Evening star., 1924-06-25

How does 1t feel to be world hero
like Lieut.. Russell l.. Maughan? What
were his thoughts as he sailed above
the clouds of the commonplace, and
with a leap from New York in the
early dawn rose above the Alleghen-
les ere the Redeemed east had lost it's
glory, scared over the plains before
the afternoon was spent, topped the
mighty Rockies even on the very
trail of the sunset, and descended in
San Francisco in time for supper?
There is something indisputably
stunning in Ach a feat, especially
when it is unprecedented. Millions of
potential heroes" followed the pion-
Ger In imagination and envy, and
fancied that they were like him in
spirit. If only the opportunity had
come to them.
Equally provocative of laudation
and envy is the feat of the world
which is now u progress. Admiration
is inspired by the bravery Of the
Spanish var, the Sergt. Yorks of the
| world war and the specially brave
of all other wars, who have risked-
or even surrendered-their lives at
reputation" or, still nobler, with no
thought Of glory in the stimulation
of excitement, determined to per
form the duty that they find before
bravery in the calm acts OF self
sacrifice that are not blaZoned upon
the marble of a hero.
The difference between bravery in
the pSrformance OF duty. ana mere
foolhardiness in the hope of cheap
applause, is as wide as the range
from pole to pole. When feat of
| courage is performed the first test
is as to its motive, and whether Its
success is worth while to humanity.
Vain glory is not bravery, and genu-
inc bravery never poses.
Wanted: Heroes for service-men or
| women, well qualified, duly prepared
and properly vouched for. Steady
employment, with long hours and
hard work Reward. irregular and
never dependable. Apply at any hour.
| The heights by great men reached
and, kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions
Were toiling upward in the night"
Lieut.. Maughan did not suddenly
emerge from inaction when he per
Tor rnS0 mis- great night fTcpdi dtloH
| had come through hard drill--phys-
| ical, mental and. above all, spiritual.
| His feat was not that of a circus
| trapeze performer, but was the dem
| onstration of great service to hu-
manity, especially to the nation
| whose soldier he is. He has crys
! tallized an idea which had been dis
putable. He has opened the way
| just as all pathfinders do-for others
| to follow, with improved methods. due
| to his obstacles. Lieut.. Maughan
worked for big idea, and only that
kind of work is humanity service.
X
Similar heroism is open to others
| besides aviators and soldiers. Peace
hath her victories no less renowned
than war" Also peace has her he
roes, her martyrs, and humanity
profits by the price they pay. The
United States bureau of standards
| lost four such heroes when a spark
of static electricity mixed with a
| combination of air and gasoline. An
other went down when testing i'm
portant chemicals. These were not
Accidents unless every battle cas-
ualty from the enemys shells or gas
| is an accident" The victims knew
| the peril, just as scores of others
still 'at the 'front.' in laboratories
| and experiment stations throughout
the country know full well the haz-
ards of science-yet never waver.
A few years ago Dr. J. Harvey
| Wiley, then chief chemist Of the De-