Binns sat in his darkened cabin on the
Republic as long as there was power to be had from the generators. Mr. Boutell, of Illinois, amid loud applause, said that throughout the whole critical period, "there was one silent actor in the tragedy whose name should be immortalized." He specifically mentioned Binns by name, and in conclusion said: "Binns has given the world a splendid illustration of the heroism that dwells in many who are doing the quiet, unnoticed tasks of life. Is it not an inspiration for all of us to feel that there are heroes for every emergency and that in human life no danger is so great that some 'Jack' Binns is not ready to face it?"
(1404)
HEROISM, VOLUNTARY S. D. Gordon, in "The Sychar Revival," gives an incident several times paralleled in the histories of warfare: There is a simple story told about the time when the British were putting down a rebellion among the Ashanti tribes on the west coast of Africa. One morning the officer in command came to speak to the soldiers as they were drilling on the level stretch of land. He said, "Soldiers, I have a dangerous enterprise to-day. I need so many men. Every man that goes may lose his life. It is as serious as that. I am telling you frankly. I could draft you, but I don't want to. I would like to ask for volunteers. I want those who will volunteer for Her Majesty's sake to advance a pace." They were drawn up in a straight line, and thinking the men might be influenced by his look he swung on his heel, and off, then back again and looked. The line stood as straight as before. His eye flashed fire. "What, not a single man to volunteer?" Then a fellow standing at the end of the line next to him saluted and said, modestly, "If you please, sir, every man has advanced one pace."
(1405)
HIDDEN DANGERS There is a little instrument used in war called a caltrop, named from a kind of thistle. It consists of a small bar of iron, with several sharp points projecting from it one or two inches each way. If these instruments are thrown upon the ground at random, one of the points must necessarily be upward, and the horses that tread upon them are lamed and disabled at once. History tells that Darius caused caltrops to be scattered in the grass and along the roads, wherever the army of Alexander would be likely to approach his troops on the field of battle.
(1406)
Hidden, The, Exposed—See Detection. HIDDEN VALUES In an effort to locate a diamond ring valued at $450, which an elephant had swallowed while being fed peanuts, three expert X-ray operators and four elephant-trainers worked a whole day photographing by the X-ray process the entire interior of the elephant. In making the pictures, the largest X-ray machine ever made was used. There were made eighteen plates in all to get a complete diagram of the elephant's interior. The ring was found in the beast's stomach.—The Electrician and Mechanic.
(1407)
High Prices Responsible—See Detection.
HIGHER CRITICISM
What if Moses did not write the Pentateuch?
What if it were written by another
man named Moses? When a child is hungry,
it is not interested in a dispute whether John
Smith or James Smith planted the apple-*tree.
What it wants is the apple, because it
is hungry. The patient has suffered a
grievous accident, and the surgeon must
operate. In that hour ether must be used,
or the heart will not survive the agony. In
such a critical moment, who cares whether
Dr. Morton or Dr. Simpson discovered the
saving remedy? It is ease from pain that
the feeble heart demands. Your friend is
in trouble in Europe, and you must send him
a cable of relief. The English people claim
that two Englishmen laid the Atlantic cable,
and that Cyrus Field was only their American
agent, occupying a very subordinate
place, while Americans say that Mr. Field
was the father of the Atlantic cable. When
an emergency comes, and the child is in
trouble in a foreign land, the father does not
care to dispute over the precedency of inventors.
What he wants to do is to send a
message under the sea. Don't dispute over
the Bible, therefore, but use the Bible. He
who analyzes a flower must lose the sweet
rose. When a pilgrim is crossing the desert,
one handful of wheat for hunger is worth
a bushel of diamonds. Remember the use
