The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-02
The Great Boston Parade.

The third was blue October day
not blue like the sky, or the sea, or the
distant mountains, but the day took its
hue from the noses and cheeks that
piercing air had so chilled, that the
blood did not circulate.
Five thousand soldiers, infantry,
cavlary, artillery, with Il sprinkling of
ambulance wagons, some gaily capari-
|sOned officers, and now and then a
chaplain in clerical dress, marched with
ten bands Of music through the princl-
pal streets of Boston. There was no
rain, or dust, or heat, and very little
mud, so that there was q minimum OF
discomfort for marchers. The side
walks were packed with sight-seers,
and boys who love noise diligently clap
ped thin pieces of board in applause.
Two young men wearing spectacles
rode on one fieldpiece. Some gray
haired veterans and many fat men
trudged along as soldiers. Now and
then q sword was naked. On the
march they halted and unfiXed their
bayonets. They rolled their overcoats
and wore them about their shoulders
like strap. The soldiers We're reward
ed by being looked at, but one could
poorly distinguish one from another in
the crowded and uniformed ranks. .,
There was no pretence of "occasion," "
no "dayn to celebrate, unless the rail
road excursions for this week organized
to secure country trade constituted
such. Did it pay? Let us see.
Five thousand men idle two days
preparing and getting home. Let us
allow them:
One dollar and fifty cents per day Sl5,0OJ
Railroad Iares were at least lo,OOO
Dinners and other expenses in Boston 1000
t,ytro urcnarnlions and expenses 5,U0O
$4,000
The theatre-going, drinking and gen.
eral dissipation would carry the eX-
penses up to S5O, QUO.
One soldier Tor otficer), who bore no
marks of being extraordinary except
his clothes, crowded Inc and Others
aside in an unmilitary or at least uaciU-
IL way. A gentleman with eagles on
his shoulders answered inquiries curtly
and discourteously. The crowd OF spec
tators yelled and shouldered and push
ed each other eXcltedly to see.
Pride, profanity, seltiishness and van
ity were all ''paraded." But what
meant the cannon, the muskets, bayo-
nets and swords? They were made,
polished, kept and "paraded" to show
what was the thing essential to SOL
dier, viz to wound and kill his fellow
bein ngs. The ambulance with its stiff
springs and jarring motion was the on
ly mark OF mercy. The chaplains
looked as if merged in the soldiers.
The fact, the reality which was kept
out of sight, but which is the basis OF
war, is cruelty.
Poor fellows, if it is mere parade, it
hardly pays even if cOnfessediy grand.
If it is preparation for war such as is
saidtobegoIng on in Canada, 1t is a
mastering ofall forces belonging to man,
to destroy his fellow-man. He has little
claim to be called a Christian, and is
indeed less than humane, who does
not pity those who are fooled into
senseless parades, or drilled to untiinch-
inplv kill their fellow-men. We pity
also the governments and the public
sentiment that encourages this folly.
parades do not educate men in what
they need most: meekness, humility,
modesty, self-denial, Christliness.
They minister to vanity, boastfulness
and selfishness. But parades are the
best things about military life in either
war or peace. This "play" over the
reality Of war is depraving. Men will
learn this by and by. But at present
the soldier-life is the admired, the fash
ionable life. "This is your hour and
the power of darkness" But the light
cometh. The day dawns. The day
star appears. Pray for it, watch for it.
Be ready for it. "Lord Jesus, come
quickly" q"