The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-17
or What Are We Thinking?
(By George Barr McCutcheon of The
VigilanteS)

i (By George Barr McCutcheon of The
Vigilantes.)
What is in the mind Of the Amer
lean citizen while THE Star Spangled
Banner is being played?
OF what are we thinking?
Are we thinking Of the flag and all
that it stands for, or are our minds
otherwise engaged?
Of course, i: is reasonably certain
that we are thinking Of something,
but have our thoughts the slightest
connection with the message our flag
is carrying to the enemy?
We obediently arise with the first
sonorous note OF the anthem and we
remain standing till the end We have
learned, or we are learning, to face
the music more or less at attention,
and we are developing the conviction
that it is an offence to chatter while
the strains of our war-song, perhaps
our death-song, fill our ears. But are
we thinking OF The Star Spangled
Banner?
Or are we silently urging the mu-
sicians tG hurry up and be done with
| it so that we may resume an inter
rupted occupation? Are we impa-
tiently waiting to take up a broken
conversation; game of bridge; the
telling Of a story;> the reading OF
newspaper; the liberal art of criti-
cizing the War Department, the Navy
or the Administration; or, what is
t;,of ;fa11 of
| ing the hateful efficiency of the foe?
We sit in public places, and we
arise because we are in public places.
We suspend for the moment our ply
hsical interests, an we look about US
! to see if other people are doing the
same? Some Of us get up grudgingly
and stand as we happen to have been
sitting, with our backs to the music;
some of US go on knitting; others OF
us continue to keep our hands in our
pockets and our cigars in our mouths;
others think that nothing more is re-
quired of them than the lowering OF
( the voice to an undertone; others con-
slider q bland expression Of reslgna-
ton to be efficient; and some fall
into an attitude of tolerant submls-
sveness. There is little or no evi-
dence of eXaltation, no sign OF an
inward thrill, no suggestion OF a pro-
found emotion The beautiful in
spring concentration of thought that
attends the "MarSeillaise' is lacking;
the full-hearted sensation that glorl-
lies "Rule Britannia is absent; even
the fervor Of the Teuton as synbo-
lized in cultural acclaim is sadly
wanting. We, the most imaginative
the most alert people in the world, are
totally devoid Of imagination during
the rendition of our war-song.
Why should we not think, or even
pray, as the French, the English. and
the Germans think and pray while
their song of hope is being sounded? :?
The Star Spangled Ranner" is our
battle-song. 1t goes into the thick OF
the fight with our flag and our boys
1t emphasizes our hopes, our aims
our longings; and Of what are We
thinking-we who stay at home
while its strains are falling upon our
ears? Are we, SO to speak, playing
the game?
Why shouldn't we, one ana all,
great and small, think alike for as
long as five minutes in each day? Let
there be but one thought, one prayer.
while the hymn is ringing. From one
end OF this great land to the other
let this be the beginning of our prayer
the instant the band strikes up The
Star Spangled Banner:
Hor nd
diers and our arms wherever they
may be-
And let this be the end of our de-
vout, intensified prayer as the last
note dies away:
God give us Victory"
: Not perfunctorily. not as matter
: Of duty, but with our hearts in it. our
nerves aquiver, ot- eyes glowing with
the fire OF enthusiasm.
one thought. one prayer in a hun
dred million minds!
: Every heart full. every mind intent
as we face the enemy. For, after
all. this Star Spangied banner of ours
is facing the foe in Il faroff land, ana
there is no other direction in which
we may look.
our men so with the banner to the
music of guns; we stand at home and
: face. not the guns. but a group OF
: Gddlers. Our thoughts. our prayers
nevertheless should be the same as
5 theirs Our silent prayer, however
: brief. should be for Victory. Let IL
: always utter it, one and all. whlle
"The Star SpanSled Banner is belns
played.
Cod give us Victory"