The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-13
HEROES AND HERoINEs IN HoAiEsPUN

Thu Progressive Farmer tells story, simple
and honely enough and yet calculated to touch
g responsive chord in many heart A young
North Carolina girl. graduate Of the State
Normal School. and principal Of fine school
in delightful locality, heard the call of her
mountain home and responded to the needs Of
her oNn people IN the gift Of herself She de-
llberately sarrcr~<red salary. comforts and am
hilton that she might Cousecrate her life to the
education and development Of the mountain
whites" When told of the hardships and priva-
items she would be forced TO endure. her simple
reply was: YOU know how things are at home.
Il We who love our country, her people and her
traditions. do not help her in the hour Of need,
who will do it? ] am going home"
soemwhere out there in Western North caro-
lima. hidden away in an obscure mountain ham
let. hedged i'll by the towering peaks that shut
out the vide world of interest and promise be-
sond passing her days in oneroom log school
house In The simple effort to lift her own peo-
pile 10 a little bit higher plane Of living, you
Will md as true an heroine ever lived-an
heroine. unknown and unnoticed perhaps, but
real heroine. for the essence of heroism is the
dedication Of self to duty and service with no
thought of human praise material reward.
triumphant optimism is bound to follow the
faith that life is peopled with thousands of such
unknown heroes and heroines. 1t is this very
capacity for sef-sacrifce for service, for per-
sstence in the path of duty that constitutes the
saving grace OF a nation and creates an un-
dimmed hope for the future Were to dwell
in a morbid contemplation Of the selhshness and
strife and sinfuness apparent upon the surface
OF society in some quarters, should inevitably
be wrapped in the darkness Of pessimistic de
snair. There can he hope for people whose
heart il held in the fatal clutch of sensual en-
ioyment selfish enrichment But beneath
the exaggerations and extravagances that APP
pear too often upon the social surface we may
be sure that the nations heart beats true and
strong. II we take the pains to find the ma
tons pulse and count the steady strokes Of
useful activity of common eontentment, Of un
selfish service. Of devotion to duty, shall
find encouragement that the nation is not yet In
extremis.
This is the heroism that counts for most In
giving character and quality to a peoples life
this steady, persistent following of the path
that leads to duty and service. The occasiona
doing of great thing: the occasional gif
OF self under conditions that make the gift con
snicnous; the occasional performance of SONS
exploit that calls for great courago--in the
popular mind these have claimed all the glor3
81 of hcroism History has recorded and mer
have applauded. the occasional and the conspicu
Gus until We too frequently forget, and pass
nnnotced BY, the commonplace doings of ar
everyday world that hold the same heroic spir
and quality and that contribute Infinitely more
to worlds welfare, happiness and hope. i
we cultivate the habit of looking for the heroi,
shall have difficulty in discovery, and We
shall have occasion frequently TO utter the
praise Of some hitherto unnoticed hero in home
spun. Heroism dwells not always on the
heights, always adorns itself with gilt
braid, nor always hears It's praises sung by the
~. Inaliltuda; hut in: the cottage and by the way.
side in working clothes. unconscious OF its glory
and undeslrous OF human applause, there most
often IS discovered this quality that gives sweet
to life and strength and stability to a
nation.
THT9SE NoONIIT NIGHTS