Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-08-03
Sergeant York spurns AL
Assistance.

World War, who was In a company
commanded by captain-later Major
e. C. B. Danforth, of Augusta, is
about to lose his Tennessee farm, due
to the dehation in value of farm
products. 1t seems that on York's re-
turn from the army he was given a
farm in his beloved Tennessee, half
of the purchase price being paid on
it by the donors, thus leaving a mort
gage which York expected to pay
from the proceeds of the farm. The
fall in value of farm commodities has
made the farm a liability instead OF
an asset and with the mortgage on
the place due, the World War hero
may be forced to give it up.
We read that there have been Of
fers from moving picture magnates,
from chautauquas and from many
other sources to lure York away from
the farm long enough to make
enough money t opay up his obliga-
lions. There have been offers of
gifts from many individuals and at
tractive salary offers, but York
figures that he will be c%apitalizing
his war service if he. accepts them.
There are few men who could with
stand the temptation of being lion
lied, of being The cynosure of hun
dreds of thousands of eyes and to
revel in the admiration of the public,
to say nothing of the thousands OF
dollars that he could gather in at the
same time. However, York is a quaint
character, one who had to be per-
suaded that it was his duty to fight
since he entered the service a con-
scientious Director but, once con-
WINGED that it was his duty, he be-
came the most famous of all the
World War heroes. 1t seems that ne
holds equally strong scruples about
capitalizing afterwards what ne did
in the line of duty. which is a highly
commendable trait, though it is not
a bit practical. York could, perhaps,
take advantage of some offer to ex-
tend him assistance which he could
repay in full, and an offer which
would not cause him to have to vul-
carly parade his proves as a SOL
der. 1t might be quite true that his
war record would be the direct or
indirect cause of his securing the as
sistance, but the fact that he was a
hero should not effectually shut him
off from any assistance from the out
side world when it is generally prof
fered to him. However, he is a pecu-
liar make up, a conscientious charac-
ter, who sets his ideas of right
against everything, saying he would
rather lose his farm and "go back to
work as a common laborer than to
commercialize the fame which was
only Incidental to an act of Provl-
dence."
Speaking of this the Atlanta Con-
stitution holds up the lanky Tennes-
sean as a hero in peace as we'll as in
war and goes on to say:
GHOST men similarly situated,
would jump at ony, n of the mon
ey-making opportunities which this
modest hero has fatty refused. In
fact, had York been Of a different
temperament he could easily have
been Independently rich by now. BY
reason of the spectacular character
of the incident upon which his fame
rests he would be a wonderful "draw-
ing card" either on the lecture plat
form, on the screen Or in the maya
zine and Sunday newspapers.
"But Sergeant York modestly
takes the position that he went into
the war not for pecuniary gain, that
he did nothing more than a soldiers
duty, and that to exhibit himself or
exploit his record for gain would
cheaper the uniform he wore and de-
tract from the dignity and glory OF
the flag under which he fought so
heroically and well.
"such spirit is commendable, and
manifestation of it at the peril OF
losing the home that he loves stamps
Sergeant York as being a real hero
in peace as well as in war."-Augus-
ia Chronicle.