The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-12-01
Little Acts OF Patriotism,
(By Hildegarde Hawthorne of The
VigilanteS.)


Vigilantes.)
1t was the millions who took the
little bonds, straining a point to do
so, buying them on the installment
plan when they couldn't buy them
outright it was these who gave the
country at this great time the best
assurance of the patriotism and the
devotion Of its people.
And it is the many little acts of pa
trlotism, by the millions who for many
a varying reason cannot make the
great sacrifices, it is these who en-
phasizes that fact.
The little acts of patriotism! We
are constantly coming across one of
them Hearing some woman say, as
| did this morning, while crowded into
an office elevator:
you see, have only two free
hours each evening. Isn't it too bad,
for Of course i can't do very much in
that time. I knit one evening and
make bandages the next-but only
two hours"
Or it may be another sopt of sac
rifice. such as this by a young girl
Il counted up and found that !
averaged fifty-five cents a week on
candy And 1 just decided that !
wouldn't eat q single piece this year
o. for the duration Of the war, as
they put it, And 1 talked with all
of my best friends, and we've signed
q pledge to put our candy money all
together-it amounts to seventeen
dollars and a few cents each week,
think of that-into comfort kits for
the soldiers, or wool for sweaters. OF
course, it's silly even to speak of CIV
ing up such a little thing as candy in
a time like this. but we are all girls
without very much spending money,
and we've been perfectly delighted to
see what getting together accomplish
es. Seventeen dollars week buys
quite a lot!'
The other day I lunched with a
friends Of mine who is a secretary i'm
n downtown office. AS we gained the
street / turned toward the restaurant
we habitually frequented, but she
pulled me back:
mo, l don't go there any more"
she said.
why not? There isn't another so
convenient, nor with better food
and then they make us feel so at
home there"
"Yes. but they aren't complying
with HOover's request as to meat and
wheat, and ! won't go to any restau-
rant that doesn't. Well have to go
another block and get into a crowd.
but 1t can't be helped"
suggestion there, isn't there, for
those women who can't help the food
conservation personally, since they
don't keep house. Patronize no res
taurant that doesn't comply with the
Hoover requests, and let those that
refuse to do so know just why they
don't get your custom
Are you planning to save for the
next issue of Liberty Bonds?" said
one girl to another.
"The next? Wait till it comes.
I'm still paying off on the last"
We'll, so am /. But I'm working
out scheme to lay aside a quarter a
week in addition, and then I'll have
enough on hand when the new issue
comes to start taking one Of them"
These are only a few Of many in
stances. I know a child who is rum
ming errands for two neighbors after
school hours in order to pay off a
bond he is buying. know of two
little girls who have volunteered to
go without Christmas presents in or
der to send Christmas bags to the
soldiers abroad. / could go on al
most indefinitely telling of such lit
lie acts of patriotism, just as the
rest of us can. Those who are doing
them don't expect any notice, how
ever. They are sorry they can't do
more, they are full of generous ad-
nliratiOn for those who are making
tie big sacrifices, giving everything.
/ Theirs are just the little acts of
patriotism.
But they have their place, haven't |
they? And maybe the place is big