The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-21
YORK'S PLEAFO .
MOUNTAIN SCHOOL
BRINGS RESULTS.
MemphianS Subscribe More
Than $4,000 at Lecture by
Which World War Hero Be-
gan His Work for People.

9oII ITO WOlk iVI FeUpIe.
Alvin C. York, Christian soldier,
whose name has become a household
word In millions of homes since the
story Of his exploit in the Argonne
forest, when he led a little squad of
men against a German machine gun
nest n came out with l32 prisoners
and left 20 dead Germans. killed with
his rifle n pistol. behind, made his
tirst public appeal Wednesday night for
lunus Ior the school for mountain boys
and girls which he intends to establish
IN his own mountain country.
Inc appeal was simply made. York
Is no orator. he grew up amid hard
ships, with only a meager chance to
secure the simplest education during
a rev months each year. Such educa-
tlon az he has, he acquired by study
at night In his little mountain home,
after days Of hard work. ,
But he has what is more than an
education-a vision Of what may be
done for the boys and girls of his sec
ton, who for years have beer denied
opportunities for learning, a vision OF
service, to which he has dedicated his
/ life,
That was the lesson he brought home
from the world war, a lesson that In
his humble way he is trying to bring to
others. Simply and sincerely, he pre-
scented that lesson to the audience which
filled the New Lyric theater.
Saunders Gives $1,000.
Committees distributed cards after
the lecture, for subscriptions to the
York foundation and slightly more than
$4,000 was realized, including proceeds
from sale Of tickets. L. NJ. Stratton
announced that the first check, one
for $1,000, was sent him by Clarence
Saunders.
Reginald orgill and Mr.. and Mrs.
L. NJ. Stratton gave $500 each, and the
following 500 each: d. H. Crump, o.
Bolton Smith, Ia D.. Murrelle, ]. G.
Rice, l.. P. James, Hugh Wynne, Jr.,
A. Epsie Jennings, J. Rowlett Paine,
K. l.. Jordan, and Hardwig and Israel
Peres, DR.. Granville Sherman.
There are only two things that stand
out in my mind az the most important
things in life he said-'religion and
education. The greatest of these is re-
llgion. There is nothing greater in all
the world than true religion, and to-
gether with education 1t will unlock the
door to every opportunity that a man
or woman seeks.
without education a mar will nave
a hard time. / have seen men working
for 40 or 80 cents a day because they
lacked education TO do anything but the
most ordinary common labor. / have
had men to come to me. in my own reg
iment over there, asking me to write to
their mothers. They could not ever
sign their names, yet they were SOL
diers Of the greatest nation on earth.
Such a condition must not continue in
this country.
II have little education myself, and
that Is why / sympathize with those
who lack 1t, as none OF you can, who
have had every advantage in life.
Greatest Possible Service.
THAT is why l am here, trying to do
what | a to raise money for a school,
free to every mountain boy and girl, !
can not do 1t alone, but / know your
sympathies will be with me, n that
those of you who are able will help in
the cause to which l have dedicated my
life. Nothing. is a greater service, l
think, than the uplift of the fallen, to
reach down a helping hand to those
who need help. ! have faith that l will
have your help, and the help OF many
thousand others in this work,
All my people need Is opportunity.
Il have for years trusted in a higher
power, and that power has never failed
me through all the dangers through
which | and my comrades passed. Now
want to show my gratitude to God
by doing something for those mountain
boys and girls who have now no more
opportunity lHdH i ndu. i nave Il III
tile brother at home and two little sis
ters. l want them to have a chance.
The boys and girls who are growing up
now will rule this nation by and by.
| know that we a accomplish almost
anything II we go ahead with faith In
God and His power. and I hope you all
VIII realize this and realize your OPP
portunity. for service and to aid in Gods
work as | am trying to do"
Storms Of Applause.
Sergeant York was greeted with a
storm OF cheers as he strobe upon the
stage and his brief address. lasting
scarcely 20 minutes, was literally APP
%plauded, for his sincerity and earnest
ness were so apparent, and his bearing
SO modest, that not a man or woman
in the audience could doubt them.
Smith, president of the Rotary club,
who presided. called upon George r..
James and Prof. G.. w, Dyer, who Is
one of York's friends and one OF the
charter members of the York founda-
ton, the organization formed to carry
out the plans for building the mountain
school at Pail Mall, York's home.
Mr.. James spoke Of York as having
set a mark which no man has yet
equaled, both for bravery and quick
thinking n action. He spoke of the
need of better educational facilities In
Tennessee and said that he had found
many boys and girls right in Shelby
county whose need is as great as those
OF the East Tennessee mountains. He
spoke OF, York's sincerity and hia plans,
his fervor and his deep religious feel
ing.
Dyer Tells York's Story.
Prof. Dyer told briefly the facts of
York's exploit which brought him such
fame as few men have earned. Ser
geant York himself will never tell this
story" he said, 80 ! will tell II brief
w." He sketched the history OF the
mountain section of the state, the en-
vironment in which the mountain peo-
pie lived. cut off by geographical limi-
tations, for years from the educational
facilities offered most other sections,
yet not ignorant, n having in their
veins the purest blood of the pioneers
of this country, the real Americans
Of the United States.
He said he had been allowed to read
the letters York wrote to bis mother,
written almost daily from the trenches,
and the spirit of faith that they
breathed, and love and anxiety for
those at home and urged that those
who can help to unlock the doors of
education In that mountain country.
Sergt. York smiled whenever a story
with a witty point was told, especially
when Prof. Dyer said he had been asked
recently whether the telephone was
much used by the mountain folk in