The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-21
Bill App's Letter
Bill Down in Florida, Where There is Small
pox Scare. Says Many Arms Were Bare.

JaCKSOlNllle, f4dt, Apil 1G,--JeithSOlA-
vile has got the smallpox scare. 1t is
not a panic for there have been do deaths,
but there are about forty cases and the
board of health have got them out of
town and have ordered universal vacci-
nation. child can't go to school with
out q sore arm and a certificate from the
doctor My son is a doctor here and it
interests me to note the fiocks of chill
dren who come and go, and to listen
TO their talk. Mothers or sisters come
with them to keep their courage up. Some
are timid and some are brave Young
men come at night and take their turns,
and the city will soon be immune. What
wonderful discovery it was-only hum
dred years ago Dr.. Jenner dared to pro-
claim it to the world and it took twenty
five years to make the world believe It.
Now every child that bares its arm to re-
eeive the virus is a living monument to
the sagacity of that great and good man.
1t is pathetic to read how he was hound
ed and prosecuted by the envious and
malignant of the medical profession.
How patiently he waited for time and
truth to prove his theory, and lived to
see it all confirmed, and when he died
beautiful monument was erected in Ira
falgar square to honor his name and per-
petuate his fame and memory. Our own
DIR. Crawford Long is entitled to SINH
lar memorial, not only by the State, but
by the nation, for although he did not
protect mankind from pestilence, he did
give them immunity from pain under the
surgeons knife. / remember well when
the patient had to clinch his teeth and
strong men had to hold him while the
doctor cut and sawed his limb in two
/ remember when it was my part to
hold the foot and leg that was being
severed from a poor sufferer, and when
ut last the saw had cut through the bone
and the weight Of the limb came down
upon me l tainted and fell down upon
the floor with the bleeding leg. But
Evans never groaned. He lived to make
me another pair of boots. ] remember
when at college, in 1885, had a jaw tooth
extracted and took what was then called
Morton's Lethean, and dident know when
it was ruled It too' me some time to
get over it and as I was rccling back to
college / met Professor Mccoy, and in q
hilarious manner slapped him on the
shoulder and said: Hello old Mack!"
and he thought ] was drunk and had me
up before the faculty. My room mate,
Derrell Cody, was with me and tried to
explain, but the professor wouldent hear
him ard we had fun next morning when
the truth came out. The professor apol-
ogized to me and not long after invited
me to supper. Poor Bill Williams was
there-good, loving Bill Williams. He
was my classmate and / loved him, and
mourned for him when he died. He had
charge of the Blind asylum, a. Macon.
for many years. Every now and then
the boys drop out Just drop out and the
procession moves on. I read OF every one
and feel sad but that is all l can do. A
friend in Atlanta asked me the other day
why ddent you write something about
Eugene Harris, your college mate end
one of the truest, kindest and best men
who ever lived" ."Of course. Of course,
said /. 'but what could / write" He was
friend in need a friend indeed-an
aristocrat by birth, a gentleman in heart
and manners. Lost everything by the
war except the gentleman that was born
in him. He died poor and was buried by
his friends, but he was g-hearted
gentleman to the very last. How kind
he was to my wife and little children
during the war, when they were fleeing
from the foul invader and | was far
away. That's all. He was not a great
big heart and would have died for a
friend That's all! If can't find him in
heaven l shall be disappointed. Ny wife
says he was the best friend she ever had
when she was in the greatest distress.
Easter is about over and will soon be
forgotten. ] brought down some Easter
eggs for little grandson. His cousin
dyed them for him and he was very Curl
Gus to know more about them, and said
to his mother, Mamma who is this
Easter man and where does he live r.
HE lives up in heaven" she said, "and
his name is Jesus" rs he selling eggs
up there?" he asked. How these little
chaps do perplex us with their questions.
Little Mary Lou has the whooping cough
and dident want to take her medicine,
If you don't take it, said her mother,
you may die well, mamma, il L do
die | will go to heaven, where God is,
and he will give me q, pony. | wish the
grown up people were as trusting and
innocent as the children. Suffer little
children to come unto me, for of such is
the kingdom Of heaven" is one OF the
sweetest verses in the scriptures. The
preachers may quarrel about the confess
sion of faith and infant salvation, but
the mothers don't want any better faith
than is in that verse and that other one,
where David said of his child: "He
cannot come to nue. but shall go to him"
There is another remark that will make
about mothers. Not one believes her
dead son is lost. no matter how wicked
he was The mother expects to meet
him in heaven and if he is not there how
can she be happy? God knoweth We do
not, All that poor mortal can do is TO
trust Him and do good
BILL ARP.