The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-05-21
Dorothy Dix on the Red
Badge Of Courage.
(Ry DOROTHY DIX.l

IIelItu loIlte Gil Oh ~ -
honor Instituted to reward the perlls
Of motherhood, and a petition to that
effect has been laid before the sen
ate. which is reported to think favor
ably of the plan.
These French mothers ask that
the woman who has borne and
brought up children be given a
MEDAL corresponding to the Med
allie Militaire' that is granted in
recognition Of valor, and that is the
equivalent to the English Victoria
cross.
Let US hope that the gallant
ton of their countrywomen. and
that before long On every. mothers
breast there will faunt the little bit
of ribbon that is beyond the price
Of diamonds and pearls in every
Frenchman's eyes.
Certainly, if bravery IS eve to be
rewarded in this world. no one is
more entitled to wear the red badge
Of courage than the woman who
takes a risk, as dangerous as any
battlefield ever offers, every time
she bears a child. Nay, her hero
ism is even greater than that of the
man who does the deeds Of valOr
for which decorations are given be-
cause. at the worst. he but faces
death by a clean saber cut or the
quick shot of a bullet, While she
faces death by lingering torture.
And this she does not one but
again and yet again, often a dozen
times, undeterred by the danger she
must pass through. undaunted by
the sufferings that she knows she
must undergo. What battle-scarred
hero. with his breast covered with
medals. a show a drawer record
fho 80 ~ -~I
more for his country than these
women who have gone down where
the very waters Of death Tapped
their feet to bring up in their arms
its citiZens? Who more deserves
recognition by the state han those
who dare death in it's most horrible
form that the state may live, and
without whose valor and whose cour-
age it could not exist?
1t is easy to do some spectacular
deed OF daring in time of war when
the band Is playing and the flags
waving. and the multitude cheering
behind a mans back, but the bright
est luSter OF such a deed pales be-
fore h quiet courage OF the woman
who withdraws solitary and in sill
ence into woman's Gethsemane.
There are no futtering banners
Of glory for her, no bold martial
music. no cheering-nothing but
agony with her own ~undaunted spirit
: to carry her through. Well may
! they pin the Cross Of the Legion of
Honor on every mothers breast. Nc
drawer heart has ever BEAT under it.
$ Whom do we decorate and de-
light to honor? The man who
stands by his colors until death, the
sentinel who stands faithful at his
post when all but he have deserted
it. the pilot who lashes himself to
y his mast and keeps his hand on the
8 wheel until the vessel goes down
y Thank God there have been many
s such men and we honor ourselves ir
honoring them.
n But has the braves Of them shown
s any more courage than does the WON.
a an who stands before the door O
G her poo home. and with the bleed
v ing and work-knotted hands defend:
it with the last ounce Of strength shs
has. and to the last gasp Of her wear,
body?
Many men. discouraged and over
q whelmed by the hopeless hardship;
9 and poverty Of their lot, are craver
enough to desert their wives ant
II children. Many men who have thei
. fortunes suddenly swept away from
them commit suicide and leave thei
wives and children to the untende
- mercy Of the world. But women hay,
IIOIc courage lIlan lldl- GU amos
never hear Of a woman turning he
n back upon a sick or helpless husban
or f%orsaking her little children an,
"A leaving them to want.
to In almost every pinched-face,
as boarding house keeper. in almos
to every woman who droops over
lie sewing machine. in almost ever
to scrubwoman that you see down O
ne her knees securing the floor in a
Id office building. you will find som
I'D heroine who deserves to have tn
at victoria Cross pinned on her breas
ed She is supporting helpless little chi
as oren. or feeble old people, or som
husband or brother who has faI,en i
ly the fight. She is being faithful I
We her colors unto death. She is stanl