Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1917-07-12

es in the cooperation of the student:
of the Polytechnic.
The thought came to me of the tire
mendous psychological significance
of the power of such speeches al
over the United States at that houl
everywhere, in all places, men anC
women pledging themselves to the
best and noblest that human nature
is capable of-Service.
All this great spiritual awakening
cannot be lost! 1t will, it must
count for good in the years to come
May be the land-the people had
grown apathetic, but on these Red
Cross days it has sprung up as a
cleaning sword from it's sheath, a
flaming pOrtent in the sky. 1t has
made our hearts thrill and quiveI
under it's piercing light. We can
never again be apathetic and un
sympathetic. l was not in Nashville
to take an humble part in the be-
ginning of the Red Cross movement
but did not regret it, for | was
deeply glad to be in Cookeville in a
part of the country where the purest
American blood is found, and to do
modest bit in playing the accom-
paniments for that community tc
sing the rOusing patriotic songs, to
help them express thru music, their
undying sentiments of loyalty to the
highest, purest ideals of American
Democracy. Henceforth Putnam is
a name to "conjer" by with the
Nashville guests fortunate enough to
be among those present at their first
mass meeting
That afternoon Mrs. Epperson took
us to Bloomington Springs to attend
the meeting of the Tennessee Wo-
mans Press and Authors Club, Of
which she was the very brilliant
President two years ago.
What a quaint little place it is,
with its rambling old hotel and it's
fern bordered spring house Mrs
Burford, the cordial hostess of the ho-
tel, received us so heartily, it made
one wonder if we had not been
friends in some previous existence
we who had not been there in former
years.
Even the elements turned out to
do their bit, and for two days roared
and thundered salvos as if we were
truly Big Panjandrums
The Thunder God, Thor. some
times takes supreme command among
the hills of Putnam, and during our
first night there we were confident
battery of AZ centimeter guns had
been turned on us-just in Welcome
to our happy home," of course.
Algood and Cookeville in the per-
sons of Mrs. John Epperson and Mrs.
Rutledge Smith, made the Press Club
very welcome to Putnam and we are
truly glad the little Log Cabin on the
Hill at Bloomington Springs is our
Mecca, and our ain Roof Tree. An
honest, frank log cabin, the Gift of
the GOds--impersonated by Putnam
friends who gave sturdy logs and
then sturdily raised them, and
richly aided by the generous gifts OF
Mrs. Latham of Memphis, and club
members; lovingly supervised and
watched over in the building by Mrs
Rutledge Smith, this darling little log
cabin is that rare thing in life,
Realized Dream. 1t isn't too good
to be true" it is just true!
There these earnest Club women
met and thro every plan, every
thought for the future of the CLUB
there ran the bright scarlet thread
of the Day-with pledges to uphold
our President, to safeguard our sol
1iers at home and to care for them in
4 foreign land. Service and selfde-
NAL and sacrifice were in everything
planned, The usual lavish banquet
was put aside and simple, tho most |
charming afternoon tea was given by |
he president, Mrs. Helen Topping
Miller of Morristown, in honor of |
Mrs. Anne Rankin of Nashville.
Patriotism was not merely talked
bout, it was lived and acted. and the |
lifts of the club to the Y. w. C. A
library at Fort Og1ethorpe and to |
he Army Comfort League at Camp
Jackson, to help buy testaments for
he men in camp. showed the ear
lestness that, went into the spirit OF
lelpfulness, and the larger gift to
he Red Cross Fund of Putnam coun-
v expressed appreciation Of the hos
,itality Of that attractive region.
Algood and Cookeville are not quite
IS big, nor nearly so smoky, yet, as
but Old Glory was floating
ust as high on the flag pole at Al
rood, and the Stars and Stripes