The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-06-18
Hero Medals

about heroes, lauding those who have
given their lives for their country.
All sorts of medals are being distrib-
uted to men who are undoubtedly
brave In the face of fearful dangers.
Governments make great play upon
the honor and glory achieved by their
men who go forth to kill other men
or he killed. To die in the service of
ones country-a all! There can be no
greater privilege, no finer quality of
herolsm! Strike off more medals!
Pin on more fancy ribbons! Erect
more monuments! Continue to make
men and women believe that there is
more heroism In spectacular death
while fighting the enemy that enemy
which is composed of brothers and
sisters than in living that Others
may live.
| know one humble souled little
man who whould be most deprecat
ingly surprised If anybody offered him
hero medal. He hasn't been
wounded in battle nor saved anybody
from drowning. In fact, he has lived
decidedly inconspicuOus life and con-
siders himself of no Importance at all.
The only thing he might think about
is that he can't afford to die right
now, because he's too busy taking
care of his brothers two little child
rem and their invalid mother The
brother had skipped" when the bur
den grew too heavy, and the humble
souled little man, already burdened
enough by his own family, simply
considered it his duty to provide for
the helpless sick women and her help
less little ones,
He can't make much money. He
hasn't the gift of earning except by
the sweat of his brow. His hands are
hard and clumsy. But he doesn't ask
his overworked wife to bear all the
burden. After his days hard labor
he sits up late many a night helping
with the nursing and, yes, with the
mending.
But what makes him a hero, chief
", is that he never complains. He
has kept everybody hopeful, even
cheerful, by his optimism, his preach
mentS of better times coming. He is
humble souled, but there's stream
of sunshine coming out of his heart,
and though he isn't much on looks,
he's truly doing the world good by
passing through.
Still, there are no hero medals to
emblazon life like this. l doubt II
he'd wear one If he had 1t.
l know of a workworn mother who
has kept her family together through
hardships that would try the soul Of
any soldier. Tenderly reared, she
had no thought of disaster until one
day men walked softly into her home,
bearing a heavy burden, and she
knew that the father Of her children
and the man she loved had gone into
the great beyond.
There we're debts, and three little
children She might have separated
them among friends and institutions.
But she chose to keep her little fam
lily together.
Her spirit survived long hours Of
day labor" In strange households.
She served as waitress In restaurant.
She tramped from house to house,
seeking to sell what nobody wanted
to buy. She performed mental tasks
for the coarse minded who took de-
light in treating her as a servant.
And yet this gentlewoman reared
three splendid God loving citizens,
because no matter what her workday
tasks had been, evening saw her al
ways the smiling mother and cOmpan.
ion of her little ones, putting memo
rles In their hearts that would en-
dure through their lives.
This woman was made of the stuff
that heroes are made Of. There are
many, many more like her. But we
do not bestow hero medals on such.
They are doing no conspicuous deeds
of bravery. They are only doing their
duty. we say, while we huzza the
man who leads his troops to victory
over the dead bodies of his fellow
men.
Why is there more glory In killing
than in preserving life; In destruction
than cOnstructiOn?- Edna X. WOoley