
with him to the grave. Some fifteen wears
ago. when poor clerk, he saved, at great
personal risk, a little girl from drowning.
The grateful father, who was a profess
sional tattooer. offered in return for the
great service he had rendered to decorate
his entire body with Specimens of his art.