The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-07-13


Woman's relation to war is OF the
deepest, trucst and tcndercst 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
soldier shOuldcrcd arms but has been
loved by some woman, for each and
every one is some mothers 8 son. That
mother may be at home eagerly, yet
trcmblingly, awaiting the latest war
news, or she may have passed over the
silent river into that mysterious land
beyond, where no wars are wagcd
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 magma
nation that gentle face is bending over
lin, her presence is lowering around
him, and back to memory fits the
almost forgotten childhood $ prayer
"Now | lay me down to sleep and
we'll that boy knows. if mother lives
and is Il true woman, that often and
often, day and night, she watts her
silent prayers hcavcnward 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 rccollcctions flooding memory this
stern resolution is made: ~ will be
brave, no matter what the danger |
will do my duty, no matter what the
cost, for after all when we fight for
our country are We not also fighting
Cor our homes and those We love best"
And such men are generally the ones
who perform the greatest deeds of
valor. They go into battle, not with
Il dare devil, reckless kind of bravery,
but with steady courage and reso-
lutte determination to do or die.
The poets recognized this influence
of the absent but beloved woman,
and many Of our beautiful poems arc
fraught 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
cd her for his wife, ordered Joab to
place her husband, Uriah, one Of his
soldiers, at the front in the next bat
tle. He did 80, 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
flight of Helen Of Troy with Paris
caused the famous Trogan war. The
Interference Of Ptsahontas stayed the
hands of Powhatten 5 men and saved
the life of Capt. Smith in the stormy
days of the early settlers. Joan Arc
The young French girls name will
live through all ages as great leader in
time of battle. Perhaps this feminine
influence has been felt very little
bit in the present war. We all know
how much was dared to rescue Miss
Cisneros, 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 il the army hos
pitfalls. 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 a great
commander with the American army
in Cuba, was, Il few weeks ago, in
Tampa, Florida, awaiting Miss Barton,
hoping to join her band of nurses.
She said. My father and brother arc
at the front, and cannot remain idle
at home
It is with feelings of pride we listen
to recital Of the heroic struggles Of