The Washington herald., 1912-03-26
BY DOROTHY DIX.

1 wish that 1 had the distribution OF n
few Of the Carnegie hero medals.
would pin them upon the worn and
weary breasts of the men and women
who are fighting the battle OF life with
blunt weapons.
i There is heroism for you! There Is
courage for you, there is loyalty, there
Is victory wrested out Of defeat greater
than any poet ever sung.
Anybody with a drop Of red blood IN
his veins can lead forlorn hope with
the band playing in his ears and the
mob cheering behind him.
tAuybOdy in a moment Of impulse can
dash into a burning house, OF plunge
into the water TO save life
gAnybody can be faithful TO trust In
the- face of a single temptation
ANYBODY. with health and strength,
and intelligence, and talent, and power
ful friends can achieve success
A"God," said Napoleon, lis on the size
al. the heavy artillery.
II is easy TO win the battle when you
have the big army, and the heavy
artillery. and all the newest num-
lions of war. and a well-stocked COM
missary.
But how great the vaIOr of those who
also win who have no big guns, no skill
cd leaders, who tight on empty stomachs,
whose muskets are obsolete, whose
swords are dull!
Many Have Fought With Blunt
weapons and Won Out.
would not rob the brilliant, and
clever. and strong Of one laurel leaf,
but the Iuster Of their achievements dims
before those of the men and women who
without talent. without health, or
strength have still done their part in the
world.
They are those who have fought the
oattIe of life with dull weapons and
won out
As / write these lines ! am thinking OF
one of these heroes. He is little dingy.
dried up old bachelor, whose abilities have
never taken him higher than clerks
stool in a counting room.
He has seen hundreds of bright young
fellows pass him in the race for sue
-ess. and he knows they look upon him
as a failure. That is the way he regards
himself.
He cannot do things swiftly. His hands
are clumsy Ideas come to him slowly.
He can only work patiently, and faith
fully, and honestly.
These are not tine qualities that insure
promotion. but they hold down a job,
and on the meager wage that he has
Earned he supported a houseful of help
Jess old women who were LETT dependent
On. him. He is one of those heroes who
nave fought the battle with blunt weap-
ems.
And I think Of stil another-a man.
who, without education. labors at
menial occupation for weary hours every
day. and then docs extra work at night
In order that his children may have bet
eer advantages than he had.
His shoulders are bent under the bur
len he carries; his hands are knOtted
md Enarled.
He is shabby. lie never thinks of
pending a cent upon his own pleasure.
lie is worn with labor until his very
soul famts with weariness. but he Keeps
his children a; school instead of put
.inE them to work TO help him
/. He is giving every ounce of strength
he has to lifting them up above his
own head. lie is another of those who
are fighting the battle of life with blunt
iEeapOns.
Deserted wife Did Not Surrender
in Despair.
And l think of a woman who was a
pretty. petted. spoiled young girl. ac-
customed in her youth TO every comfort
and luxury. While still mere girl she
married a drunken brute who abused
and misused her. and finally deserted
her. leaving her penniless with six
months old babe in her arms. and two
old women dependent upon her.
This woman had never done a days
work in her life. She had no trade nor
profession, nor especial aptitude at any
thing. She was not clever. and she was
9rail in body, Yet she went braveIy and
rheerfully TO work at the first job that
nn hut l,e
CURED TO her to turn her back upon
those who clung to her skirts or to give
1Ip the fight
. Somehow. despite III health, despite
lack Of much intelligence. she has man.
aged TO care for her own without ask
ing any ones help. The wolf has never
been more than an arms length away