The age-herald., 1898-07-30
THREE SCENES
 FULL OF PATHOS

NdSnlnBIOn, July zo.-EOne SuDJecl Has received it's full share of attention and is placed on high shelf far back, and needs no more discussion"
 The remark was made by veteran jour nalist who has been discussing all sorts of vexed and other questions for forty years.
 And pray tell me what that disposed of question was, for you say it no longer is. Phe answer came promptly, and with good deal of enthusiastic emphasis: "A firm. unyielding, permanent combination of the north and south."
 I guess the old journalist is right. I guess the ties between the north and south were never stronger than they are now, and eer- tainly they are growing stronger daily. The people of the two sections have been getting acquainted with each other the past quarter of century though at times they seemed to be making rather slow progress. There were times when it seemed as though they woul6 always be more or less strangers, but the past five six months have witnessed progress that makes up for the slow movings of the many years.
 But I am in danger of discussing the overdiscussed and dead question, and will drop it instantly. claiming the right to speak of incidents that are the outgrowth of the finished subjects and the discussions over it.
 Here are three such incidents They oc- cured at Camp Alger the other day. While some of the visitors were viewing the hand. somely laid out camps and watching tho young soldiers as they amused themselves or being drilled I was looking for things that would remind me of another war, I had difficulty in finding them many of thenn-but none interested me more than these three:
 It was Sunday, the day when there is a general OutpOuring of visitors There Virginia Tennessee, Pennsylva- mia, New York, Michigan, Ohio and other regiments in that camp A little cluster of people in front of a New York tent drew my attention. Not all in that cluster were soldiers, for there were women there, and men not in uniform Who are they? The soldiers, the young fellows, in their nice- fitting uniforms, with their red cheeks and bright eyes, wore on their coats the badge of the Sons of Veterans. The citizen vis- tors also wore badges-the badge of the Grand Army-and one of the women, if not others, seemed proud to wear the badge of the Women's Relief Corps. There were two old men and two elderly women in the little company before the wall tent. The six soldiers were sons of these elderly peo- ple equally divided. The fathers and moth- CTS had come to visit their soldier boys. There was something very pathetic about it, and yet 1t was an inspiring sight. These old people were not sorrowful; their faces were not long; their eyes were not filled with tears. They were full of laughter and good cheer, and were saying and doing things to cheer and please the young fel- lows.
 Did you dislike to part with your boys?" one of the old men was asked.
 What do you take me for, sir?'
 twill you pardon me, but 1 imagine that you are an average old Grand Army crank; 1 confess to being one myself"
 That's what l am. Let me ask you a question-do you regret having been sol- dier in the last warp
 Far from 1t. Nothing in these rapidly passing years affords much satisfac- tion as the knowledge that l was old enough and willing to try to do my part in that war;
 You speak for me, sir, and am just as glad to give my three boys for this war l was to go myself in that other,' and the old man patted his three soldiers on the shoulder.
 As I looked at this party my memory carried me back to a scene witnessed in a western city only few nights ago. A conn., pany of volunteers was just leaving camp for the camp of instruction. Four or five old gentlemen were walking along by the side of the marching troops, each carrying some of the belongings of the young sol- diers, and when the latter were just ready to get into the cars, the old gentlemen handed over the goods, threw their arms around the necks of the boys receiving them and gave them just such a hearty kiss as a mother would give a child. l heard two or three give their parting farewell. One was so shrinking that am sure shall never forget it. 'It wrenches your old fathers heart part with you, but he iS as proud as a peacock that he can part with you. Be a good soldier, take care of yourself come back, but come back to tell me that you always did your duty"
 My next stop was at Virginia regiment. A scene so like the one I have just de- xyit h tha regiment was enacted that it can be pre- sented with the same words, except-except that the young fellows h blue wore on their breasts the badge of the sons Of the Confederacy and the other fellows the con- federate Veterans badge. Fathers ana mothers of these young Virginians-the fa- thers who were soldiers under Lee, Jack son, Wheeler, Hardee, Longstreet and otn- CTS of those gallant old commanders-Were in camp to visit and encourage thelr sol- dier successors, and as proud or them as the old fellows in blue were of their boys among the New Workers. Both parties were under the one beautiful flag, the emblem Of the one great country, the great country that is as dear to the man who wore the gray to-day it was to the man who wore the blue a third of century ago, and as IL is to his boys and himself in the midst or this new struggle for the honor ana glory of the American republic
 These two scenes were full of pathos,
 
 scenes that gladden. the American heart' and they are better evidence of the com pleted question on the high shelf, Tar oacR' than the bare statement Of the olo Jour palist.
 'Driye on; what do you want to LOOK ae those colored people so long for"
 "No. wait am very much interested In watching them" L.
 The colored regiment It Camp Alger IS moda m of picked men. Their uniforms are as carefully brushed and tidily kept as those of the other soldiers. There were parents of those colored boys to visit them that bright Sunday. Some of them were old. very old. Some of them had come a considerable distance to see their boys. One old fellow, after standing and looking at a company of the colored. soldiers formed for inspection broke out with "Bress de Lawd! dat sutuny does dis ole nigger's heart a heap O good!'
 "Why ,so uncle?" bystander asked.
 .sYo see de kuhnul ob dat Virginy regf-