Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-10-21

reaching into every hamlet and in
to every cross roads in the country.
This great cause has been likened 70
a net of mercy over an ocean of UNI
speakable pain and to the cross Of
Christ in it's burden of service and
love The words America has de-
clared war" seemed to start every
needle in the world The knitting
needle, the sewing needle, the machine
ineedle-speedily became the weapon
of womankind. Further impetus. to
the development OF Red Cross work
in this state, is given by the appoint
ment of a Georgia woman, Mrs. Pres
ton Arkwright o. Atlanta, as one OF
the ten mmbrs of tn National Wo-
mans Advisory Council to the Red
Cross.
All over the country, as in my home
town, Americas, the women are
working under Red Cross directions,
with patriotism and intensity. To see
these numerous classes of twenty wo-
men each. dressed in the Required
Red Cross Uniform, making bandages
BY the thousands, never firing of their
good work. is an inspiration and ell
osuently attests the undaunted 10y
atty Of the American woman.
To i've you a small instance OF
one phase of this work, shortly be-
fore the sailing of our first troops to
France the call was sent to the wo-
men of Richmond for five hundred
comfort kits 10 be shipped to Wash
ington next day There was not
comfort bag in Richmond at that
hour, but scores of women immedi-
ately responded and by working un-
til two o'clock in the morning the five
hundred kits were in the hands OF
Pershing's men on the day they sail
ed. That is the way women do things.
A force of twelve thousand Amer
lean engineers are rebuilding the
railroads of France Twenty-Five thou
sand American men are now on the
battle fields of Europe, fighting as vol
unteers in the Allied armies Forty
thousand of our regulars have been
added to this number. Within a few
months we will have in service an
army of a million and half and
navy of two hundred thousand men.
And for everyone Of these soldiers
there must be an American woman,
ready to think, ready to plan, and
equipped to do. In this crisis of GU"
national life we should grant the last
man and the farthing demanded by
our country.
Many said that women would pre-
fer peace at any price to the sacrifice
Of their sons. That would. vote en-
mace against war, because they
hate terror and cruelty and war is a
terrible and cruel thing. But war is
here, the most cruel war in history,
and the women are of one mind about
il with the men Their part in it has
been called sacrifice when the right
name for it is service They want
nothing but the right to serve, and
who shall say thaht the war has not
given it them.
mo easy hopes or lies
Shall bring us to our goal,
But iron sacrifice
Of body, will and soul
There's but one task for all,
For each, one life to give;
Who stands if freedom falls?
Who dies if justice lives?'
| witnessed a scene a week ago
that made a lasting impression on me.
At little country town in Georgia
the train stopped and a company of
khaki clad boys began to say their
Hast good-byes before they went on
board AS 1 stepped near theh tram
to see the fine fellows file in wo-
man of years, whose face told all too
| well that she knew all too we'll the
grim realities of war, stepped from
the crowd for one more word with
her boy. Her lips were white with
anguish, and my heart thrilled within
me as l heard her say; Goodbye.
my son, be a good boy, obey your or
| i - go Ia ..o1,,. d11tu ,,