The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1898-04-30
WOMAN AND WAR.
New Orleans Picayune.
ssOh, let them fight"

shouted. hey HaO come 10 AeI,
these old men and middle aged
women, expecting sympathy; she
was so remarkably cool-headed for
a woman of her age, and so emf
nently sensible, they were sure of
her support. and now her first words
after tea was served had declared
her IN the ranks of the enemy.
:Of course" she continued lazily,
"you all understand your own at
fairs, but 1 can not see where the
sense of opposing the Young fellows
comes in. TO begin with, it will
not do particle of good. They
arc going to fight whether you agree
to it or not. Raise racket if you
will, but you only send them from
you with a sorry sort Of feeling that
their father aud mother failed them
when they stood most in need of an
unselhsh sympathy Besides, it is
a risk, attempting to deceive young
people. They will be very apt to
suspect that you wish to keep them
with you to save yourself anNieties
and heart pangs. Young blood
must have its fling. If they want
to fight, why, let them. Net for
the sake of whipping Spain-1
don't suppose she Graves it part'-
cularly-nor for saving the coun-
try, hopeless undertaking. This
country has been going to the dogs
regularly every four years since it
became a nation. But simply for
the sake Of letting them know how
high young blood can leap, and what
pi,iable thing the every day anb'-
tions of men are.
.sAn old gentlemen told me the
other day that he considered his
son was acting in a very unf'ial
manner. I said in reply: my
dear sir, thirtyodd years ago an
other war was sweeping over this
land, and I think I have heard how
a certain young man about Harold's
age threw up fine position and
brilliant prospects and rushed off
to battle, leaving good many ach-
ing hearts at home. I never heard
that he took the question of fiial
or unfilial devotion into considera
tion.' 'Ah: yes he said, 'but 1
was a hair Drained youngster then,
who did not pause to consider any
thing. I would give Harold the
benefit Of my experience. Thirty
Yeas change our views
Yes 1 thought, now war
means staying at home and suffer
ing an agony of anxiety, where be-
fore it meant smelling smoke and
doing daring deeds.''
s.Harold las enlisted, you Know"
interrupted a woman listener, think
ing to test the working value of the
theory being promulgated.
s.He has?'' The speakers left
hand hanging down behind the back
of she sofa, clenched as she spoke
until the nails cut into her palm,
but her voice remained tranquil.
s.And what 1 said to this old man
think 1 can say to every gentle
man present. You, l believe, sir.
lost your hand while covering the
retreat from Corinth?"
eyes, it was this way re-
sponded the old fellow eagerly, his
eyes Frightening at the recollection. !
"Never mind" interrupted the
woman with the affec:ionate impa-
thence old men are willing TO toier
ate from a handsome young woman
whom they know heartily admires
all their good points and resolutely
denies the existence Of their bad
ones. "Don'e begin war stories now.
Tell me, instead, if You would
give the memory of that days fight
tor the memory of any other tram
sanction your life has held? You
would no,9 Then den; bssrudCe
the young fellows their chance.