Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-11-25
FOR THE OLD SOLDIERS.
Appeal for Sunshine for Those Who
Wore the Gray.


Editor Keowee Courier: 1t is a
burning shame that Oconee has no
U. d. 9. except ut Clemson, and il is
composed of women of the whole
So '.thland. Oconee can have wo-
mems clubs, ID. A. r., foreign mission
societies, card parties. and every
thing else except two very important
things-school Improvement clubs
and U. ID. G. We should honor and
cheer our old soldiers. Our fathers
are now old and stiff with pain
brought on by the hardships of four
years or war. Think of rail for a
pillow, sleeping on the ground dur
ing cold nights, eating bread with
water! Shall we forget them? Re-
meber, che who forgets his noble an
cestors will achieve nothing worthy
to be remembered by his remote de-
scendants."
The saddest and sweetest time of
my life was spent at Clemson Col
lege on the Tooth birthday O. our
grand Lee. Before me, on the stage,
sat few Of those men who followed
Lee, still wearing the gray, but gray
OF age. Behind me were the future
citizens Of the State. There | saw
the past and future meet. Will the
past. With all its honors, inspire the
young to be men like Lee? No; not
unless we tell them more Of Lee and
his men, and build monuments as
milestones to inspire them. That
day Col. r. A. Thompson was the
guest of honor. A boy, nearly ready
to vote, asked why Col. Thompson
was a guest Of honor, and said he
was just lawyer at Walhalla." -"
| Think Of his record, and the children
not knowing it! How many school
children know that an Oconee man
| saved Gen. Hampton's life' How
| many school children tIn sing
Dixie" or "Bonny Blue Flag?" How
many children are taught to be kind
to an old soldier?
The roll will soon be called, and
they will sleep with Lee and Jack
son. When it Is all over the daught.
tcrs will build monuments to soldiers
who now are dying in paupers
| homes.
In August | was at the bedside q
a dying soldier and he caught my
hand and said: "You have done wei
for your county, but do better; &c
back to Oconee and tell the teacher.
| | made this request, that in every dis
trict, on January 15th, Lees birth
day be wholly set apart for Confede
rate day; that the people meet at The
school house, carry dinner, spend thu
day by talking and singing Of tn,
old South" Teachers, hear you
country'S call, "To arms, to arms, t
fight for Dixie" While we are
united people we must not forget ou
heroes.
Now Thanksgiving Day is here
Iii the pauperS' home are two sol
dierS. Let each school begin nov
and collect funds, raise money I,
furnish them a good room, comforta
BILE, clean beds, and don't let then
be neglected. Not only these soldiers
but send war post card of goot
cheer to all soldiers. A flower to III
living is worth a carload on hi
grave.
1t is said that a poor old soldie
died in a paupers' home and was be
ing car, to potters' field in
wagon. When the wagon passed
graded school the children wer
marching to the tune of Dixie" Tn
coffin lid bursted, and the old soldie
arose and cried, "Hurrah for tn
South!-Lee, Stonewall and Hamp
toni Lying down again, he said
Drive on, boy; | did my duty" So
my dear sisters, | have done m
duty. have asked you to max
these last days of the soldiers life S,
he can pull the drapery of his coucl
around him and lie down to sleep
and dream no more of war, but peace
sweet peace. Marye r. Shelor.