The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-08-14

from home. They look old now, and
many are stopped with age. One can
hardly realize that these are the men
we saw going to the front i'm '6l.
Maine sent some noted regiments into
the war; few, il any, made q bad rec
ord. An old veteran from Massachu-
sets was heard to remark, swell,
those Maine boys don't show up quite
as fine as we do, but tell you ii was
going into brush to-day should feel
q good deal safer If some Of them were
not far off. Boys, I've been with them"
With the Maine division was post
from the Soldiers Home at Togus, and
following them barge containing SOL
dier's orphans from the Bath Home.
1t is not generally known, perhaps:
that Maine has state pension law and
no disabled soldier of Maine can be-
come a pauper. Massachusetts, came
next: the handsomest in the line.
Those Massachusetts, fellows always
Acre a starchy set of chaps, but good
TsollierS-none better. Then came New
Hampshire, followed by Illinois, Iowa,
Wisconsin, Indiana, Wisconsin, Indiana,
Kansas, and SO OH down the line. All
the western posts were cheered Justify.
Kansas had about forty men in line and
where it was anywhere recognized by its
banner it received an enthusiastic greet
ing. The rOut taken was b miles long
and the procession was two hours and 81
minutes in passing, there being $4,000
men in line. The men marched at a
quick step to the music of thirty-eight
bands and forty drum corps. 1t was Il
splendid pageant; this living panorama
of the war. with its superb banners and
torn battle flags.
There is something sad about these
gatherings to me. Those old veterans
marching so proudly to-day; meeting
and marching side by side with an old
cOmrade that they have not met since
they marched together in the old war
times, and tonight they part never to
meet again. For, one by one, the boys
are being mustered out, and each re-
union the line grows shorter and that
silent bivOuac on the other side is being
constantly reinforced. Opposite the
pretty little city park a stand had been
erected, where the procession was re-
viewed by General Robe, Gen. Logan,
Commander Kuntz and many Others.
The streets along the route were hand
sOmely and pr0filsely decorated, and the
old soldiers enjoyed looking at the peO-
pie rs we'll as they did looking ut us.
At one point on State street 1,2OO, (this
is not miss print 1,200 school girls,
each waving flags, greeted Us with pat
riotic songs, and many glee clubs sung
rs we went past. just in the rear of the
Kansas delegation came post from
Newport, KY, consisting of drill master,
color bearer, and sixteen men neatly
dressed wearing helmets and carrying
swords; sixteen better drille;! men do
not now remember having seen. They
kept upa series of fancy movements
throughout the entire Eiarcii that capt,ir-
ell the crowd and they cheered them all
along the route.
The column was i'm six divisions and
Kansas was placed in the fifth and it
seemed long time before the procession
was far enough advanced for It's to move.
and it reminded us of old war times,
when, after getting into line We would
he compelled to wait perhaps for hours
for some other troops to get out Of the
way and during the time Fall in''
would be heard with the same result.
tn he continual \