The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-01-20
|WhatConstitutes
a Coward?
BY ANDREW C. EWING

; shairs before the tent or the regimenta
surgeon, Curran, chatting. 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 aYerred that
bravery meant resolution 10 with
stand fear and face danger without
ninching. Some one asked the sur
geons view OF the matter.
Il think, or. rather. know, that
all men are towards physically. Fred
erick the Great was right about 1t
when he said that any man who bad
not known fear had never snuffed a
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. | have understood that our
president has said that he never knew
Of race between the head and the
heels out 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 go into fight you feel
afraid. After you get battle mad you
lose that fear. Why2 Because you
become insepslble 70 the danger.
Lieutenant Eldrldge of ID 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 IL
he had been born deaf or blind. 1t
simply means that at the approach OF
danger certain nerve centers in his
brain order his nerves to deprive him
Of bravery"
whats this you're scattering among
my officers?" 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."
I'm interested in Eldridge. colonel.
and have 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"
"Nonsensel 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 |
dinches shall be served in the same |
way"
The doctor said nothing for few
moments. He seemed to be turning I
over in his mind. Presently
ne said
Colonel, IL can prove you a coward
will you permit Eldridge to resignf
what? Prove me coward
That's what / said. No disrespect.
colonel. We are all towards instinc-
lively"
How are you going TO prove IT."
"If YOU will wait here few minutes
will bring the means of doing So"
The doctor arose. went to his tent
nd brought back with him n bottle of
lear white glass In which was little
attlesnake The reptile eyed the party /
iciously. evidently considering them I
lis natural enemies. The doctor car {
led the bottle by string tied to its
eek and hung the bottle to tent pole.
Now colonel" he said IF by means .
f this little fellow, who is perfectly
afe behind glass and can't hurt any
ne. can prove that you are an in 4
tinctive coward will you promise me t
, take steps to have Eldridge's resig- Il
alton accepted instead of his being L
ashieredp'
Yes. / will; and I'll do more than =
iat III give him another chance
alf dozen If he likes"
More chances won't help him. His y
an exaggerated case of physical de- ii
ct so far IS bravery goes. All | ask e,
to let MIN out Of 1t without disgrace "
ow, | shall give YOU the advantage of
separation. colonel. shall permit "
III 10 see others finch before you :,
nch yourself" :,
II shall not finch. sir. Should =,
nch at any test would not be ct To i,
immand this regiment" OF
The doctor asked one OF The officers be
put a finger on the bottle. He did
The snake struck AT the finger. tn
ID the officer recoiled, For the mosIcnt ~
sing his color One after another "a
e members OF the party ware re- :,
ested TO touch the glass, and not one -,
uld resist en- impulse TO snatch away es
, finger when the serpent struck the re
tss on the other side OF It. on
When all had been put TO the test tn
cept the colonel the doctor invited Oo
n to step up and show his courage. -
ing prepared. he made II strong eff
t TO keep MS firger on The glass.
zen the snake struck. but involuntar-
withdrew It. Re looked mortified
! crestfallen.
And now. gentlemen" said the doc
. IL Will show you OF what bravery Y
lsists II is Inconsistencies of dan
:. We must either not see IL or baye N
attention diverted from IT," ~
'urning his back to the bottle. he or
ced his hand on the bottle and kept
there while the reptile struck az IL io'
IL,
| do not intend" he said. that this rr-
shall be considered ex- III
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