The Washington herald., 1912-04-19
d rRANcEs rHAFFER.

When the individual stories begin 70
drift in from the grim tragedy Of the
sea they viii reflect some Of the personal
touches 10 a picture that just now seems
TO be all in darkness. except for the
tales Of heroism centering about that
unwritten law of the sea: Women and
children ffirst"
And, sitting here in personal safety,
without the loss OF any dear or dear
est, there Is scarcely one Of US who
Goes not close her eyes and try TO
think what it must have meant when
the separations came, out there in the
awful darkness
Just talking about it. thinking what
would happen II the tragedy reached
home, and there must be a parting Of
the ways. with wives. mothers, sisters
sent adrift, husbands. brothers. and
fathers remaining to share the certain
fate Of the ship, we think there would
be many, and know there would be a
few, women who would refuse to be
lowered to the waiting boats unless
those they loved better than life coulS
go with them.
Apparently quite a few women went
down with the ship. and Il may be they
were given a chance and said NO"
One never knows until the test really
comes, but it seems as II it might have
been almost as easy to wait together
as TO drift away alone. II Is one of
the dark features that will not slip from
thought.
What Must Have Happened.
1t is strange the comments one hears,
the specuIations and the queries con-
cerning what happened in those few
hours when the chances OF common fate
and the fear Of they knew not what
brought on the same level folk who a
few hours earlier had not dreamed they
migth be as one in anything.
And in the hood of fearful wonder
ment one asks-how were the aIlot-
ments made? Was IL the woman who
chanced TO be crowded nearest the rail
who was the first TO be lowered, and
was there any reckoning at all with
rank? And age? Did youth come first.
because life looked sweeter and gave
promise Of being longer. or did ii all
hinge upon the spirit Of protection to
the most helpless?
Who knows and who eyel will know?
But one thing is quite certain: It need
ed courage to stand by and wait, un-
fiinchingiy. for when the time comes
that personal safety is at stake, thoughts
Of self dominate the average mind.
which Instinct Would Dominate.
Ihere VIII De WonGerful stories OF SELF
abnegation, for there never was a great
tragedy that did not bring to light men
and women who would reach out an
arm to save others when 1t meant their
own doom. But as we think Of the
sudden and mighty force of terror that
must steal over the victims of disas-
ter so appalling as this who of US dares
say what we would do. whether the in-
stinct Of self-preservation would be DOM
insnt or the more beautiful impulse Of
helpfulness. whatever the cost?
For in the recitals of herpism that
never fail to come as d glorious after
math in all such dread happenings, fl
Is not what man risks and gives forl
the sake OF those he loves the best Of
all, 50 much as what de does for the
stranger-folk. that reveals the full meas
ure Of bravery, barring all thought OF
self
And 1t takes some assurance to feel
quite certain that in the face Of dis
aster we would not show more than a
trace OF the white feather.
InapfratiOn to Many.
1t must be the marvellous spirit Of
the few inspiring the many that ap-
parently makes It easier to meet death