The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-29

teen years that 1 have served as
health officer, and watching Sumter
grow from a small town or village Of
about 5000 population to the pros
porous city of about $4,000 people, l
feel that would be ungrateful did 1
not express appreciation Of the good
fortune which gave me since July,
1895, such high toned, courteous, and
public spirited as we'll as intelligent
superior officers in the persons of the
different gentlemen who composed
the membership of the different
boards of health during the sixteen
years since the organization Of the
health department.
1 have done my best for Sumter,
as health officer, and as a citizen, be-
cause l owed much to Sumter and it's
good people. Sumter has been good
to me. Better to me than I deserved.
L have done all that 1 could, studying
hard, investigating and following up
viii SiOoC iitcteSt tIle Investigations
and discoveries of the scientific world
in all matters relating to sanitary
science, and such information
brought forth in the light of modern
knowledge. I have tried to equip
myself mentally in order to put into
practice those things of interest to
the public health. 1 have been study
ing so long, engaged in sanitary work
for SO many years with that added
interest in the work which alone
brings success, If success be achieved
at all, that I feel tonight that I am
about to graduate and that this is
commencement day. So you will par
don me my good friends and super
ior officers If 1 try your patience by
making my valedictory, so to speak,
so long.
l felt that Ishould say something
in honor of the occasion. There are
no bouquets, no boxes of candy, and
there is no diploma for me to mark
the parting of the roads from official
duty to private citizenship. The bit
ter is mixed with the sweet. There is
however, much I may feel proud of
and more that I am grateful for.
The friendship and good will not TO
mention the generosity of the people
OF Sumter l can never forget.
l have been proud of my position
because / realized that it was an i'm
portant one. l could have made much
more money in almost any other line
of business by devoting as much time
and study thereto. But like the ma
1ority of physicians with whom
have had the honor to be associated
in Sumter, and other places in this
State, the work in which have been
engaged in saving human life, pro-
tecting public health at the risk of
losing my own has not been altogeth-
er with a view to making money. The
trained nurse, the physician, and the
health officer usually have higher
ideals than being a mere money-mak-
er. With us it is to a great extent q
labor of love, though few believe this
have tried to be of service to NV
community, as well as to myself.
have tried to be puElic-spirited and
not even my bittcrcst enemies who
have fought me because of the nm
pardonahle sin | have committed. in
their eyes, of being a publc-spirited
citizen if not rich one, can Law at
my door the mcancst of all sins self
iShnCss.
have had for years more work
and responsibility than une health Of
iicer could satisfactorily attend to.
nave had no assistance except dur
ing the past two years little assist
ancc in the rouEhcr work from a col
"rcd lahorcr who acts as iauitor at
the city hall ana rakcs the open pub
Tic lots ! have had no equipment but
- bicycle-othcr equipment was re-
qucStcd
The position Of health officer is ,as
important as that Of any i'm the city
government because upon that Off