The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1922-02-16
Appeal For Aged Confederates


Mrs. L. P. Yerger, chairman { /
the maintenance division of tie
Daughters of the Confederacy hss
issued an appeal to members of
that organization for the aid of the
aged. infirm aud INDECENT followers
OF the Lost Cause. Among other
thu q Iefger states that there
are 50 vito are anxionsly awaiting
the app0ri unity to enter the so-
diers Home. All OF them are more
than 20 years of age. most of them
between the ages Of so and 95
All are practically homeless SOM
bedridden in the humble homes of
their children who are themselves
sorely in need Of the necessities of
life.,'
She further states that the main
tenance treasury is empty and that
the committee is powerless without
the cooperation 81 the Daughters
and urges aat immediate steps ~
taken To raise funds to provict'
necessities for the existence of these
veterans. We quote from her letter;
We suggest that you make drive
such as you made during the worlG
war for our boys overseas, and
urge that you make gercontribu-
tions to the maintenance fund
which is for the benefit OF our des-
titute and decrelit Confederate
veterans rather than contribute so
literally, as many chapters are
doing to feed and clothe the peo-
pie of far away lands, while those
Of your own household are begging
bread and raiment.
Bear in mind the Biblical in
junction, But if any provide not
for his own and especially for those
of his own house, he hath denied
the faith and is worse than an in
fidel.' This is a potent admonition
and bears directly on the conditions
confronting you and is a. fcrceful
argument in ia or fmy contention,
that in such ii stances as the one
before you, that as Daughters of the
Confederacy, your allegiance is to
the Confederate soldier, and if you
are loyal Daughters Of the Con-
federacy there can be no doubt in
your hearts and minds as to where
the path Of duty leads.
Crieved Over Facts.
am astonished and grieved
when / am confronted with the fact
that the chapters, faithful few
excepted, are making much larger
contributions to other purposes
than they are to the maintenance
fund, and more to be deplored tina
some are not contributing anything
to it.
Trusting, as | do, in your fealty
to the soldiers of our Dixie land, L
am forced to the conclusion that
such action on your part is to be
attributed to lack OF information
and a full understanding OF their
pitable plight, rather than to want
Of loyalty. And while your COM
mittee has made jealous efforts to
keep you informed as to the true
situation, | must admit it is diff
cult for one to fully realize that in
Mississippi, land Of patriotism
and Of plenty. there are hungry and
poorly clad, Confederate men and
women. That such a condition
exists seems incredible and is a
stigma on the people of our state.
And it is equally hard to believe
that the chapters of ths Mississippi
Division United Daughters Of the
Confederacy, which on ceremonial
occasions declare their devotion to |
the Confederate soldiers. refute this
DECLARATION when they neglect them
10 the hour OF their extremity, leav-
ing them il want. while they make
liberal donations to 80 many other
causes.
Mt = Criticisn.
What / bave written as not
been done in the spirit Of criticism
but rely to bring to your attention
which IS ia performance of my
duty The urgent and pathetic needs
81 our Confederate men and women.
And ia this connection to point out
h you for your reflection, that it is
1o{ because you have not tie
money for this work, that you neg
eol Il. but for the reason that you-l