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and fascinated by her in plenty； but _you_ will not be among them。 You
will run the show； you will pay all the expenses； do all the work。 Your
performing lady will be most affable and enchanting to the crowd。 They
will stare at her； and admire her； and talk to her； and flirt with her。 And
you will be able to feel that you are quite a benefactor to your fellow…men
and womento your fellow…men especiallyin providing such delightful
amusement for them； free。 But _you_ will not get any of the fun yourself。
You will not get the handsome looks。 _You_ will get the jaded face；
and the dull； lusterless eyes； and the untidy hair with the dye showing on it。
You will not get the exquisite dresses。 _You_ will get dirty； shabby
frocks and slommicking dressing…gowns； such as your cook would be
ashamed to wear。 _You_ will not get the charm and fascination。 _You_
will get the after…headaches； the complainings and grumblings； the silence
and sulkiness； the weariness and lassitude and ill…temper that comes as
such a relief after working hard all day at being pleasant！
It is not the people who shine in society； but the people who brighten
up the back parlor； not the people who are charming when they are out；
but the people who are charming when they are in； that are good to _live_
with。 It is not the brilliant men and women； but the simple； strong；
restful men and women； that make the best traveling companions for the
road of life。 The men and women who will only laugh as they put up the
umbrella when the rain begins to fall； who will trudge along cheerfully
through the mud and over the stony placesthe comrades who will lay
their firm hand on ours and strengthen us when the way is dark and we are
growing weakthe evergreen men and women； who； like the holly； are at
their brightest and best when the blast blows chilliestthe stanch men and
women！
It is a grand thing this stanchness。 It is the difference between a dog
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and a sheepbetween a man and an oyster。
Women； as a rule； are stancher than men。 There are women that you
feel you could rely upon to the death。 But very few men indeed have this
dog…like virtue。 Men； taking them generally； are more like cats。 You may
live with them and call them yours for twenty years； but you can never
feel _quite_ sure of them。 You never know exactly what they are
thinking of。 You never feel easy in your mind as to the result of the next…
door neighbor's laying down a Brussels carpet in his kitchen。
We have no school for the turning…out of stanch men in this nineteenth
century。 In the old； earnest times； war made men stanch and true to each
other。 We have learned up a good many glib phrases about the
wickedness of war； and we thank God that we live in these peaceful；
trading times； wherein we canand dodevote the whole of our thoughts
and energies to robbing and cheating and swindling one anotherto
〃doing〃 our friends； and overcoming our enemies by trickery and lies
wherein； undisturbed by the wicked ways of fighting…men； we can
cultivate to better perfection the 〃smartness；〃 the craft； and the cunning；
and all the other 〃business…like〃 virtues on which we so pride ourselves；
and which were so neglected and treated with so little respect in the bad
old age of violence； when men chose lions and eagles for their symbols
rather than foxes。
There is a good deal to be said against war。 I am not prepared to
maintain that war did not bring with it disadvantages； but there can be no
doubt that； for the noblest work of Naturethe making of menit was a
splendid manufactory。 It taught men courage。 It trained them in
promptness and determination； in strength of brain and strength of hand。
From its stern lessons they learned fortitude in suffering； coolness in
danger； cheerfulness under reverses。 Chivalry； Reverence； and Loyalty
are the beautiful children of ugly War。 But； above all gifts； the greatest
gift it gave to men was stanchness。
It first taught men to be true to one another； to be true to their duty；
true to their post； to be in all things faithful； even unto death。
The martyrs that died at the stake； the explorers that fought with
Nature and opened up the world for us； the reformers （they had to do
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something more than talk in those days） who won for us our liberties； the
men who gave their lives to science and art； when science and art brought；
not as now； fame and fortune； but shame and penurythey sprang from the
loins of the rugged men who had learned； on many a grim battlefield； to
laugh at pain and death； who had had it hammered into them； with many a
hard blow； that the whole duty of a man in this world is to be true to his
trust； and fear not。
Do you remember the story of the old Viking who had been converted
to Christianity； and who； just as they were about； with much joy； to baptize
him； paused and asked： 〃But whatif this； as you tell me； is the only
way to the true Valhallawhat has become of my comrades； my friends
who are dead； who died in the old faithwhere are they？〃
The priests； confused； replied there could be no doubt those
unfortunate folk had gone to a place they would rather not mention。
〃Then；〃 said the old warrior； stepping back； 〃I will not be baptized。 I
will go along with my own people。〃
He had lived with them； fought beside them； they were his people。
He would stand by them to the endof eternity。 Most assuredly； a very
shocking old Viking！ But I think it might be worth while giving up our
civilization and our culture to get back to the days when they made men
like that。
The only reminder of such times that we have left us now； is the bull…
dog； and he is fast dying outthe pity of it！ What a splendid old dog he
is！ so grim； so silent； so stanch； so terrible； when he has got his idea； of his
duty clear before him； so absurdly meek； when it is only himself that is
concerned。
He is the gentlest； too； and the most lovable of all dogs。 He does not
look it。 The sweetness of his disposition would not strike the casual
observer at first glance。 He resembles the gentleman spoken of in the
oft…quoted stanza：
'E's all right when yer knows 'im。 But yer've got to know
'im fust。 The first time I ever met a bull…dogto speak to； that is
was many years ago。 We were lodging down in the country； an orphan
friend of mine named George； and myself； and one night； coming home
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late from some dissolving views we found the family had gone to bed。
They had left a light in our room； however； and we went in and sat down；
and began to take off our boots。
And then； for the first time； we noticed on the hearthrug a bull…dog。 A
dog with a more thoughtfully ferocious expressiona dog with； apparently；
a heart more dead to all ennobling and civilizing sentimentsI have never
seen。 As George said； he looked more like some heathen idol than a
happy English dog。
He appeared to have been waiting for us； and he rose up and greeted
us with a ghastly grin； and got between us and the door。
We smiled at hima sickly； propitiatory smile。 We said； 〃Good dog
poor fellow！〃 and we asked him； in tones implying that the question could
admit of no negative； if he was not a 〃nice old chap。〃 We did not really
think so。 We had our own private opinion concerning him； and it was
unfavorable。 But we did not express it。 We would not have hurt his
feelings for the world。 He was a visitor； our guest； so to speakand； as
well…brought…up young men； we felt that the