The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-02-26

uSdLu VI -hI. NuSSS SO1IlOo c1o q oAioSh
indeed. Just a few days ago, he
was walking our streets doing his
best as a good citizen and mayor OF
our town. His public spirit was ever
ablaze. He was interested in those
public issues which surround and
protect & community.
During this present year We have
had quite battle maintaining dis
cipl;ne ard standard at school. One
afternoon, not many weeks ago, Mr..
Guess stopped at my banking office
and showed inclination to talk about
the days that are past, happy days
too, for in those days the foundation
of his life was made into a pattern,
the beauty and grandeur of it now
engulfed in glory. The boy is gone.
Milleniums may come and go, but
we shall never forget him. Time will
be made richer by the footprints
left on the highways Of community
interest With closed doors, the
busy hum Of the busy day gone, We
chatted about some of the very Incl
dents I have herein noted. With
laughter he told me of many incidents
I had failed to recall for future mar
ration. Memory is poor standby in
the study of life like my friends.
Vivacity covers the deed oft.dnes. l
recall now the intense interest he
displayed for his boys. We talked
about the great democracy in public
schools and he expressed delight in
having a boy there, especially now,
when the world was undergoing
changes, the beginning of which was
worldwide war and the closing of it.,
scattering disease and suffering.
Little did I think that influenza, a
topic of our conversation, would for
ever shut him off from the visions
of home with educated boys to greet
him and mother as they came into
and went out of the happy home. His
interest in the school was great.
Great because he loved his boys.
Great, because without it, their cit
izenship would be less potent. So
l learned again, in addition to the
name and the character, the real
burning meaning of fathers am
bition for his children. I trust both
of them will become the real ideals
of the departed father, a comfort and
joy for the bereaved mother.
A good name, good character and
ambition for his children, these at
tributes point the way to the worth
of the man. His intentions must be
good, his heart must be filled with
longings and tenderness not only for
his own dear ones but most assuredly
for others. Two or three winters
past, 1 happened to meet him just
across the Southern railroad; he, 60
ing down to his place Of business and
I, approaching my bank. From be-
hind the cars on the side-track
voice called out "Mister-Mister.'
We turned our faces in the direction
of the pathetic appeal and we were
soon in conversation with a young
man, far away from his home and in
deep distress, cold and hungry. Al
genon listened to the black faced ur-
chin for quite awhile and at last
placed into his hands silver dollar,
saying, MY young fellow, go home
and make a man of yourself, you
look too great to be a tramp" The
little, young hobo began to weep.
The word home" brought to him
recollections of happiness, mother,
a father, sisters and brothers. He
left us sobbing, Il am going home" y,
Few men stop to give to a lonely,
companionless wanderer sympathy.
Algenon had a heart for others. With
such characteristics he was deserved
ly popular. 1 close this attestation
of the worth of the young man with
the wish that the young men of today
may live with a distinctive purpose
in view; of enhancing the value of
their own lives and thereby making
others happier and more thoughtful
Of the sweet invitations God is etern-
ally sending through thousands of
mediums to the millions Of immortal
youths. ]. ARTHUR W1GG1NS.
Raymond Smoak, of Orange