The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-10-10
UNCLE OSCARS LETTER.


asks why haven't written to the
Sentinel again well friend it is sim
ply this, s,--The world is at war; our
people are called upon to give their
time, their money, their lives, the
editor is giving space, patriotic peo-
pie are buying space in which to
bring before the people the ever urg-
ent needs of their country, then
would it not be unpatriotic to ask the
editor for space for such stuff as
Uncle Oscars letters? But listen!
Two little children started my think
cr working. One, a little boy stop
ped his play long enough to ;isk:
Uncle Oscar, Why don't you write
another letter." Then began to
think. With all the thrilling war sto-
rics that are filling our newspapers
and magazines today, filling them
to the extent of almost crowding
out everything else, why should u
child ask for anything else? And
while | was trying to solve this prob
lem little girl in the good town Of
E;Glcy was taking turns with two
other little friends at swinging in a
rope swing at the gate. "Its M.
time next" shouted the little girl as
| was passing. "No, it's my time, !
said l. The little girl stopped, looked
at me thoughtfully and replied, "No.
YOU had your time long. long ago.
and this solved my problem. Yes we
older ones have had our time Of
childhood. our time Of fairy days
when We loved and trusted everybody
and now we are grown up and we fill
every available space with stories of
war and pictures Of men turned into ,
demons and slashing at each others
'hroats and we are robbing the chill
drcn of the quiet hour where simple
stories of love and peace were told
which have SO much to do with the
installing of principles Of humanity
;tld brotherly love in the hearts Of
the young.
Yes, we older ones had our time
long ago, our time Of care-free DAYS,
our time Of laughter and sunshine,
our time Of life's morning when hab-
its were formed, when purposes and
passions were indclbly fixed by en-
vironments in childhood. Now we
have grown up and it is we who shall
lmpart to the younger ones, by the
environments which we place around
them, the ideas, aims and purposes
Of life. Shall it be that of conquest,
of bloody battlcticlds, of broken
hearts and weeping eyes Alas such
things must be; for the cause of lib
crty and right but should we not
give to the childish minds something
to feed upon beside war, war, war
If we hold before the childs eyes
nothing but pictures and stories Of
carnage Of dying men, starving wo-
men and children and of everlasting
hatred one for another then how c;A
we hope to build up world peace
from children thus taught. Then let
us not infect the spring of youth
with the policy Of right by might but
rather right by righteousness. We
are IN this war for rightful cause
and every true American should and
will stand Loyalty under our flag till
every drop Of blood is shed, if need
be, but don't think that every pa
per and magazine should be filled to
the overfiowing with stories con-
strained to implant in the hearts of
cur young people everlasting hatred
for any people
Yes, little girl, | had my time long
ago and | am ready now to stand by
my country whatever the cost, but
would to God it wa& in my power to
give to YOU and other young minds
something more int the horrible
1rlA