The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-03-22
A THING. !

o'i1' ueiueidlely ana upon re-
fection we draw for the people of
Union county picture. 1t is a pic
ture Of A THING. 1t is not good to
look upon; it gives one the creeps to
stand by and view it; it speaks not,
hears not, breaths not, sees not, moves
not, nor will until the Great Resur-
rection. Some man, in heat and pas
sion, Or with malice and premedita-
ton, has struck and struck to kill.
A THING is the wreckage Of what is
left after the blow or shot or stab or
blight has fallen upon what was once
MAN. A man he was, could see,
feel, hear, speak, move. Was loved
and loving by and towards some hui
man soul. In the dust of the street,
unable to brush away the fly that how
ers over the sightless orbs lies this
THING. CAPPED at by curious eyes,
this THING lies helpless, inert, in the
dust of the street. BlAod oozes from
gaping wounds, from -.apes-->.A------
and :r..au4l.-sA prowling Ndog strays
that way and draws near to sniff the
bloody THING. The sunlight falls
aslant the face OF the THING, and 10,
reveals the purpling, blotching marks
OF death clearly and yet more clear
ly. Bye and bye come friendly hands
to lift this THING and carry 1t away
to what was its earthly abiding place.
Tenderly, silently, with here and there
a falling tear the burden bearers en-.
ter the home desolate. The THING is
placed upon it's cooling board. 1t has
now found its way to the stricken
wife and fatherless babes. A faith
full WOMAN looks upon the helpless
THING and through her heart goes the
points Of many arrows, red-tipped and
dipped in fire. Around the THING
cluster little Willie and Jim, little
Susan and Polly-each one gazing In
wonder upon the THING. It hears
not, feels not, knows not anything. It
is dead. 1t was a MAN. 1t walked
out in the morning leaving a warm
kiss upon the lips Of wife and
children. 1t was throbbing with life,
living, breathing, moving. 1t is now
dead. The hand Of Man struck this |
MAN that was, and 10! A GASTLY
THING is all that remains of the Man |
that was. An open grave, the falling
clods the fervent utterances of priest, |
the silent gathering pass before the
minds eye-then vanish. Old Mother
Earth has swallowed up the GHAST-
LY. BLOODY THING. It could not
resist; it could not help itself. 1t
has to go, because some angry MAN,
some drunken MAN. some demon
ruled MAN struck, and 10! A THING,
a CHASTITY THING Roll on, golden
days, hours, minntes-a year-two
years-three years, and lo a MAN
sits in the prisoners dock-sits at the
bar of Justice, indicted for MURDER.
Indicted for making Of q MAN q
THING. Time has helped to blot the
THING from the memory OF all. He
has few to step out and say: A MAN
has been made into a THING, and II
there is the GUILTY ONE. The same
eyes that looked upon the THING
and lips that said: Poor thing" now
look upon the Prisoner and say, 4
Poor Man; "He is to be pitied";
He should not be punished; "He |
has wife and babes; His family
will have no bread -winner"-and a {
thousand things besides. Alas! and
yet alas! 'tis true. The THING {
has but little show. 1t has been too I
ong dead-too long swallowed up OF (
MOTHER EARTH. True, the THING 4
hat was MAN paid taxes for pro- r
ection before the ruthless hand of g
mother struck; true, he refused to u