Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-04-17
From the Southern Guardian
Dialogue between two Soldiers.

Dialogue between two Soldiers.
Mr.. EDITOR: I happened a few days
ago to hear conversation between two CT
our soldiers, who accidentally met on Main
street in your town, on their way to join the
army in Virginia, aud as there is much
truth in their remarks, I send them for
publication in your valuable Journal, and
hope it will cause some to reflect, and in
duce them to act consistently, and abandon
everything like display, for the war.cloud
hangs heavy and our ship is hard on the
breakers >"
list. Sol. Well, John! I am glad to see
you, old fellow; very glad, for I am q
stranger here, in fact | never went twenty
miles away from home in my life hardly,
and everything looks strange, and I want
you to tell me something about these strange
looking things: here are the biggest houses,
the largest carriages, finest horses, and,
but stop, I want you to tell me, what sort
of people these are dressed so fine, with
feathers and caps, silks and satins p
2. Sol. Well, jim, these are the rich
people who have nothing to do but ride q.
bout. ... ,5.. = -.
lst. Sol. Nothing to do indeed! ]
thought everybody had something to do
these times; now look there at that concern,
what do you call it; looks like boat, the
ladies are laying down; pour souls, / ex-
pect they are sick. -.
I'd. Sol. Well, Jim, that's what they
call bret, and the ladies are not sick, but
that's the fashionable way to ride now, lie
down if you can.
lst. Sol. But what's them negroes up
there driving got on brass buttons and
straps for?
I'd. Sol. Well that's what they call
livery; but I can't tell you any more about
lit. ...
Ist. Sol. Well, well we must live and
learn but, John, this don't look like war;
here are plenty of people, all dressed as fine
as silk and as merry as larks; we soldiers
are the only shabby-looking people 10 town.
I'd. Sol. True, Jim I'VE can't shine with
these town folks; our wives have to wear
homespun, and glad to get it at that.
LIST. Sol. Now have We got to quit our
homes and families, and fight for these peo,
pie here, so that they can, ride about in
these fne corriages, and dress like circus
people every day, and drive BY US soldiers,
but never say ride onceY
! I'd. Sol. / hardly know what to say q,
bout these people, Jim; they may be all
rigb. /; hey may have sent their brothers
and sons to the army, and may have done
much more; but where there are 50 many
there always will be some foolish.
lst. Sol. Well, if had gone to sleep
before this war, and Just woke up where
am now, should conclude there was some
big show or muster on hand, and everybody
was trying to see which could dress the
finest, the women in particular.
Just here the conversation became in.
audible, but there is food for reflection in
the above. Any one visiting Columbia
now will be struck with the gayety on
Main.street in the afternoon, iue equipages,
livered servants, gay dresses, waving
plumes, in the language of that honest
couutrymau, does this "look like war r"-
Do such scenes encourage our way-worn-
soldier, as he drags his weary feet from one
depot to the otherin his plain, humble gar.
meut? By no means. These people, who
are able to support such folly and extrava'
gance, can, if they only knew it, find q
much more profitable way at this time to
dispose of their surplus. This is no time
for display. Many of these people, too, 60
to church and piously repeat, "Good
Lord, deliver us from pride, vain.glory,
and hypocrisy" This war is doubtless per-
mitted by the Almighty to continue, in
order that we may be humbled as peo.
pie. In our prosperity We forgot the Lord
and all his commands How often have
we been told, seek ye first the kingdom Of
heaven, &c. We will never prosper again
unless people will put aside everything
like display and humble themselves in the
sight of God.
COUNTRYMAN.