The
boss has the courage of the brute, or he would not be boss; but
when it comes to a moral issue he is the biggest coward in the
lot. The bigger the brute the more abject its terror at what it
does not understand.
Some of the honors I refused; there were some my heart craved,
and I could not let them go. There hangs on my wall the passport
Governor Roosevelt gave me when I went abroad, dearer to me than
sheepskin or degree, for the heart of a friend is in it. What would
I not give to be worthy of its faithful affection! Sometimes when
I go abroad I wear upon my breast a golden cross which King Christian
gave me. It is the old Crusaders' cross, in the sign of which my
stern forefathers conquered the heathen and themselves on many a
hard-fought field. My father wore it for long and faithful service
to the State. I rendered none. I can think of but one chance I
had to strike a blow for the old flag. That was when in a typhus
epidemic I found the health officers using it as a fever flag to
warn boats away from the emergency hospital pier at East Sixteenth
Street.
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