The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-09-27
Large Crowd Says
Goodbye to Soldiers

crowd estimated at 1000 men,
women and children gathered in Pickens
last Friday to do honor and bid Godspeed
to the young men of Pckens county
who were to leave next day for Camp
Andrew jackson at Columbia to enter
the National army of the United States.
Ninety young men were present ready
to go, but only eighty were sent, which,
by the way, was seven more than the
county's quota.
1t was a day the like of which has
never before been seen in this grand
old county. Mothers, fathers, brothers,
sisters and sweethearts of the soldiers
were present to give what encourage
ment they could and to let the boys
know they loved them. 1t was no
Fourth of July celebration nor hip!
hip! hurrah! meeting; neither was it a
1uneral occasion, but serious and SOL
emn affair, enshrouded with certain
kind of enthusiasm.
Long before time for the formal ex-
ercises to begin the court house was
crowded and when the meeting was
called to order hardly half the people
could get in, tho the house was packed
and jammed.
Inc meeting was opened with prayer
py feV. -. w. iiott. j. p. Carey, Jr.,
made the first and brief address and in
troduced Dr.. John L. White of Ander-
son, the principal speaker of the day
lie came here with a big reputation and
he added to it with Il masterpiece of
eloquence and information. 1t is safe
TO say that no address ever made in
Pickens surpassed that delivered by DR..
| White on this occasion To try to re-
produce even part of it in cold type
| would detract from it. He went back
forty years and told step by step how
Germany had made preparations to be-
come a world empire, and how she
brought this war on. He said that a
year ago he was opposed to the United
States entering the war, but showed
how events had shaped themselves so
that this country could not remain out
OF the war and retain its liberty. De-
fned autocracy and democracy, and
said If Germany should emerge from
the war victorious all countries would
from necessity become autocracies, while
if the United States and the Allies won
all countries would become democracies
1t is fight for worldwide democracy
and the right of the people to rule them
selves. Predicted the war would end
before next September. The speaker
was frequently interrupted by applause
and closed with an ovation.
&. f. Robinson next introduced j. p.
Carey, Sr., who delivered one of those
addresses for which he is famous = full
of meat practical and 'soaks in His
talk was of an encouraging nature to the
boys, and we haven't the least doubt
but that they will make better soldiers
for it. He told the boys how well Uncle
Sam treated his soldiers and what Uncle
Sam expected of them. He was vocif-
erously applaudcd
e. =. McCravey made short talk
and corrected several erroneous reports
which slackcrs had attempted to circu-
late.
Rev. II. *. Williams dismissed the
audience with prayer, after which
picnic dinnerwas served on a large table
in the court house grove
At $50 o o'dlock in the afternoon the
court house was again overlowed with
people to hear the roll Of soldiers called
and see the presentation of comfort
bags and razors to the boys. The com
fort bags were made by good ladies in
all sections Of the county and filled with
articles which will be useful to the bows
in camp life. Mrs. j. u. Carey, Jr..
presented them in most graceful and
charming manner. Rev. ID. w. Hiott
then made a short presentation speech
and gave to each soldier safety razor
presents of the men Of Pckcns. The
new soldies were then asked to stand nm
SO the audience could see them. They
were given the chautauqua salute, hand
shakes and were hugged and cheered to
the echo People from every part of
the county were here and it was a great
day II history-making onc-and one
which will be long remembered.