Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1918-04-06
SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1918.
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FAREWELLS.

PUBLIC AND PRIV ATE FARENELLS.
Last night shortly after 10 O'Clock another
increment of the Berkeley County men who are
Offering their lives for the sake OF the preser-
walton of civilization in the world left Martins
burg. There was a considerable crowd at the
station to shout them farewell; there was a
band, and there were Boy Scouts; there was
lots Of noise as the train pulled out, much waving
of hands, many last attempts to say Goodbye"
and "God-speed"; there was some weeping, more
laughter and an incredible amount of I'M
adulterated curiosity to see what all 1.-THE boys
looked ike, and how they said their last fare
wells. There was everything to make the pub
lie farewell come up to standard.
Last night shortly after ten o'clock, in some
OF the homes in this county where the hurrahs
Of the crowd and the blasts Of engine whistles
could not penetrate, there knet mothers and
fathers in humble submission to the inevitable
working of the will of an all-powerful Cod whose
works they cannot comprehend but in whose
works they have an unshakable faith. On their
knees they prayed that their sons might be re-
turned to them again and with a realization that
they might not be returned, they offered up
prayer that their sons might fight good fight
and that they might die, if die they must, with
bullet in their fore as sign that they died
facing to the front They did not want to see
their boys go; in their personal thoughts they
selfshly wanted to keep them. Yet at the same
time they heard the clarion call to a sober duty:
q duty to give up their own blood; call which
pierced to their hearts even as it pierced to the
hearts of the boys who answered it publicly. In
the light of that call to a higher duty,-a call
to sacrifice for the sake of others,-they saw
heir boys go,-not gladly, but trustingly and
faithfully. They did not go to see the public
demonstration: that, to some of them at least,
would have been a sacrilege upon their inmost
thoughts.
And so it will go asAong as drafted men leave.
Mothers and fathers win raise their prayers to
a God in whose hands lie the destinies of the
world and all its creatures; and the public will
give them a send-oH which, out of consonance
as it may be with the business to which they are
called and with the spirit which they will absorb
when they get into war atmosphere, makes
them feel like heroes. And perhaps both are
necessary. Ii they need to have their courage
stimulated and the public demonstration will
stimulate it, by all means a public demonstra-
lion. We always think at the same time, how
ever, oil how false an impression the public
celebration gives; how quickly these very mer
viii find themselves robbed of their halo, ant
how quickly they will feel that war preparation
is not public celebration but long and tire
some and often soul-rending process.
And at the same time we think Of those boy!
who volunteered and who go to their training
unsung in this public manner men who have
voluntarily given up their home ties and re
sponsibilities and strike out by themselves to d.
their utmost for their country. No one wou
deny that they deserve the public appreciation
no one would deny that they do not get it, PEI
haps that is one reason why they volunteer: the
wish to get away from the publicity which al
tends the departure Of the increments.
Far be it from US to deny anything to tn
drafted men which makes for their satisfaction
efficiency and the welfare of the Army; but ia
is it from US to see the honest propriety of thes
demonstrations