Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-29
THINGS WORTH DY|N
Nobody really wants to fight.
nobody wants TO die, but =!
by Charming Pollock

APPEARING in Rochester not long lecturer declared
the overwhelming sentiment of our youth to be. mo
~ matter what happens, don't want to die. Before
my minds eye l read the words, passed great and
glorious host of and women who have given their
lives for martyrs and missionaries scientists
and soldiers public servants and patriots And wondered
whether who here would have found very much
dying for.
No normal person wants to die But fortunately there
have been millions of normal people who have believed
that there things than death compromise of
conscience derelicton of duty, loss of liberty and self
respect. friend of mine, exhausted by long swim.
climbed upon deserted raft, and girl floating
him. her face upturned Believing her unconscious he
went to her without taking to avoid her grasp
The girl clutched him tightly that he unable to
keep his mouth and nose above water. Il could have
broken away and got back the raft alone he said land
the temptation almost irresistible
What kept you from yielding to it," asked.
The thought my friend answered, that, knowing
what had DONE should have to live with myself"
third swimmer brought these two ashore, but, what
the end it to that my friend chose wisely
The man who refuses to risk death no matter what
happens must live with himself That may be longer
agony There captain in the days of my youth who
rowed away from dozen passengers at the rail of his
sinking ship, only to blow out his brains year later.
Should you to be of the who seized the boats
of the Vestris the Moro Castle the lone
deserter who fed the Alamo2 Sooner later shall all
die except those who live because of the way they died
The commander at the Alamo, who drew line with his
sword and asked those to it who would not
render Bowie Who desperately ILL had his cot lifted past
the line, and the rest of the garrison that followed him
these outve the who escaped to walk the earth
few days longer
IF country had held only citizens unwilling to die
no matter what happens, might still be subject
people Failing that many additional thousands of us
would have remained in slavery. Lincoln might have
vived another thirty years, but millions still unborn
would have lost the luminous inspiration of his martyr
dom. Armies of blue and gray would not have risked
DEATH but who later must have lived in divided
nation But for those of who felt urge stronger than
children still would face death by plague and rabies
and yellow fever And should be facing death without
doctors nurses. Most of would be helpless before
fire and food and violence, easy victims of any brute
force that claimed our lives or our liberties.
Everyone recalls the outstanding heroes of our
from ancient Troy and Themopyae to Florence Nightng
ale and the scientists celebrated by Paul de kruf in
"N1icrobe Hunters - but perhaps, few of US realize
what commonplace courage is, and must be. Our wives
and mothers close their eyes at night with the
to protect them We read of awards to police and emen
and taxi drivers but how many of know that in two