Sum pholks think fear iz the result ov edukashun, but i dont. I notiss that thoze who are edukated the most, and thoze who are edukated the least, are troubled with fear just alike. Fear and courage are instinkts. A man who iz a koward iz born so, and, when he iz full ov skare, hiz hare on hiz hed will git up on end, I dont kare how mutch edukashun yu pile on top ov it. The gratest kowards in the world are the men ov the most genius—they are the most silly kowards. One ov theze kind ov men will quake with fear when a mouse knaws in the wainskote at night, but they will face an earthquake next day with composure. I dont kno ov a more terrible sensashun than fear; it iz deth when it exhausts itself and ends in despair. 45I am a grate koward miself, and beleave i waz born so, and yet thare is nothing which i despize so mutch as kowardice. I would give all the other virtews i hav got (provided i hav got enny), and throw in a hundred dollars in munny besides, for an unlimited supply ov courage. I would like tew hav courage enuff tew face the devil himself, if he waz the least bit sassy tew to me. I am satisfied that courage iz an instinkt, for i notiss all the animal kreashun hav it well defined. |