The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-07-13
WOMAN AND WAR.
Ministering Angel in Time Of Need.
Mrs c. WEBB Anderson following paper before
Of the Robert E. the Cndracy

Mrs. K. y. WEBB, OF Anderson,
meeting Of the Robert &. Lee Chapter
Woman's relation to war is OF the
deepest, truest and tenderest kind,
for our armies are composed OF those
nearest and dearest to her. A hus-
band, perhaps, or a beloved son, a
father or brother. There was never
a soldier shouldered arms but has been
loved by some woman, for each and
eyery one is some mother son. That
mother may be at home eagerly, yet
tremblingly, awaiting the latest war
news, or she may have passed over the
silent river into that mysterious land
beyond, where no wars are waged !;
but, no matter whether she lives or is
dead, as the soldier boy realizes he is
on the eve Of battle, his thoughts
wander back to childhood, home and
mother. AS he lies on his hard bed at
night, with often times no shelter but
the starry heavens above, in imagina-
nation that gentle face is bending oyer
him, her presence is lowering around
!: him, and back to memory fits the
almost forgotten childhood's prayer
<sNow lay me down to sleep /; and
well that boy knows, if mother lives
and is true woman, that often and
often, day and night, she watts her
silent prayers heavenward for the
safety and welfare Of her soldier boy.
And to the husband, with the tender
remembrance of mother comes the
thrilling thoughts Of the beloved wife
left at home; and with all these ten
der recollections flooding memory this
stern resolution is made: ssI will be
brave, no matter what the danger l
will do my duty, no matter what the
cost, for after all when we fight for
our country are we not also lighting
for our homes and those we love best.
And such men are generally the ones
who perform the greatest deeds OF
valor. STAey go into battle, not with
a daredevil, reckless kind Of bravery,
but with steady courage and reso-
INTO determination TO do or die.
The poets recognized this influence
Of the absent but beloved woman,
and many Of our beautiful poems are
sfraught with the tender sentiments
Of the soldiers in the field for their
much loved women left behind. And
besides this general relation history,
both written and unwritten, contains
many peculiar instances of the rela-
tion Of woman to war. David, be-
cause he admired Bathsheba and want
ed her for his wife, ordered Joab TO
place her husband, Uriah, one of his
soldiers, at the front in the next bat
tie. He did so, and Qriah was killed.
David married Bathsheba, and, to
punish him for this, God permitted
Absolom, David's favorite son, to
make war against his father. The
fight Of Helen Of Troy with Paris
caused the famous Trogan war. The
interference Of Pocahontas stayed the
hands Of Powhatten's men and saved
the life of Capt. Smith in the stormy
days Of the early settlers. Joan Arc f!
The young French girls name will
live through all ages as great leaderin
time Of battle. Perhaps this feminine
influence has been felt very little
bit in the present war. We all know
now much was dared to rescue Miss
Cisnercs, and with what enthusiasm
she was received in this country. We
have heard pretty little story, that
may or may not be true, about the
gentle invalid lady Of our White
House. The President was sending
her away to escape the excitement
attending the war proclamation. AS
she bade her husband goodbye her
last words were, Remember, the poor
Cubans are starving" and since then
war matters have been rushed right
along.
We are all familiar with the grand
work done by women in the army hos
pitals. Miss Clara Barton with her
corps of assistants, under the protec-
tion Of their red cross badge, goes
everywhere. Miss Wheeler, Of Ala
bama, daughter of Gen. Joe Wheeler,
of Confederate fame, and now great
commander with the American army
in Cuba, was, few weeks ago, in
Tampa, Florida, awaiting Miss Barton,
hoping to join her band of nurses.
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