The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-06-02
TRIBUTE TO WOMEN
Their wgk. loyalty and Intlpsncs

that u Is tb- results oi wears of 4e..d -nvr
lng on th" part of women who. since
IN'b' have taught. prayed. organized.
WorSrd aud Won. 10 SPEAKS II the edi
Tor oi tine Georgian, who wrpt., To his
mot er "a" dAA The prohibition hiu pass
eu in tcpiHia Mother. 10 WIS you who
won the day. and SAYS this went tu the
root of the matter. through econornics
politics and all
think this editorial. from a mapez. ne
"h.'h ls 10y ho uean-. a religious publi-
cation, shows the trend of Thought 81
TINS present time. R.d should hs AN en-.
courhgement to aii who a-e iut rested iu
prohibition. especially % the women.
This is th- universal testimony IN ever,
place " here This great movement has
neen succt s~iul ln the early DAYS of tho
conn ca here % Was said that il depended
entirely on what interest the women of
the town took IN the matter Wh-tner or
not 10 was a success l. IL not nIwavs
the ease when any cause seems to need
ald, financially or osherNi-e. ,vksthpr
church work or for some benefcialcaus
tnat the first thing - DO L. to cell ON th.
ladies Tor assistance And have they not
always responded 70 thi. call most
Monty " heu various institutions fn
TINS town have needed funds aud needed
Them badly, 90 carry ON their good
WORK, have not our women come ouirklv
TO tie rescuef How often have. they
stood for many hours selling a- buyine
articles donated for this or that special
object, giving time and strength most
Willingly Or, in many instances. have
tnt4 not on ths Opera House stage. sang.
PLAY cd. drilled or acted for the entertain
'nent 81 au audience. hich represented
so much money Tor some orgar. cation or
other And during the four Tong and
bitter N,nrs ui the twill Na- what did
our women do Have We not been
brought up on the thrilling tales of what
our noble Southern women did them
| How they suffered: how they to.led
| How they nursed aud tended the sick
aud wounded. Delicat,ly reared women
who had known only luxury and com
lort before. responded To all calls for
heip. giving willingly Of their precious
ana limited store OF medicines or provi-
slonsi or gave their time, strei 9Th and
deNouon 10 wounded, ragged boys In
! gray. They were tireless aud their care
never Jagged Aud when the cruel con
lict was over, and there was not the
same EFFORT required. did they forget the
soldier ia1 outhey. For year after year
These same noble " omen and their dRugh-
| terS gather the southern blossoms aud
| with uag-, the dauntless conquered ban
ners ht lux before them. with the bands
plaNlng the southern airs or dirges. led
| uy Hover crowned children. they have
marched through the streets of Freder-
icksburg aud hundreds Of other southern
towns 10 lay the precious flowers of
love- memory and gratitude on the
graves Of those who laid down their
hves Tor the cause they loved and fought
| Tor. Are these woman less womanly
/ an -Nf HHHfaH NaI IN~ . .ar sl.
or do they demean themselves taking
part IN this annual PARADE We hardly
/ think 80. -Four weeks ago there was
begun in this community great conflict
| between good aud evil. Not "A civil war
this time, no; on various occasions Il
promised L. be rather unc!vil and a
strong battle, when many engaged in
| what appeared 10 them "A struggle To
save from destruction the souls of men
/ and to protect the lives aud happiness of
women and little helpless children; and
especially did this call from women TO
women. At first IL was rather hard To
arouse great degree of interest among
any except few women, who, from the
very first, went into il heart aud soul
determined to bear any cross involved
and stand anything it was right TO
stand for a cause they knew was right
and to which their whole heart was
given. Others attended the meetings
held in the interest of prohibition. not
willing to sign their names until they
had some idea Of what it might mean.
Others still hesltated until they could
md out how othe7s value opinionit IL was
necessary to consult for their peace of
mind before they could arrive at any de
cision. Many would not oppose. but
lacked the hardihoOd to espou,e a caus-
that might not be popular" There
were many wei wishers. You may re
member that the immortal Mrs. Wiggs
when asked II the lately departed Mr..
Wiggs was Christian. said no. but he
was always a well-wisher We needed ali
the good ishes possible. but II all stop-
ped at that how much vital or aggres-
sive work would be accomplished along
any line? 1t is Il very pointed question.
which each one has TO answer for him
sell, just what Is his duty ia this mat
ter. and tits neither my intention nor my
business to criticize those VINO differ
with US In this matter. There is only
one way OF settling such questions. that
OF taking il TO the source OF au hello TO
the puzzled and laying aside our own
wishes, asking for guidance to do what
Is right, not what is easy or good form
or popular. Having once known our
duty there's only one thing to do-dO II
or be coward. Therefore, 20 him
that knoweth to do good aud dOeth il !
NOT, To him II Is sin" IL is Just three |
weeks ago siuce suHie Of the women OF |
fredericksburg, ia response to a clear
call OF duty decided alter prayerful and |
careful thought that it was needfnl for |
them to take up their cross
and for the sake Of a cause that
needed their help. should take a promi- /
nent part IN demonstration, to try and /
show their interest In an effort 10 helm
their ieliOwmen, aud for the sake OF Him /
who said, "He that honoreth me / will /
hOaor." Think you Is was an easy task /
TO carry out? Think you that there were
many hearts that did not quake at first
when II was found the line OF march led !
down the middle of the street? Can there
be one person IN this town who really in
his heart thought II was simply to make
themselves conspicuous. Many of these
women have always lived the most re-
tired lives, and had never taken a con
spieuons part in anything. In spite OF
much ridicule. Is there one good. true
man or woman in this town, who ia his
secret heart felt that these women had
demeaned themselves? Need we be so
AFRAID OF ridicule when we remember it is
never our best and truest friend who
ridicule any effort that 10 itself is worthy
oi respect and that ridicule is a two
edged sword ard cuts the one who uses
Il many times?
The women who aid, In various WAYS.
the several causes that come before them.
ara making and helping along some
object that might languish without this
support; those noble women who each