The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-12
A KANSAN ABROAD.
TOLEDO. O., August 8.

Ter comfortable ride without incident oil
i'll, and only praise for our courteous treat
ment throughout, we reached Detroit Sun
day night and seeking out the home OF
Birch Arnold, the now famous authoress
whose guests we had the honor of being, a
pleasant reunion followed. After dinner
on Monday we sailed forth on our initial
visit to the hustle and life Of the city and
| found the streets already alive with veter-
ans and citizens miDgling in one moving
throng. Words cannot depict the gorgeous
appearance of the streets with the brilliant
hangings of bunting and flags; the mag
nlticent arches erected at intervals and
sparkling with fairy colored jets and dec
orations. The city hall presented a most
dazzling spectacle at night with its illumi-
mated insignia and decorations.
On Tuesday all were prepared at an ear
~ hour to seek their location 90 witness
the grand parade. As early as 10 o'clock
enforced with lunch we took our position
IN the second floor window of a dry goods
establishment on the corner of Woodward
avenue and State street, where. after wait
ing until O'Clock, our patience was re-
| warded by the moving into sight of the
| great procession. From that hour until
O'Clock the line passed before our vision.
| Ihe streets were a compact mass of spec
| tators. Balconies housetops every avail
able location was filled with people eager
| ly gazing, and so with pomp and glitter
swagger and limp the brave old comrades
| marched to the thrilling notes OF 129
| bands. The sight, such as is seldom seen
| which swelled my heart with a thrill, were
the tattered flags, torn by shot and shell,
and fringed and smoked by heat of battle,
carried aloft to portray the heartrending
| history OF strife which had been endured
IN the cOuntry's behalf.
Our Kansas delegation was very credita-
bic, bearing aloft enormous sunfowers
and marching with ''go-as- you-please"
air, typical of the true kanSan. Ohio
sent the largest delegation and overheard
one lady remark that she thought there
couldn't have been an Ohio man killed in
the war for she saw them all in the parade
that day. Among the prominent men
who marched at the head OF their posts
was eX-President Rutherford B. Hayes.
BY the way must not forget to speak of
the reception rendered Gen. Hayes at the
superb mansion of Col. Frank Hecker on
Woodland avenue. on Tuesday evening, to
which were invited members of the Loyal
Legion and their ladies' Had | space |
could enter into detailed description OF
this elegant house, one of the finest in De-
troit, with its wide, baronial halls, CORN
THAN pillars, silver-arebesqued ceilings.
The reception was perfectly informal and
altogether delightful. The gentlemen
present were all of markedly distinguished
presence. | make no exceptions of those
representing the Sunfower state either
you may rest assured.
Wednesday afternoon was ladies' day at
the Loyal Legion headquarters, where to
the enhancing strains of orchestral music,
dainty refreshments, pleasant converse
ton and intrOductiOns to eminent officers
the hours fed by
That night we pressed through the
massed throngs, squeezed into cars and
out again, walked blocks and secured an
occasional lift in a van until we secured
seats on the grand stand to witness the
display of pyrotechnics to be shown from
boats on the river. To an imaginative
temperament the scene was one to dilate
upon. The sparkling illumnations of the
mass of steamers, the dark hulks of boats
in the foreground, laden with dusky
forms, the showers of rainbow tinted fire
into the ripping water where each effect
was magnified and reflected; the sky radi-
ant with rockets and blaze, made up
scene worthy of an artists inspiration.
But TO the members of our party who are
typical Yankee in that they must have
their moneys worth in estimated money
valuation, the Pyrotechnic displays was
pronounced fizzle. Next day we planted
our feet on British soil and gave three
cheers and tiger upon again reaching A
merica. Ia the afternoon we again enjoy
ed the hospitality of the Loyal Legion
of Michigan who rendered US
a sixty mile ride on Lake St. Clair. How
was the blue eXpanse to the
eyes accustomed 10 but waving prairies!
And then to be in company with beloved
and congenial spirits, of not only soul but
also the MATERIAL Throughout the entire
trip refreshments all kinds We're passed
among the guests. operate airs
foated out from the cabin and
good feeling prevailed the company.
Toward the terminus of the trip, however,
the electrical current of feeling was most |
evident when, conventionality being cast
aside, old and young joined in the singing !
of patriotic airs, pathetic and comic, and |
the entire body Of singers was as one be- !
ing.
That night we should have attended |
banquet to officers and delegates at the |
Detroit Rink, but chose more exclusive !
little family party at home in preference. |
Next morning we babe our beloved !
friends farewell and left Detroit far be- |
hind us as We steamed away down the De- |
troit river towards Lake Ecie.
Among the seventeen islands in Lake |
Erie is Put-in-Bay and Gibralter, two |
points made famous by Commodore o. w. |
Perry, who now rests in st. PauIs church |
ward. near the Aston house in New York |
On Sept 10th, 1913, the British having |
been successful generally on the lakes, |
Perry, with tfty.four guns
and seven small vessels, met the English /
fleet, with six vessels and siXty-three
guns
The fleet had come from Detroit |
not suspectiug that Perry was watching
the mouth of the Detroit from Gibralter. |
After DAYS of fruitless vigil the man on |
the lookout in Gibralter (the island next |
to Pat in-Bayl signalled the approach of
the British Perry's fleet got under way,
bearing aloft blue flag on which was in
scribed the words uttered by dying Law
renee on board the Chesapeake two months
before Don't give up the ship" Perry |
aag ship led the way, and possessed them
selves of the English ships, which caused
the evacuation of Detroit and the speedy /
of the war of lSl2-l4
Our boat landed at this charming resort !
1t noon on Friday. Nothing here TO re-
mind one of the grim history OF war. In
stead the serene and charming landscape
iotted with pleasure seekers From the
,erandah of the Beebe house we watched
he white sails of boats, or the putting
steamers as they arrived and departed, |
;troling over the grassy parks We then
ollowed the trend OF other tourists and
ound ourselves IN the midst OF as merry
scene as one could wish The happy
,rowd down in the water, splashing. |
living, dancing in rings, and gamboling
Ike children free from care; several to-
loggan slides where the bather would {
issh down the inclined course like streak
# lightning and dash into the water on
lis frail craft in the center OF a miniature
vaterspout Every time one came down
n his mad career we could not resist Civ
ne a cheer of delight. 1t was equal To a
rcus. Such fun. Swimmers who had Ut
,eeu in the water for ten or twelve years
..,l a r.aS thar hadn't b al as rnrrch fnn "a