The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-09-10
VETERANS IN REVIEW
Brilliant Parade of the Grand
Army at st. Paul.
FORTY THOUSAND WERE IN LINE
School Children Added Attractiveness
to the Scene, Forming q Liv-
ing National Flag.

st. Paul, Mimi, Sept. 4.-Nearly
40, 600 veterans tramped the streets Of
st. Paul for several hours today, renew
ing the assurance of their youth and
feeling in their veins the martial spirit
that animated them in the old days of
bitter sectional strife. The day was
an ideal one for marching, the warm
rays of the sun being behind clouds and
a slight breeze making the tramp much
easier for those in line. The threat
ened showers held off, and everything
went off according to programme.
At 9:45 o'clock the commander-in-
chief and staff moved south on West
ern avenue, and the various divisions
fell into line rapidly. 1t was just
1880 o'clock when the head of the
parade reached the grand reviewing
stand at Smiths Park, where General
Walker took his place On the platform,
and the first division, headed by the
veteran signal corps, passed in review.
1t was 1855 this afternoon when the
last post in the big eighth division,
containing Minnesota's veterans, had
passed, and there was scarcely no.
ticeable break in the line, post follow
ing post, and department coming after
in almost endless secces-
sion. The enlivening music of many
bands and the stirring martial sound
of veteran drum corps signaled the ap-
proach of each new department, and
the crowd showed prompt appreciation
of the appearance of various favorites.
Waves of applause went up and down
the crowded streets, and at times the
veterans themselves took up the re-
frain. For the old soldier realized
even more than before that the city
was his. Nothing was thought too
good for the marching men. AS they
were lined up on the side streets await
ing the signal to start, residents serevd
with ice water and otherwise looked
after their comfort Taken altogether,
the parade was an unequaled success,
and the leading features of it touched
the soldier heart as it has seldom been
touched before.
In recent years it has been thought
necessary to shorten the length of the
Grand Army of the Republic parade.
The route today exceeded two miles by
a trife, and was over smooth streets
The procession was in eight divisions.
General Walker and staff headed the
parade. Summit avenue was crowded
with spectators, who applauded their
favorite posts or favorite leaders. OPP.
poiste the residence of Colonel R. M.
Newport many white-haired veterans
uncovered as they recognized Mrs. John
A. Logan, who carefully returned
every salute.
AS the head of each division arrived
at this part of the avenue, pretty young
girls stepped out into the street and
scattered flowers before the oncoming
vetearns.
On the square on which is being con-
structed new government building
there had been put a grandstand for
1000 children, whose red, white and
blue caps and toques were 30 arranged
as to form living flag. This living
flag was the feature of the day that
most appealed to the marching veter-
ans, and many touching scenes were
witnessed in front of the mammoth
chorus. The children had been thor
oughly trained by Professor G. 81.
Congdon, of the city schools, and were
quick to respond to his every signal.
AS the head of each department ar
rived, the strains Of their mingled
voices could be heard above the music
of the bands, in patriotic greeting, as
they sang some of the many songs they
had prepared for such greetings. And
the old soldiers, as they came past the
corner and saw the great chorus beau
tifully representing cold Glory"
quickly dotted their hats and waved
them in the air as they shouted their
paying little heed to the
tears that streamed down thier care
worn cheeks. Then the old veterans
would take up the song the children
had started, and the heavy voice of the
men mingled with the fresh young
voices of the children. This was re-
peated time and again, the children
never firing of singing. And, as they
waved their handkerchiefs and moved
back and forth, the effect of the wav-
ing flag was perfect, and again the
hats came off and the old veterans
shouted again and again over the pa
triotism shown by their children's
children.
The incidents of the parade were
many and varied. The broad sweep
of Summit avenue gave many chances
for the marching qualities of the veter-
ans, and many post drew cheer after
cheer as it turned a corner in perfect
alignment and with soldierly step
moved on down the wide avenue.
Following after the famous Column.
bia post, of Chicago, came the same
cold Abe that led them with his
shrill scream in SO many battles, and
the stuffed eagle was cheered as Justify
as in the old encampments, when the
warrior bird seemed to know just what
it all meant.
After Minnesota, Wisconsin reported
the most men in line. Iowa. Ohio,
Kentucky, the Dakotas,
Missouri, Kansas and Indiana had big
But, of course, Min
nesota led in the number of men in
line, it's division taking up more than
one-sixth of the entire parade.
South Dakota's veterans carried each
a mammoth ear of corn on the end OF
pole, while North Dakota went them
one better by carrying long stalks,
green from the fields, wrapped with
wheat.