The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1886-10-20
The white Ribbon.


MENr: May | speak few words to
the girls of the Y. w. g. I. U.
through the Home column? feel
sure | am not the only one of their
number who is interested in your
paper. What / want to say, girls, is
about our white ribbon, the badge
given US as the fittest emblem of the
purity and truth of our noble work;
so many Of our number do not wear
1t, and why? Can we forget il? Not
long since, l was at I'm evening com
pany, three OF US wore our silent
white preacher. only know OF one
of the young men in the party who
was a Prohlbitionist, though all
claimed to be temperance mea. Dur
ing the evening one young man asked
what that white ribbon meant? Our
friend, the Prohibltionist, said, "Why,
that's for temperance. Don't you
know, the White Ribbon ArmyY A
few explanations followed, and sew
eral times during the evening the
young men referred TO the Wife Rib
boncrs, and asked To hear from them.
One of the girls said the best she
could give them was to tell them to
go and hear Mr.. j. p. ST. John, who
was soon coming in their neighbor
hood. This little incident set me to
thinking. The girls all had on RIB
bons of various colors, yet these ex-
cited no comment. After l returned
home, I gave my ribbon caressing
little touch, and felt thrill OF JOY
that was privileged to wear 1t.
Some of US women are so timid we
shrink from having our voices heard
outside our own social circle, yet we
can preach, we can plead for right,
yes, our little white ribbon can tell
how hearts ache for the worse than
widowed wives, the defrauded chill
dren; and then the people we come
in contact with cannot pass without
a thought Of our ribbon; so You see
their thinking may end IN their tax
ing the right step. O girls Of the
Y. w. G. L. u, do put On the ribbon,
and never lay it aside. Do not seem
so indifferent to your noble work as
to forget your badge. You know
the young men will have wives, and
which of US girls would not prefer
the total abstainer to the moderate
drinker? Do don your white ribbon
and set your friends TO thinking.
Perhaps they have never given the
matter any attention, and when they
see your devotion, your earnestness
in The cause, they may investigate
it, and we know what their decision
will be- If they be worthy our friend
ship, they will not lightly cast aside
a matter of such great Importance to
us. Oh, | am 50 proud Of my white
ribbon. When | first heard of the
White Ribbon Army, rather paused
a time, wondering what some of my
friends would say, but once convinc-
ed of the nobleness of the work, and
of the great need Of earnest workers
in the cause, entered the army,
proud and happy to be numbered
among SO many noble women. |
soon grew not to fear my friends
opinion of my ribbon, but to care
less for them, If | knew they under
stood its import and yet sighted it.
Homes are being ruined, children
starving, hearts are breaking, and,
worse than all, souls are being lost.
Do not let US stand idly plying, or
treat this work as play. Let us be
in earnest in all our departments of
work. Each has its place, and fits
together so beautifully TO assist in
this grand work. Let us do our best
for God, and home, and native land.
a WHITE RIBBON.