The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-04

pected shock Of further news that still
another life that could Ill be spared
has passed beyond the range OF mortal
sense.
Appreciation of the life and gener-
al character of every man who dies
in the service has been or will be
publicly expressed by those that have
the command Of langaAa.e to do JUS
tice to such themes. To them shall
be left the privilege Of paying COM
prehensive memorial tribute IN this
and all other such cases But the
news that Theodore D. Favenel, Jr.,
CAPTAIN U. S. N. A, was killed IN &C
ton on November 10th, calls to the
memory Of one who knew him wei
facts connected with his service and
sacrifice which. are Of an unusual ma
ture, and which should be publicly
set forth. not only that full homo,
may be paid to the fallen but also
for the sake OF the example present
ed to others. I ask permission to be
allowed to state them, however made
quately.
Theodore Ravenel was distinctly
not a man who had to go any way.
His wife and two infant children
were, in the language of the draft act
wholly dependent upon his labor foi
support Nevertheless, he was moi
merely among the first but the first
man from this locality to turn from!
i the pursuits of civil life and offer
himself to his country in the hour Of
her great need. His application wa
IN the hands of the military authori'
ties before legislation for universe
service was even, seriously discussed
Both by advice as to the for1nalit1es
necessary to secure enrolment in the
Officer Reserve Corps and by the in
spiration of his example he aidee
many who followed along the patf
that ne had chosen.
It was his earnest desire to enlls
as a private soldier in some brancf
| Of the Regular Army or in the Marine
/ Corps in order that he might reach
the fighting front at the earliest mo
nent possible. The claims Of those
who looked to him for support, ant
Cor whom he could not provide upo,
the pay of an enlisted man, mad
such a plan Impossible, and, as tn.
only alternative, he took the cours'
that led to a commission but 6eferreI
the prospect Of immediate action
This was q constant source Of regre
10 him, and he underwent extrem
anxiety whenever the trend Of event
seemed to point to the probability Q
a. cessation Of hostilities before has or
ganization could get over seas. How
ever much they may feel his loss, hi
! friends viii rejoice with him that h
reached the front in time to Go hi
| part, and to attain that rare priv
ilege of dying WELL :.
! An ardent sy,npathizer in tn
cause Of the allies, and man VIII
fighting for him, he was capable o
but one response to his country's ap
peal for blood and lives as the ma
terial for making firm the foundatio
beneath a tottering world ideal.
sacrifice was needed in q cause tha
was his own, he would share, to tn
: full measure, in such sacrifice. It wa
I impossible for him to conceive of an
: other course.
1 once was present when he we
discussing with several others the 81
uation that had been created b
Americas entry into the war as
affected the plans Of the various mem
bers OF the group. One Of them sal
TO him, Ct don't see why you got int
this things. They'll never bother
man in your position. Why shoul
you go and get yourself killed? 70
could just stay at home and res
easy" His reply was instantaneou
but unaffected ''I love life. but no
enough for that" The words wer
few and simple, but they revea1e'
with perfect vividness the soul Of on
who was by unerring instinct a sol
dier and gentleman.
r. D. H.