Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-20

among the first to assemble this morning.
Yes; that is tue. bat they are, nevertheless.
the BOYS Of 6l. and if every man of them
shoald live to patriarchal age they would be
boys" TO each other and TO tho who knew
them when their youth was il full flower; when
the shrill defiance of determined treason called
two millions Of loyal Americans 20 a conflict in
whic was to be decided The fate Of the greatest
republic this world ever knew or ever will
know. These are Father Ab.aharn's boys. who,
when the trumpet sounded, came from the mills,
the forge, the looms. the Offices and the farms
30 DO battle IN behalf of national existence, to
free four millions of shackled fellow-5eings and
10 make plain 10 all the world the fact that the
Union was one and indi sisible.
These are the b2~s who cheerfully. enthu-
siastically threw asd- all hopes Of business pref
erInent, who exchanged comfortable homes for
the disease-breediEg camp. who left mothers
and sisters G&d wives and sveetkearts that their
dearer love- Columbia saved from all
harm. who forsook the smooth and pleasan.
highways of peaceful urban or rural life to
march in mitsmstic swampI. over barning
sands. through snow and mud and fire and a
terrestrial he'll IN order that great principle
be established the deepest and broadest
foundation human minds could plan or human
hands execute. These are the boys-but who
can recount their daring deeds, what brush can
paint thair achievements in living colors, what
pen record the story OF their valor. Men have
tried u do them izstice, have exhausted the
vocabulary Of praise. have reiterated every eu-
logious term aad then took refuge In tine spon-
tAnoous utteranee that bubbles up from the deep
haa rf- la of a 81,
How young these veterans areI Times In
denting fingers have wrinkled their brows and
the frosty breath of many winters whitened
their hair. but the oId-tims vivacity Is un-
abated; the spirit that animated them thirty
years ago has lost none OF its volume o. sparkle.
joints have stifened and muscles lost their
springiUess, bat neither Of these natural
Affections has, yet, risen superior to the
mental strength which was always the domi-
nant feature Of patriotism Supported thus
the boys commenced 10 march in the early
morning. and most OF them will be
on their feet For many hours aftei
darkness falls. Only a few admit the
possibility Of fatigue. The great naiorit,
laugh At the idea Of weariness when the occa
son Is one 50 historic in it, character as this
the greatest review Of the Grand Army of tn,
EsPubic hat will ever tako pace on Pennsyl
vaniA avenue. ths broad thoroughsa-e which
was for million men the highway TO glory o.
the grave sometimes to both.
When daylight struggled through the ara,
curtain OF cloud which hung most heavily in III,
east there were hundreds of veterans on tn
principal streets. Soma had Just reached tn
cIty, others had tuInblei ont early SO a. TO er,
Joy every hour OF this memorable goth da,
OF september. while still others had eyi
IDENTIFY exercised the privilege Of every citizen
TO stay up all nish: If he wants to. Occasion
ally band Of music. followed BY a rccentI,
arrived post. would add life to the unusua
scene and numbers TO the aireadv enornou
crowd Sithin tho city limits. But one subjec
WAS discussed and that was the probab;Iit,
o. rain. weather-wise bows in hin,
were central figures in hundreds O
anxious groups. and were popular o- otherwise
according 10 ;he nature oI their predictions
f0r "hue the atmospLeric conditions were de
pressing and the depression vas not remove,
By ihc weather bureaus statement that fair bu
eOoser weather woald prevail In this REGION. 7
was Not On Al he sun direct rays broSo throrp,
tie r.isiy barrier sad bgiSl.ercd every far an,
emblem with ,Etir golden CLEANS tha. anythip,
Ike meteorological confidence was spuarent
""Snt"g;otsisns distinguished them ,eIve, +,
N fervor Win which they offered Up petit. o.
for a hne day; they lad e4er,ed themse!ve. =.