The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-12-15

SIG Sees u LuOuoC,
and If a real peril comes along. she'll
exhibit more courage in five minutes
than the average man could dig up In
q hundred years.
"There are scores Of different kinds
Of courage in this world, and you
can't expect one man to have them
all. A man may tremble and cringe
when threatened with physical vio-
lence, and yet stand up serene and
magnificent when the assessor comes
to the door, and there's nothing finer
than that sort of moral courage.
"There used to be a blacksmith In
this town who had q wide reputation
rs a fire eater. He wasn't afraid Of
anything, people said. If he heard Of
a promising bruiser anywhere in the
countryside, he couldn't rest until he
had mixed things with him. And he
didn't ask for purses OF other induce
ments. He engaged in combat just
because he loved 1t, and was happiest
when his nose was knocked to one
side, and his eyes were bunged up so
tlIut IC IOuIuu 1 SCC WlClhiCi IN was
going or coming. He acted the hero on
several occasions, rescuing people from
burning buildings. and saving gents
who were drowning and his nerve
became a bywOrd.
"Well, in the fullness Of time his
teeth went wrong and his head swelled
up until it looked like a squash. He
bought about q million things at the
drug store, and they wouldn't relieve
the pain. The doctor told him he
could have his sufferings ended in Ave
minutes by going to the dentists, but
that idea turned him faint. At last he
had to go, and the dentist told me he
never saw such a dOggOne coward.
That invincible blacksmith just had to
be lifted into the operating chair, and
as often as he could get his breath,
he yelled.
"The dentists chair takes the starch
out Of many a brave man. I used to
have to frequent it a good deal before
bought these handmade tortoiseshell
teeth, and / saw some moving sights
when I was seated in the waiting room.
Women would come in there as calm
and cool as though they had just
stepped in for a dish Of Ice cream.
I have seen a girl graduate sit chatting
comfortably until her turn came, and
then she'd step into the chamber OF
horrors without turning a hair; and
then some big policeman, who'd think
nothing Of fighting a revolver duel in
the dark with a burglar, would come
into the waiting o as limp as a
dlshrag, sweating ice tea and grooming
every time he drew a breath.
"A man might easily get a lot OF
false ideas about courage In the den
lists waiting room.
"That man Kersmith, who stood and
permitted a smaller man to twist his
nose, has a sort of courage I'd give a
lot to own. I've always wished !. could
make public speeches. I've a lot OF
pent-up %eloquence inside Of me that
ought to be turned loose for the edit
| cation and instruction of the people.
But every time I'm called upon for q
few timely remarks, I'm scared stiff.
and can't say a blamed word. l just
gurgle and splutter like a sunstruck
lunatic, and hate myself for three
weeks after 1t.
"But when Kersmith Is called, he
rises without a tremor, and smiles
sweetly upon the audience, and goes
ahead saying what he has to say as
though in his own arm chair by his fire.
side. I'd be willing to have my nose
and ears twisted several times to have
his courage"