The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-24
White Cross Relief.

Advocate" was published also in the
Christian Herald of q recent date
under the caption, The Deadly Per-
IL to Our Girls" The author has
long been one Of the Purity workers
IN the National Womans Christian
temperance Union and is also State
president of the Oregon Woman's
CHRISTIAN Temperance Union. We are
glad to help her pass along the warn
ing to the parents of young men in
this, one Of the chosen States for so
many army encampments. We would
not limit one iota of hospitality to-
"ard our gallant soldier boys, neith-
er would we allow one snare Of temp
tatlon placed in their path that we
could hinder, and be beg that Mrs.
unruh's article shall be read in the
auxiliary meetings and our mission
ary mothers be urged to warn. not
only their own, but their neighbors'
daughters of the need Of ladylike.
circumspect conduct along this line.
Ignorance is not defense. EVIL is
wrought by want Of thought as well
as want of heart"
| Forewarned is forearmed. Moth
ers Of South Carolina, wake up.
and save yourselves and loved ones
the hearatches that may otherwise
await you and them. Invite the
soldiers to your homes, treat them
in every way as you would other
friends, but let it be when they come
properly accredited which surely
may be easily affected through the
many means being used to help make
| their stay in our midst both prof.
table and pleasant.
The male members Of your family,
the Y. M. c. A. workers, the pas
tors of your churches, are all enlist
ing in this hospitality campaign and
of course the mothers and daughters
will and should dc their share, but
L will just use my department mot
to i'm the WOman's Christian Temper
ance Union and say, LET all things
be done decently and in order" The
White Cross Relief article follows:
Amid the enthusiastic activity for
Red Cross, Liberty bonds, War Relief
OF various character which is absorb
ing our thought and energies, in our
efforts to do all possible and impos-
sible for "Our Boys" there is dam
ger that we lose sight of the welfare
of our girls which is strangely men,
aced these days. 80
1t is well for us to realize that if
stain is cast upon the potential
motherhood of our land, if in any
way our girls become less worthy to
be the mothers of n clean, virile race
Columbia will have lost in this war.
no marter what brilliant victory shall
have come to us in the "far-hung bat
tie line
Where is the menace and danger?
The lure of the unform has spread
its net for the unwary feet of our
untaught girls, and they are being
swept from their moosings by the
hundreds, aye, by the thousands: and
the mothers boys who should also be
protected from these dangers are
being hurled into the vortex.
The camps of the guards are ev-
everywhere: the soldier in his artistic
Khaki uniform is on every street. In
| travelling several hundred miles re-
Gently scores of the camps came un-
der my observation. Scarce one was
passed where groups Of girls of high
school age were not seen standing
at greater or less distance, inviting
attention or chatting on familiar
terms with the men. Parents were.
Tor the most part, apathotic or igno-
rant OF the danger. Only a few Sc
rious-minded, inexperienced men and
women were terrOriZed as they real
lied the aftermath.
The older and Christian soldiers de-
precate these things; others, less
thoughtful, welcome the girls openly.
out sneer behind their backs, while
the greater number look upon their
presence as diversion to break the
monotony of camp life with it's hours
OF daily drill, it's watching Of bridges
and tunnels.
The established posts and regular
tralnlng camps offer better protection
while the men are on duty, but when
on leave of absence girls are seen
hanging on the arms Of soldiers as
they walk the street chatting on cor