Image provided by: Library of Congress; Washington, DC
About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 1918)
I J i MAY 8 COHY-1956 The ChemawaAmerican P r in t e d a t C h « m a w a , O re g o n , a n d D e v o te d to th e In t e r e s t s o f In d ia n E d u c a tio n Vol. XXI Wednesday, October 30, 1918 PEAK Who can hope to accomplish anything worth while when harassed by fear? Fear numbs all sense of pro portion, it is a robber and destroyer of courage, it warps one’s judgment and often drives to cover the impulse to do a noble deed. It causes more mental anguish and suffering to mankind than is ever suf fered through physical pain. The coward fears this or that thing and is unnerved even by the thought of something which “ might hap pen.” One of the most common things which mor tals fear is public opinion. They seem to feel that it is something dreadful if any person condemns that of which they are the author. In such event the proper thing to do is to take counsel with one’s self, fairly and fearlessly, and decide if what is at issue is worth a struggle, if it is right, if the end sought justifies the means. If the decision is in favor of certain action or policy in one’s judgment, banish all thought of fear, of adverse criticism, and go into the matter vigorously, with heart and soul tuned and timed to win. Is it not possible that your judgment is as good as that of another party? Are not your motives as pure? Do you want to advertise yourself as one who has a poor rating in his own opinion—so poor as to be a cringing and servile creature? Perish the thought! Each and every one of us know right from wrong. We all have, or should have, a code of morals and a code of honor which guide us in our every act. Shall we allow fear to figure in these codes? If we feel ourselves beset by fear let us call to mind the world- famous men and what their courage did for humanity. Consider George Washington and Abraham Lincoln— their lives from the cradle to the grave. Washington was reared in comparative luxury when Lincoln is con sidered, the early privations and struggles of the lat ter being of unusual severity. However, both had courage in like degree. In the most trying times in the history of our nation they were without fear and were enabled clearly to pass upon the questions of the day unafraid of any terror known to less courageous men. ./ Look away back over the history of the world, clear into Bible times, and you can see that the men of those days who made possible modern Christianity No. 4 were men to whom fear was unknown. They had the courage of their convictions, and if need be were ready to die for them. Many did so die. So we see we may gaze upon those early builders of Christianity and marvel at what their courage accomplished. At the same time we may search in vain for any good for humanity accomplished by those beset bv fear —victims of it. There are many well-authenticated cases where fear has caused death. All medical men agree that it is mighty hard to aid one who is tearful of death and be lieves that he is a “ goner.” It is reasonable to sup pose that fear has caused many deaths during recent months on account of the presence of Spanish In fluenza, so called. This is bad, for fear never does any good. Cast out fear and you can face even Satan himself and defy him. TAKE PLACES OP M EN An exchange puts forth the matter of women filling the places of men, as fully as possible, during the war, as follows: The women’s committee of the Council of National Defense has sent out to the women of the nation an appeal urging them to prepare themselves to take the thousands of places that will be made vacant from now on by the calling of men to the colors. It is pointed out that unless women come forward more generally than they have done so far to take places ordinarily filled by men the necessary business and industry of the nation cannot continue efficiently while the war lasts. “ Employers are probably skeptical and women un willing to force their services where they are unwel come,” says the appeal, “ but there need be no dis comfort and few domestic problems if women will now fill the vacancies caused by the outgoing of husbands, sons, brothers and friends. Employers, we ask you to give women a fair and complete trial. Women, we appeal to you to supply the workers to meet the wide spread, wholesale demand. “ It is patriotic to serve in the trenches ot France and Belgium. It may be equally so to drive a butcher’s cart or keep the baggage records in a gieat station. Do not be content to do your bit. Do your all. Keep the home wheels turning.”
