Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/436

 426" Southern Historical Society Papers.

school boards (from whatever motives) to introduce it into our schools — that teachers should protest against it until their protest is heard — ayid pareyits should absolutely refuse to allow their children to study that part of it pertaining to the war.

Death of Mrs. Sarah K. Rowe, "the Soldier's Friend."

Orangeburg, S. C, fune 2, 1884.

I feel warranted in informing you of the death of Mrs. Sarah K. Rowe, which occurred yesterday, the ist of June, at her country home in this county. Mrs. Rowe was known for four and a- half years, '61 to '65, as the soldier's friend. I detract nothing from great women all over the South, Cornelias of heroic type, when I state that Mrs. Rowe was pre-eminently the soldier's friend. If this should meet the eye of Hood's Texans, of Polk's Tennesseeans, of Morgan's Kentuckians, or of Pickett's Virginians, any of whom passed on the S. C. R. R. during the war, her face beaming with benevolence, her arms loaded with food, will be remembered as one of the sunny events of a dark time. From the first note ol war Mrs. Rowe gave all she had and could collect by wonderful energy to the soldiers. She had her organized squads. The gay, strong soldier to Virginia was fed and cheered on ; the mangled and sick were nursed and cared for. She had a mother's blessing for the brave, a mother's tears and sym- pathy for the dying and dead. Mrs. Rowe emphatically lived and spent herself for the cause, and when it failed, like a noble woman she submitted, with the remark, " It is all right." The sight of a bandaged head or limb under her soft touch was an everyday picture. The echo of a thousand cheers as the troop-trains passed her was re- curring every day. She bandaged and waved God -speed as well. A few days ago Mrs. Rowe showed by request a part of her great legacy — the letters from the soldiers she had nursed to life again. Truly her reward was rich. She passed away, of paralysis, at a ripe old age. The soldiers and survivors buried her. The Young and "Old Guard" lowered her remains to mother earth. When Fame makes up its roll her precious name should stand out — the soldier's friend.

Truly yours,

John A. Hamilton.

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