NOBLE EXAMPLES OF HEROISM.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 48, 28 November 1891, Page 630

NOBLE EXAMPLES OF HEROISM.

Recently there died in France a general of the army of the Republic who had made himself famous by bravery in battle, and by heroic endurance of suffering. He had been wounded in several engagements before he entered at the head of his regiment—for he was then a colonel—the battle of Sedan. A bombshell struck him, exploded, and took off both his arms. He told the story of what followed in these simple words, without, it will be seen, any reference to his physical suffering: ‘ I was off my horse, and my arteries were cut. (>ur army was in retreat. Two soldiers passed and saw me. I was perfectly conscious, and I called the soldiers. “ Boys,” said I to them, “ come and take my watch and my pocketbook. I should rather they’d go to my countrymen than to Prussians.” After they had done so 1 asked them to braee me up against the hedge, with my face to the enemy, and then leave me. They objected, but I said, “It will make, perhaps, ten minutes’ difference in the length of my life. What does that amount to ? Thank you, boys. Now run along !” They seated me with my back against the hedge and left me. I was growing weaker ; my blood was flowing in abundance. However, the flesh or the thickening of the blood seemed presently to stop the arteries. I had no notion of fainting. Presently I heard footsteps behind me. It was my two soldiers come back again. “We can’t leave you so, colonel,” they said. “ There’s an ambulance over there. We’re going to carry you to it. ” In spite of my refusal they picked me up, and finally left me in a little hut. The surgeon came, hastily dressed my wounds, and rode away at a gallop. Then I was forgotten for thirty-six hours ; and I did not die. I was fearfully thirsty, and I could not keep off the swarming flies with my stumps. At last I was taken away in an ambulance, with six companions picked up on the road. All six of these died, but I did not. I was taken to Belgium, and lay for months in a hospital there, between life and death, and then came back to France.’

This man, honoured with the rank and title of general, lived more than 20 years amid the praise and admiration of his countrymen. His heroism had well earned them. But there is another sort of heroism, which meets with no public recognition, and which has not the inspiration of valiant service in the field. It is the sacrifice of the hopes and prospects of a life to a sense of duty to others. A simple case, which is no doubt paralleled by many others, may be cited. A recent reunion of a class in one of our colleges was attended by many men who had won some prominence in the world. One or two had distinguished themselves in war, others in the world of letters or of science, and others in politics, while some had won enviable positions in the professions or in business. Among the members of the class who attended the reunion was one man who had stood high at college, and had given proof there of excellent ability and of scholarly tastes. What distinction had he won in the 30 years since his graduation ? The distinction of living, most of that time, the life of a simple farmer, and taking care of his father and mother, now grown very aged. For many years his parents had been dependent on him, and did not wish to leave their old home. So the son bad thrown away all hopes for a brilliant career, and had devoted himself to his parents, and to the hard toil of the farm. Ferhaps it was the knowledge of this fact which caused his classmates to welcome him as he might have been welcomed if he had been a military commander, and had won brilliant victories.