New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-13
MODERN HEROES
EXCEL ANCIENTS
Spartacus and Hannibal
Outdone in Present Great
War, Declare Experts.

Paris. Aug. 1.-THE discussion OF
courage as developed by the war ana
AS manifested by individual soidiers
under fire has drawn some interesting
contributions from DR.. Charles Richet,
of the French Institute, and the ADDe
Moreaux. director of the Bourges I'd
servatory.
DR.. Richet is Of the opinion that lear
and courage must be considered sep
arately. that the former exists n GER
tain temperaments alongside the latter,
that a man may be unable to controi
the terrifying effect of dangerous
situation upon his physical faculties
and vet stand his ground IN the faee
of almost certain death through the
exercise Of his will. These men, ne
considers, the bravest of all.
War Has Produced Heroes.
|. Considering the whole war, taking
into account the atrocious features
that have developed here and there,
and with all allowance made for occa-
sional weakness, DR.. Richet considers
the soldiers have shown heroism that
iustifes great deal Of pride on the
part of the present generation, IN
spite of the belief that seemed TO per
vail Before the great conflict, that IN
tellectual development, with progress
in science, letters and arts, while en-
noblng the mind, had diminished per
sonal courage. According TO Or. hlchet'
the most cultivated and rehned OF the
young men Of France and Great Brit
ain have shown the greatest bravery.
Never, even among the heroes OF
antiquity, IT, the times Of Leonidas'
Spartacus or Hannibal, according 70
DR.. Richet, was there shown so much
abnegation and supreme courage as IN
the present conflict.
Many of the men who are naturally
brave and take supreme risks without
recurring an effort Of the viii TO over
come fear, DR.. Richet says, do not be-
lieve in danger; they imagine they are
invulnerable, that they have a lucky
star. In other cases, these naturally
brave men, even when they believe IN
danger, are not intimldated by II, be
cause they have in their own MINDS
already made the sacrifice OF their
lives: once that conclusion is reached,
to die or be wounded does not torment
them.
Many Motives Outweigh Fear.
Others, and perhaps the great ma
iority. are men who see before them
other images more powerful than that
of death, such as the fatherland, sense
of duty, of honor, renown of the regi-
ment, ambition TO earn praise or pro
motion, pride at being admired by ones
comrades, and shame at being taken
for a coward In nearly all these cases
the idea of death and danger disap-
pears and the soldier is brave without
effort. He forgets every risk he is
taking in the presence of the image
that he has in his mind.
The number Of these naturally brave
men is notably larger in daylight and
in the pres ence OF commanding officers
and comrades than at night on sentry
duty or on solitary missions that no
witness viii be able to recount. Men
who acquit themselves on such mis-
sions without 4inching, DR.. Richet con-
siders the bravest of all.
In the constant habit Of it, all notion
Of danger finally disappears, as in the
case of aviators, most of whom, the
first time they are up in the air, have
a sensation of fear in spite Of all rea-
soning. After a certain number of
ascensions their fears disappear.
Able Moreaux thinks the war has
developed all the latent fortitude Of
the race, and he expects the genera
ton that has suffered this war will
find itself with new resources created
b. it.