The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-22
BATTLEFIELD JESTs.
They Seem to Prove That If Man Is
witty in Danger He is Also Brave.

They Seem TO Prove That If Man Is
witty in Danger He is Also Brave.
From the London Globe.
Deeds not words" is the motto both Of
soldier and sailor; but their words are Oft
en- wondrously fit, though few Humor, of
course, is by no means the necessary COM
plement of courage, but when a man can
be witty in critical moment, it may be
taken as an almost unfailing sign that he
can be courageous, too Martial humor
is perhaps not much better or worse than
that which is commonly associated with
other, professions. But the display of such
quality in dangerous or difficult situations,
and especially in the presence Of the enc
my, has been accepted in all ages as the
unfailing index OF GOODNESS and self-pos-
session. And so absolutely essential are
these endowments to the successful sol
der, that a hundred bon-mots have been
preserved. not for what they are in them
selves, but for the qualities they have
implied in their makers. These are invl-
rably the men who can
Be great in act as they have been In
thought:
DO stirring at the time be fire with fire.
In warfare wit has often been reduced in
10 action, and many of the greatest COM
manders have successfully achieved this
conversion. An old tradition recounts that
when william the Conqueror landed for
the first time on English soil. he slipped
and fell on his face. Divining by a swift
intuition that his followers might regard
this as an evil omen, he rose with his
hands full of earth, and exclaimed, THUS
do / take possession Of England l grasp
It with both hands" To this readiness the
Of wi "a tint
It was practical wit as well. ana a vivid
illustration of the nature of the man.
Not less in war than in other phases OF
human life, the humorous is constantly
at the heels of the tragic and pathetic.
OF course, the greater number of humor-
GUS salles pass into oblivion. They are
born of the moment and die with IL; 1t Is
only the few that can be said to survive
the action. Nor would these very well
bear the retellng; they need the sustain
ing atmosphere Of the mise en- scene. They
have served their turn in relieving a stout
heart, or reYiving dropping comrade. A
smile cheers. even in the heat OF battle,
and an apt Jest Is an actual reinforce
ment. II runs along the line on the cur
rent of~sympathy-an automatic feat OF
wireless biography. When the gallant
Welsh captain, David Gam, was sent for
ward by Henry V to reconnoiter the
French army before the battle OF Agn-
court. he found that the enemy outnum-
bered the English by about five TO one.
His report 10 che King II historic. There
are enough 20 be killed, enough to be
taken prisoners. and enough 10 run
away" This quaint forecast Of the re-
suit OF the battle at once spread through
the camp. and doubtless every yeoman-
archer Of the valiant company felt an inch
salcr We know that n WAS almost IL
orally justified by the event Poor Cams
dry humor was equaled by his courage.
De WIS Killed while IN the act OF saving
the life Of his Prince. THE King Is
takenw cried one II the enemy. selling
the bride Of Louis WIS horse toward