The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-09-28
The People Need n Rest.

Ear be 1t from us to be unappreciatiye OF
the noble impulse which would build a Mon
ument to the Confederate soldier. We
would not under any consideration hurt
anybody's feelings in their well meant and
patriotic efforts.
What we say is impersonal and refers 10
the methods which nave been presented in
the name of the Confederate soldier. The
moving spirit has been generally kept in the
background, while good and unsuspecting
home people may have been the victim OF
circumstances 1t Is useless to try to emu.
merate the lumber of Instances where our
people have contributed money for enter
taipments on account Of the monument.
If our people want a monument they are
~abundantiy able to pay for 1t, without the
constant worry and trouble entailed upou
our good people to so little pourpose. II seems
thai strolling showmen, unapprecisted ora
tors and shrewd managers OF little nondescript
entertainments have found out the gullabil-
ity OF this people. They, proceed to make
speeches or 10 give exhibitions ostensibly for
the benefit Of the Confederate monument.
TIL Daughters OF the C%onfederacy are too
often called upon TO pay the expense and
ONA fSSfAS StS ~ SAoSu " hlsa WIG
money. One half OF the proceeds some times
go to The Daughters, out OF whose half the
expense must be paid. 1t is unnecessary 10
say that the peripatetic manager, speaker,
or other boss OF the business, generally car
rles away the ion share of the profits.
The town council, as q rule, charge for ex-
hibitions for profit. While 1t would not be
right to charge our own people a license, or
exact a fee for the use OF the Court House
when strangers proceed TO induce our
people 10 advertise their shows the license
fee might very properly be .exacted.
At various times since the establishment OF
our High School the pupils Of that school, to
the neglect OF their books, have taken part
In these exercises.
In this instance the diversion has been
unfortunate. The children have been
kept at the various recitations In the after
noon when lessons should have been studied.
and at night they have been detained In the
Court House 10 an hour long after the little
ones should have been in bed.
1t Is further unfortunate that such exer.
clses as we had last night should have been
during the first days of the scholastic year.
The children had just finished a three
months vacation and they should not have
had their attention diverted from their
studies during the first days of the session.
Even II II were right and proper TO invite
school children TO take part In such irrele-
want proceedings, the Partially in choosing
a few from the many may be impolitic.
We do not know II the teachers in the
graded school were consulted in this matter.
Ifparents allowed their children to engage
in the stage performance without consulting
the teachers. then the teachers may have
reason TO think that they were not accorded
proper consideration. II the teachers con
sented to such dissipation on the part OF their
scholars, then 1t is possible that they erred.
Don't misunderstand US. We have no OBJ.
lection TO these exhibitions. We mean no
sort OF disrespect to their managers or to any
body else. but we do object to engaging school
children as show people when they ought to
be at study, or snugly tucked away in bed.
We have no objection to a Confederate
Monument. In the language Of another:
"Let 1t rise, till 1t meets the sun in It's COM
Ing; let the earliest light OF the morning gid
II, and parting day finger and play upon Its
summit"
But in our own language, nay we not ask
for a restson the Confederate Monument The
people are tired. The brav est soldiers on
earth have slept for forty years without the
monument, and we think that they would be
willing to wait until the end OF his scholas-
tic term. And then just to think how crate.
fal the grandchildren OF the old soldiers
would be II they could feel assured Of a rest
until school Is out. 1t would be summer
time then. and all cOuld RIM AWAY m the
mountains to spend the vacation.