Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1907-10-24
J. s. sPuRcEon, President.

Ac mSA VI sLcAluStOu anu SauLl.
ago, of Trafalgar and OF Waterloo.
the heroes of Hebrew history and of
the Crusades, the hosts who followed
Napoleon or Wellington or Washing
ton or StOnewall Jackson or any of
the famous captains of armies, an
cient or modern, are examples of
what we may term physical social
heroism. Many were the instances of
humble, individual moral courage dis
played by soldiers serving under all
these military geniuses. And yet, in
the last analysis, their heroism was
that of brute strength let loose and
dependent, as much as upon anything,
upon the flags, and the fanfare, and
the smell and sight of blood, and the
crowd moving together to the battle
for its inspiration and its sustenta-
tfon. 1t is not my purpose to insin-
uate tha- even under these conditions
it is an easy thing to fare forth to
try conclusions with fate. But in
comparison with the pluck needed to
do many another deed it is easy.
There is, too, an individualistic,
lustrous heroism which is even less
trying and exacting. He is hero. 1
care not who he may be, who will
lead a willing army on to a fight
where victory is sure, or who will
point the way to moral victory to
men who are with him and who sight
the same truth that he sees. For
many man has lacked the heroism
to lead even though the skies were
full of portents OF success. It is SO
i, much easier to relinquish the respon-
sibility of leadership to another.
Officers are marked men.
We must admit a great measure
Of physical heroism in the action of
the man who will test his strength
| against the wild animal that would
take his life. 1t takes nerve as well
, as muscle to meet bully who richly
| needs and deserves a thrashing, and
! make him eat the dust But in the
| category of heroic virtues these are
! the least.
At this time would call your at
| tentiOn to the heroisms which we
| have and need in our daily life, the
| herOisms of the humble, moral host
:, who constitute the mainstay of this
| land and who are the backbone of
| America, the men and women and
| children who in an inconspicuous, but
none the less efficient, fashion, give
| themse as living sacrifices upon
the altar of devotion to God and home
and country. I would have you again
! remember If you have been so un-
! gracious as to forget the offerings of
that countless host of simple, homely
| people who daily live for the common
good and the public veal. ! would
call to your attention the leaders of
our day who, in the face Of sin and OF
deposition and Of militant and i'm
perious self-satisfaction, are effecting
the salvation Of America and teaching
her people how to help themselves.
For we have much heroism of this
sort in this land. And we need more.
It Is easy in a way to fall into line
and to march down to the war when
the summons comes and the music
plays and the people cheer and we
know that death will earn us death
less, though perhaps not individual
fame. But what is the courage of the
leader or the soldier in the front line
Of the fierce fight to that Of the toile1
who, day by day, works and plans and
slaves and lives that children may be
reared and prepared for life and the
home be kept intact? That father
yonder who, from sunrise to sunset
day in and day out, In health and
/ sickness, when sad or glad. tolls fol
wife and family; is he not heroic:
That mother, with her cleanly broot
of six, the sole manager and dispenser
Of a princeiy, gross salary of $40 :
week, up with. or before, the frs
streaks of the earliest dag, resting
only when all are sleeping. cooking