The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-03
FEATURE OF THE PARADE.
The Living Flag Admired by the
Veterans.

The brightest constellation, the choic-
est galaxy of stars, the ene=sfeitAr at
traction, the handsoaest-nfa COM
bined coIorss was the+tixiHg Flag
hof yesterday. >>>>4--s=
The younger generation sa1uted the
DID, and with aNprida akin to elation the
grizzled Teterans forgot their martial
bearing, minded nbtktheJ die1pline Of
cosumned ranksA ana broke into cheers
Titled cofors to the ground. All this
in token of the dhe Init of the grand
parade. Proud were5the children, 200
in number, and pFolIder still were their
instructor, Prof. Charles H Congdon,
who had sIabpred loPg and patiently to
attain thefeailnax they achieved. The
songs they sangs the patriotic refrains,
all, indeed were bat the outward sings
Of loyal heasts and willing hands
1t was eltnRacteric point Of the
entire parade.ffh huge stand on the
corner of Sixth and Market streets,
where the ppysL and girls of the public
schools, mqfe than 1000, had been ar
rangedSiI EHhet form and color of the
flag of the limited States. 1t was
flag Sperfect PROPORTION and color.
Along the wide 51ength of the plat
fornl~tWo oWstof ichildren in white
cloaks and tpaueS made one stripe Of
the flag; then TWO long rows in red
made red Stripe and so alternately
untit> >therellW We're thirteen stripes, and
boys ana lgirls id blue formed the blue
ground of the banner, while above
them rose the stars skillfully arranged,
each star Sifipifs proper place and to
the number of fforty-five.
The platfGfm was just in the rear
of the new postoffice building and I'M
mediatcly onE Sixth street and in full
view ofSthepVeterans passing in the
\
Each chifdthad been provided with a
Luncheon, packed out of sight, to be
>nfbbled atSina the intermissions
To handleSSuch crowd of children
required no little tact and skill on the
>paFt. of Prof Congdon, Gen. Smith and
the assistants from the other schools
Sand from the gentlemen of the board
Eofc education, E6f whom number had
Volunteered f9Fthe occasion.
That they had been drilled to sing
with any senthfance of time and tune
was a high honor to Prof Congdon,
their instructor, for such a regiment
of children will evince an Indifference
and restlessness that try the patience
and the nerves of those who have them
in charge.
But they did sing well. Far out over
the dense throng on Sixth street, where
the policemen and the young soldiers
Of the guard were struggling to keep
II,
clear voices sent the notes of "The
Star Spangled Banner" carried 1t to
the people swarming the roofs of stores
and through windows where vantage
points had been won 10 see the most
remarkable parade that St. Paul has
ever seen or ever will see because it
told of a country redeemed through
blood and fire and grievous wounds
that brought her down to the verge
of death.
AS the boys and girls sang In high,
childish voices to the old veterans of
the great war-the fresh faced gener-
alton greeting with patriotic peans
the grizzled soldiers ready to die. while
the flags opened to the September
breeze, there was something there that
brought tears to eyes unaccustomed to
them.
1t was indeed a striking contrast, the
gray old fellows marching with feet
that had grown reluctant through the
dense lining of people, the beautiful
little children (for they were all very
young) singing the simple songs that
had sounded over trodden, bloody
fields in the South. 1t was the new
America to the old
"The old order changeth, yielding
place to new"
"And God fulfills Himself in many
ways"
One could but wonder in what type
schools were cast, and looking over
the blazing glory Of the living flag
there were to be seen the small soft
faces of an Irish Nora, Of an English
Mary, a German Gretchen and Scam