Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-26
HIS GREATEST VIRTUE
What Quality in Man Does
Woman Most Admire?
LOVES BEST COURAGE
GOODNESS AND TEMPERANCE
ARE TOO NEGATIVE.
Personal Bravery Has a Number Of
Other Fine Traits That Go
With It.

Written for The Evening Star.
Some one not knowing me, has appealed
to my judgment.
What" he asks sis the greatest virtue
man can have in woman's eyes?'
/ smiled at the simplicity of my task.
Who could not answer such riddle with
out thinking, But there is the rub. I be-
gan to think and got lost in the mazes Of
the question.
The greatest virtue that man can have
in the eyes of a woman
Goodness? 1t is a hollow word And gen.
orally fits itself to some lank, damp-handed
hypocTite who has no more right to wear
4 than many bluff and merry Bohemian
who has to bear the brand of wickedness.
Temperance? Charity? Faithfulness?
They are virtues indeed; but neither one
can make a character to stand alone. And
there remains for my naming but one quail
ity which glorfies all others and makes the
humblest man a being to be reverencod and
adored; and that one quality is courage.
The greatest, finest, lordliest thing in hui
man nature.
1 do not mean to call the brute strength
which makes a bully win in a fight cour-
age. l do not call the stubborn pride that
will not yield when it Is wrong by such a
splendid name; or the savage temper that
runs madly into dangers ready to rend and
hurt without cause. Courage is a nobler
thing than that. 1t is a forgetfulness Of
self. The flame that lights the spirit of a
man who gives his life for his friend; that
makes him scorn lie because it is a thing
too base to make a barrier for him be-
tween death and life: A man who fights
for good cause and fights to the end; who
loves his life. but will not part with it. if
need be, without a fear or a protest; who
will love as he fights; and dare all peris
for his lady's favor Is not less popular
nf al
even though the meistersingers have for
gotten to praise him.
They Prate of Peace.
We women folks have learned to pirate of
peace. But never believe that we are sin
cere in it, We say we have done with war
and its horrors; that we are in training to
become nation of lotus eaters. But even
as we speak comes news that bluff old lion
hearted Frank Baldwin has by a deed of
splendid heroism cut off the arm of rebel
Hon in the Philippines, and that the stars
of a general have fallen in recompense on
his shoulders, and we forget our talks of
peace and cry in our feminine treble "Hur-
rah for Baldwin"
But did not mean to speak of those who
have chosen war as their profession; they
are not the only Captains Courageous
Every fireman who filings himself into a
burning building Is as brave as the bravest
soldier; the locomotive engineer: the stok-
ers who literally go down to sea in ships
and in the scorching air of the furnaces
just over the beat and whirl of the waters,
sacrifice themselves for the safety of those
unknown and unknOwing ones who laugh
under Gods open sky until the voyage is
done, are as brave as any of the IaureIsd
heroes of the world
l honestly believe that courage carries a
train of other virtues with it. That a brave
man is always more kind, more simple and
honorable than a coward, and that q fight
er embodies more lovable characteristics in
hlmse-i than can be found In a whole arbi-
tration committee.
1t is the quality for conouest and oil
other virtues pale before courage.
But If women like to have brave men
take their hearts captive they are equally
anxious to rear brave sons to do their hus-
bands honor.
What Mothers, These.
The Spartan women taught their little
warriors to take their first steps to the sound
and measure of battle pipes and the same
pride in proves is in the heart of mothers
today. They rejoice in courage whether it
is manifested in soldierly disregard over
cut finger or a heroic willingness to go to
bed in the dark. And the wee chap who
hides his curly head under the quilts and
does not whisper or cry out when the
shadows stretch long fingers on the wall
and he is seem things a night" deserves
a place among the heroes L have mentioned
Little evidences of courage are very pre-
cious TO mothers. A year ago three women
and child walked on a lonely southern
mountain. They were busy gathering flow
ers, when suddenly one looked I'D and af-
ter moments startled pause, gave a cry
and fled with the others after her The
path was blocked by fierce-looking razor
backed hog, black, gaunt and probably
harmless. But bear would not have been
more terrible. The boy was not three years
old an his head was as yellow as a dam
delion. but as his protectors fed he called
reasuringly:
Don't be 'faid. I'll take care OF oo"
and catching up twig of azalia he l.
vanced, charged and routed lie enemy, 1t
was little thing The other women
smiled; well pleased. but the mother wo-
man sank on her knees, and, with her hero
in her arms, crushed against her breast
thanked God that he had given her brave
son, and she went down the mountain as