Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-10-31
WAS HE A COWARD?


young officer in the navy may be told nov
without risk Of disclosing his identity. II
is Of general interest because it throws a
side light on the much discussed question Of
whlt constitutes courage.
The officer may be called Lieut. Childs
He was popular in the naval academy,
though not a high-stand man, and when
be entered the service he made many friends
He was tall, athletic, and with kind OF
square, determined face that is generally
described as good" His family possessed
breeding and social distinction.
Childs performed his duties well and de.
voted rather more time than his fellow Of
fcers to the sort of reading that would help
him in his work. He seemed in every way
a fine type Of the American officer and gen
+ tleman Moreover, he was a thinking man.
Nearly a year before the Maine was blown
up Ia Havana harbor Lieut.. Childs was
present at an army and navy ball in Wash
ington. When the chaperones began to
gather their charges Childs and two civilian
friends went to = club for little supper
and chat. He was very evidently de-
pressed, and when his friends accused him
OF being in love, he suddenly woke up and
said
Nothing half so pleasant. The sight Of
all these army and navy officers tonight
started me thinking again Of a subject that
| have frequently thought of before Per
haps il viii do me good to talk with you
about Il frankly. In a word, / am con
WINGED that | am a coward"
what nonsense, Childs," said one Of
his friends. "Why, I'd back you in any
sort Of tight. Don't ever say such thing
10 anyone else"
Childs pulled his cigar in silence for sew
eral minutes, and then he said: THAT is
just H. A confession Of that sort from
man wearing the uniform is a serious mat
ter. ! have been giving very serious thought
70 this subject. / have placed myself in
all sorts Of emergencies and wondered what
| would do in each ! am sorry TO say that
don't think that ! would have the courage
10 face danger"
you are never likely to be tested" said
his friend, for the days Of wars for this
country seem 70 be past"
THAT Is apparently true. Perhaps /
might serve until / was retired for old age
without being in an engagement, but ought
] not e resign now, knowing that | am
coward"
NHA Wv I'd 1lN+ hANlt "a IT'S iANNlE HtlNM-
that you have courage. the courage Of your
convictions. No man can tell how his first
impulse may move him in the face Of danger,
but / hrmly believe that a thinking man
like you, realizing that his reputation, which
is dearer than life was at stake, would
overcome quickly his first feeling Of fear,
and prove his courage. You have read
Maupassant's story Of the eowardsy7
Il have read every story Of the sort
could find"
well, then, you would in an emergency
dread the loss OF your reputation more than
death. unless | am much mistaken. You
have been reading too much and exercising
too little. Shake yourself up and take my
advice not 70 breathe such a suspicion Of
your courage to anyone else
"You mean WELL said Childs. ''and it
humiliates me TO say it, but | am a cow
ard"
This assertion made such an impression
on his friends that later they discussed it,
They agreed that none but brave man
would make such a confession. Childs had
shown his sand on the football team and
in the fights which were an important part
Of the training in the naval academy in his
day. and be was in all his relations Of life
! man Of the highest sense Of honor 1t
was impossible to conceive Of his Sinking
his duty.
When the war came Chids' civilian friends
were delighted 20 learn that his assignment
to duty would take him TO the front at once
They were sure that he would win promo
ton II he had any chance.
Childs' chance came early. His civilian
friends have since talked with the men who
served with him. and every one of them
poke OF him in the highest terms His at
ention TO duty was an inspiration to 9TH
rs and he was tireless in his efforts to make
his men effective. He was apparently
model officer
He was under fire half a dozen times, and
hen he was assigned to a special expedi-
ion which failed for reasons that seemed
,ood 10 every man engaged in it. Ii was at
time when rumors spread quickly, and had
here been the slightest suspicion that he
lad displayed the white feather the whole
.avy would have known it within a week
Two months later the commanding Off
er's report devoted just a line to this spe-
iai expedition. saying that 1T failed unac-
When Childs' friends saw that ,
tatement. they knew how it would affect /,
am. Their investigations convinced them
bat it was either carelessly made or else
was based on misinformation 1
Three months later came the news of :
bids death from fever The physician who :
tended him said that he yielded to the
isease apparently without resistance.
rough he was a man OF strong constitu-
on and excellent habits. He had evident
brooded over the left-handed slap that
IS commanding officers report had given
him, and had made no fight TO save his
e. Had he been a coward, he might have
own it in the engagements when he was
lder fire. His conduct on those occa-
ems was beyond reproach The failure Of
5 special expedition was satisfactorily ex,
aimed, in the opinion Of his brother off
rs, by the statements OF Childs and every
an who accompanied HIM.
NO man who talked a. Childs did to us in
'ashington. say his two civilian friends.
ould have been a coward. He was simply
ore honest THAN the aver &c man in ad.
Itting his fears N Y Sun.
An Tusunerahe Hnr