Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-16
From Other Viewpoints
Funny Booty and Serious Duty.
by ALFRED u. WILLIAMS,

Virginia has some spoil and booty OF war OF
which most Of her people are unconscious
When went into the European conflict none
OF W. really understood that by /, curious COM
p!cation OF our compact ana Constitution,
figured some how another Independent
Dnd sovereign states. while subject TO the call
and orders OF the President and the authori-
ties of the nationa! army, Now the booty IS
TO bc distributed among us proport Tomato 10
popula tion--salvagc o! war and what mcn
gathered from baitlefclds and took from the
,.cr!.anH The old Dominion may he cmbar-
."SScd to find herself owner, She is OF .37i
rifles 1871 machine guns: 9G2 tayonets and
scabards: IS arm insignia: % machine gun
badges; 20j wound badges: 30 feed bags; 10 kit
bags % assorted pits: $40 BUCKLES and
hooks; 1872 cantecns; l3 folding forks and
spoons - helmets; with Ornamental! eagles
and Got Mil Uns," and 234 assorted helmets.
We further entitled to 1873 fur covered
napsacks l.S55 assorted saber kits; - tn
land lances 1897 helmet ornaments; iG pairs
Of spurs; ioa stirrups along with SO trench
moriars and II cannon Of varying ca!ber.
1t is painfully funny TO consider the posi-
habits having all this junk. which probably
would load 10 capacity "a couple Of freigh; cars.
dumped in his Office some morning. Il would
carry home TO him acutcly the idea OF the hor-
lors OF wtr 1t is Nirg.nia's giarc OF tho
loot, probably about al! she will get and
makes Tor her a problem OF what TO do with
H. II looks as If we viii have to build "a twin
for our Confederate Memorial up near the
Soldiers Home In which 10 store these re-
suits Of our military successes. We ha va
not much captured stun 10 put in the other
Kea!S the State. and every state, should
things seriously and respectfully. Less than
hai OF IT is included in the catalogue above
given. All these articles, trivial and appar-
rntlY useless. some OF them are. stand as
ISOLATED Win tAc most brilliant and spcctacu-
Jar chapter Of our history "A nation. What
ever our iauliS, il was our fortune deter
mine the ISSUE OF the most tremendous strug-
-" the world has Not many years
h"ncr, every actual relic of the great war viii
%" OF priceless value. Virginians have neg
icSied such tiInEs v!lcly we have the
iIrSi evidences Of thc. foremost part took
Va inc Eevp.u' iouary War and are indebted to
~" United Stat"s government for Of
mem But for Miss Belle Maury and "A few
oincr women win the foresight that comes
IRON having a soul, would he without me
iEeuioca OF the states deeds and men in the
Ci'!i War AT this moment the History Com
mission j. making an uphill fight against in
cfi!a and Indifference to nreserve the facts o.
pur pat In the world We should he
a3tia med, Most Of us are, but not enough TO
stimulate uS 10 action.
There should be n responsible sensible com.
Unsg!0n take charge q! these relics d.s-
.r.hgtc dispose OK and place them Three
generations hence of these fourteen pairs
e spurk 1875 buckles ana hooks. given to
returned Virginia soldier. with little Of
ncial inscription, recording iS as token Of
his good service, awarded by the State. will
he aimoEt patent OF nobility to his grand
children and a thing to be handed down. car
ryins through centYrios high lessons and In
spsratiop. fsg ,ES {3 "a
sentirnent--the unseen and TOO much unes:
spressad part ~ sonl cal part Of M