The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-09-15
THE IDLER.
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T have read some of the things that
have been said about the old Conted-
crate and his drinking a little TOO
much at the recent reunion IN ColuIn-
bia Now, I do not know whether any
of these old boys drank too mucn OF
not. I suppose, of course, If any OF
them took tablespoon full of beer
in the opinion of the extreme prohlDl-
tionists. that would have been too
much. 1t is pretty generally KNOWN
I guess by this time, that do not be-
long to that school of tninkers-tnat
/ is the word-or moralists, or patr1ots,
who believes that he must regulate the
conduct of his neighbor while his own
needs his most prayerful consldera-
ton, and who wants to take the mo1e
out of his brothers eye while the beam
sticks away out from his own eye.
Neither do I believe it is heinous
crime to take a glass of beer or a
glass of whiskey. Of course, it IS not
right to make a hog Of yourself either
drinking or eating. I think If the Old
bovs wanted to take a bottle OF Deer'
or a drink, they should have done so'
and it is nobody's business, because
they paid for it. And per chance some
of them got a little too much there IS
M occasion to make such a noise
about it. And they do not deserve the
unkind things that are being said.
If our memory is not at fault, the
first reunion, after the legislature
made appropriation to help entertain
the veterans, was held in Columbia
and part of the money was spent IN
providing a. little. beer for the old boys
and they enjoyed it. And there was
no holy horror raised about 1t. rms
year it is stated that none OF the
| money was spent that way, and 1t
might be that all this fuss is made
because Gov. Blease did not order the
dispensaries closed. 1t won't be long
before ali the old vets will be gone,
and then-well, we will have to find
something else to quarrel about. You
know. if you don't, I am. going to tell
YOU. that a lot of this stuff about the
old vets being drunk is the Feriest rot
from the extreme prohibition cranks
of the day, who think, I reckon they
do that if is an enormous crime to
take a drink. Well, I am willing to
give them credit for honesty in their
opinions, but ask them to grant
me credit for honesty in my views on
the subject. This, however, they a
are not willing to do. For that rea-
son feel that I am justified in belieV-
ing they are rather cranky, even II
honest from their standpoint Let US
all exercise charity in our dealings
with our fellowmen. Let US believe
that other people may be just as hon-
est and Just as good and just as SIN
cere as we are, even if they do not
agree to all the heresies to which we
| hold. If We would only do this we
vould have a good old world and one
that it would be worth while to live
in. IF an old veteran took his glass OF
vhiskey, as he has been doing all his
life, and per chance on this reunion
day got one too many, let US not Judge
him too harshly, and remember that
+here was 2 time when he risked his
all for the land he lovec, and let US
trv to make his last days here pleas
ant. That is the way I feel about IT,
T know that am old and cranky, but
T believe T have charity in my heart
for my fellowman.
think it was St. Paul you know
him or of him, I suppose-Who SAID
on one occasion something like unto