The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-02-20
Constitutes
a Coward?
By ANDREW c. EWING

During the civil war party of Fed
eral officers were sitting on camp
chairs before the tent of the regimental
surgeon, Curran, cha ting, and the con-
versation turned on what constituted
courage. Some of the party advocated
the theory that physical bravery meant
want of appreciation of the danger
incurred mentioning in support of the
opinion that the younger the man the
less his fear. Others averred that
bravery meant resolution to with
stand fear and face danger without
tlinching. Some one asked the sur
geon's view of the matter.
II think, or, rather, l know, that
all men are towards physically. Fred
erick the Great was right about it
when he said that any man who had
not known fear had never snuffed
candle with his fingers. But this does
not mean that some men are not more
cowardly than others. What mean is
that there are nerve centers in us that
act in face of danger independently of
our will. l have understood that our
president has said that he never knew
of race between the head and the
heels but that the heels won. What
he means is that when sensible Of dan
ger, danger always gets the better Of
us. Most of you line officers know
that when you 60 into fight you feel
afraid. After you get battle mad you
lose that fear. Why? Because you
become insensble to the danger. ...
Lieutenant Eldridge of D company
has been court martialed for cowardice
and sentenced to be cashiered. He will
suffer under his disgrace so long as he
lives. He is no more to blame than IT
he had been born deaf or blind. 1t
simply means that at the approach OF
danger certain nerve cepters in his
brain order his nerves to deprive him
of bravery" ....
whats this you're scattering among
my otficers?' said the colonel sternly,
coming out of his tent. 'That sort o
talk will induce every man who don't
wish to do his duty to find an excuse
for not doing it."
"Pm interested in Eldridge, colonel,
and have a great deal Of sympathy for
him. l think he should be permitted to
resign rather than be disgraced. His
trouble is that before he gets on the
battle madness we all need to make us
brave the strain on his nerves is too
much for him."
Nonsense! Eldridge is coward,
and that's all there is about it. He's
been tried for it; it has been proved
on him, and he has been cashiered.
The next man in my regiment that
flinches shall be served in the same
way"
The doctor said nothing for few
moments. He seemed to be turning
something over in his mind. Presently
he said:
Colonel, if can prove you a coward
will you permit Eldridge to resign?
"What? Prove me coward"'
"That's. what said. No disrespect
colonel. We are all towards instinc-
lively"
GLOW are you going to prove it,"
eff you will wait here few minutes
1 will bring the means Of doing So"
The doctor arose, went to his tent
and brought back with him bottle of
clear white glass in which was a little
rattlesnake. The reptile eyed the party
viciously, evidently considering them
his natural enemies. The doctor car
ried the bottle by string tied to its
neck and hung the bottle to tent pole
"Now colonel" he said III by means
Of this little fellow, who is perfectly
safe behind glass and can't hurt any
one ! can croye that .xou are aDip-