The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-07-11
TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
Conducted by Paxv-i11e ". C. r. L
The Crime Committed Against our Soldiers
and Sailers.

Monroe, IN Virginia, ana the Ma
tional Soldiers Home for Dis
abled Veterans: lies the little
town of Phoebus on the beauti-
full Hampton Roads. No place
in our country surpasses it for
natural loveliness of situation:
but alas the drink curse makes
lit as loathsome as a den of SER
pents. Just try to imagine a
town of a thousand inhabitants
with thirty-slx legal and sixteen
illegal saloons. Of course these
saloons do not derive the great
est part of their revenue from
the town people, but from the
old men in the soldiers nome
and the young men in the fort.
From these two government in
stitutions, these outposts of per
dition, with their bad women and
conscienceless landlords: are
gathering their i'll gotten wealth.
If this were all we might endure
it; but when we see them de-
bauching, disgracing, and drag
ging down to the depths our
bright young boys ir blue, the
mother heart of our Woman's
Christian Temperance Union
is aroused and enters a passion
ate protest against this great
crime.
To put this protest into sub
stantial form the National super
intendent of Soldiers and Sailors
opened parlors in this sin-cursed
town in an effort to draw the
men away from the evil. We
have a large room fitted outwith
a piano, rocking chairs, lamps,
tables, books, and chairs, and a
drugget on the floor. More than
eight weeks were spent in col
lecting these articles. Small be-
ginnings, you say? Yes, four
old lamps and four old chairs,
loaned by a good friend of Phoe-
bus, Mr.. Libby, were all your
superintendent had to offer the
first night, but her "boys" came,
being then stationed at Fortress
Monroe and vicinity during the
smaneuvers, "when enough mon
ey was wasted in shot and pow
der to care for all these men
mentally and spiritually.
But good meetings were held
and the Christian people Of the
town, and the good.white-rib-
boners of Newport News came
in to help sing and carry on the
meetings. About one hundred
signed the pledge; seventeen
raised their hands for prayer
one night.
One boy came in so intoxicat-
ed he could not walk straight
and asked me to sing Jesus,
Lover of My Soul" !" He joined
the singing, his voice sweet and
strong; ringing out above all
others. Turning to him, I said:
"Laddie, where did you learn
it," He replied. cat my moth
er's knee" An Epworth League
boy, his father minister, he
had wandered away from home,
enlisted, and learned to- drink in
the "canteen," as he had been
enlisted for five years or more.
Again I said: 20 laddie, does
your mother know this?" and he
replied: "Oh, no, lady, don't tell
her. It would break her heart!!"
With tears streaming down his
face be promised to try to do
better.
Friends, our good work must
go on. The state superintendent
of this department in Virginia:
Mrs. S. Townsend, a good, wise
tactful mother of the white rib,
bon army, is living in the house,
and is ready at all times to lend
a helping hand. The boys love
her; she loves them, and many a
mothers boy is being Esaved in
| thoso roons
When I think Of the bright
| young soldier life being so de-
graded and debauched, my heart
grows sick within me, and I be-
seech God to help me to arouse
our good women and the people
of the nation to make an effort
and a strong one, to give our
,o1J;orn a obopoo +o no N1EN