Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-09-11
WAIIIfALIA, s. g.:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. ii, 1913.
TUNITY-WHAT IS n:

opportunity. one or the greatest
words In the English language.
Tomorrow (Thursday, September
l2thl, we Of the male citizens Of the
United States Of America between
the ages Of IS and IS years will have
presented to us an opportunity Of a
lifc-time--the opportunity to regis
ter ourselves for the service of our
government and our country.
The other day we heard a man say,
'Fm in luck; | just escape by few
weeks having to register for service" /"
Lucky? We prefer to sympathize
with him. Poor unfortunate, Too
old to be OF service in the active
line. Young-yct just too old to
take advantage OF the opportunity
presented! Physically flt. yet dis
qualified for active service by reason
OF few weeks OF age! And lucky?
Poor unfortunatc--an "Ace," maybe,
thrown aside in the discard; not
needed In "the game" Is he lucky?
OPpor-tn'ni ty. Webster tells us
Of this word: "A fit or convenient
time; time or place Favorable for
executing purposes; a suitable 0cca-
sion.' And think Of tt-"!ucky to
escape" an opportunity to serve ones
country! Again we say, "poor un-
fortunatc."
Yet this man Is less unfortunate in
'cscaping' the opportunity to regis
Ter than is that most unfortunate Of
all rlc'l--that one who registers
anG then EVADES SERVICE. Many
there are who will register to-mor-
row, yet who will never serve i'm the
active ranks. They will be deprived
Of the privilege OF active service by
reason OF some physical defect or by
some good reason why they can better
serve their country than by bearing
arms. All honor to such-just as
much honor to them as to the ones
who will go to the front for the su-
premo effort, and mayhap to make
tho 'suprcmc sacrifice" No man
should or will be blamed for that
which he cannot help.
But we hope to see no man Of the
present registry go out Of his way to
seek an excuse on which to bolster up
Il claim for exemption from the op-
portuntty to serve his country
business? What is it? Is the
safety of our country dependent upon
Its conduct? and cannot Younger
or older men take up the thread OF
our affairs. weaving them into the
business fabric Just as successfully
as we ourselves might do?
And the law? Could not some
Older man plead the cause in Court
as well as the younger men at the
bar? No mans life hangs upon the
eloauence or the labor Of the younger
'barristerS.
And the newspapers? BY no
means sential--certainly not more
important than national safety. The
oft discussed question as to the might
NJ nd Df,l; t.,
ty thcme for argument in time Of
peace, but shorn even Of material for
argument with war OH hand We
might prick regiment Of German
soldiers with our pen and bespatter
the whole army with ink, and weaken
the efficiency Of the Kaisers war
machine not one whit; but one bull
let sent to vital spot. or one we'll
directed thrust of the sword into the
body Of an adversary would carry
with II a weakening Of his forces by
ono man. A man with lesser brawn
can do our work. and doubtless one
with larger brain will take It up.
And what matters 1t? 4 few years
from now the business world will
have forgotten most OF us, and the
world will move on just the same
Not one Of us Is essential in business
--GhVe III the sense tHat the DuSl-
ress Of the United States to-day is
o win the war. A century from now
the records being made on the battle
fields Of France viii be remembered
-emhlazOned on the pages Of world
history-stamped indellibly for all
time.
There will be those who will rake
and scrape for excuses from service
the making OF money, the caring for
business; home, loved ones. These
call loudly, it is true; but louder
still, it seems to us. comes the call Of
country and DUTY,
We have often heard the express
sion, "Id rather be live dog than
dead hero Personally we would
prefer being a dead hero--or lust a
buck private" dead on the battle
fields OF France. having done our
duty TO the best Of our ability--than
a live thing, to go and come among
our fellow-men with the knowledge
that others might say Of us. with JUS
,ice, "He heard the call, but answ err
ed not"
Register tomorrow promptly. Let
not one trumped-up claim for excmp-
tion be filed later by the rcgstrants
between the ages OF IS and i5.