The Hero Of Today

It is a truth whieh has not vet come to be fïilly realized that ïuuch of the character of an individual depends upon bis ideas of heroism. What he admires and honors is a good test of what he is, or rather what he longs to be, and his héroes will always have a strong atti-active force, which will draw him as f ar as possible into their sphere. In all the various types of the nero one qxiality reniains forever prominent - courage. The cannibal who has distinguished himself by the number of his nmrders, the robber chieftain who had held thousandsatbay, the Indian with lüs belt adorned with scalps, the duelist who holds his lrfe cheaper than his fancied honor, have all in times past been regarded as héroes, and whatever estimate they now receive 110 one denies their courage. Equally so, the martyr who goes cheeriilly to the stake; the man who braves ïMoquy and contempt for truth as he uolds vt; he who risks his life to save another, or devotes it unreservedly to the good of mankind; one who can bear and ' endure, and another who can daré and do; all are, in turn, héroes to those who appreciate thein, and all are distin"■guished by the same element - courage Whatever be the virtne or the vice; whatever the canse engaged in; whatever the motives which govern the life- no one has ever] been made a hero, even in thought, unless in some way he has shown strength an.l bravery. Cowardice and weakness, pusillanimity and fear, are opposed in their very essence to all heroism, and no merits, however great, can f orm a connecting link between them. The mistake, however, which has long been made, and which we are only beginning to correct, is that courage alone can make a hero. To some extent we have given np this notion. Our present héroes are no longer cannibals or robbers or duelists, however courageous such men may have been. We have come to admit that something else must be united to bravery to créate heroism. And what is that something else? Is it not some noble purpose outside of self and its interests. The glad and willing sacrifice for something higher than pleasure or interest, comfort or ease, united to the courage which scorns all mean temptations and persists in the truth and right, as far as it is seen, spite of all obstacles - that is the true heroism which we are vaguely seekïng and beginning to appreciate. The prizefighter rnay ue bold and intrepid in giving and receiving blows; but, except to a few like himself, he has ceased to be a hero, for m's purposes are low and selfish. The suicide may have the courage to throw away his life, but he has not that heroic courage which lives on, enduring, hoping and working, in spite of all the adverse circumstances of his lot. The great conquerors of the world who have plunged their nations into cruel wars for the sake of their own glory and aggrandizement were pre-eminently the héroes of a past age, but we are gradually learning that the true hero of his country is the man who seeks her best welfare, who defends her rights and consults her interests, and who for this great purpose is ready to take praise or blame, to govern or to f orbear, to live or to die. Our own Washington and Lincoln were men of this stamp, and we are justly proud to have them head the list of our country's héroes. Not, however, only in public life and nnder the gaze of the ïnultitude do we find the true hero. In the home and in the schoolroom, in the office and the workshop, in the crowded street and open field, he may be discovered by those who can appreciate what heroism really is. Whoever has a high and wcrlhy purpose at heart, whether of 1 truth or duty or love, and also has the strength and courage to work, to sacrifice and to suffer, if need be, for itsake, is worthy of the name. One quietly denies himself pleasure or comfort or ease for the aged parent or the sick child. Another gives up cherished plans because they would interf ere with the claims of a dependent family. One faces the displeasure of friends and society sooner than forsake his principies; another employs all his power in defense of the weak and against the oppressor. Our hero must be strong and brave, but he must also be magnanimous and unselfish, not counting the cost, in his great desire to further his noble purpose. Such men and women are always among us, but in the retirement of private life they are inevitably known but to a few. Those few, however, should esteem it their privilege and duty to honor such true heroism, and to extend its influence. Especially should the young be taught to recognize and reveré it. It should be an important part of the education of every child to form within him a true and worthy conception of heroism, and to enable him to recognize it wherever it exists. Too often his only idea of it is found in the sensational romance, or in the examples around him of men who, for praise or glory or gain, will do daring deeds and manifest a physical bravery often at a f earful cost to their fellowmen. Let us give him a traer ideal and afford him a higher example. - Philadelphia Ledger.