Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

people buy such things? A most I'M
portant package has been-stolen from
my tent"
CHAPTER vi.
The great thoroughfare Of that won
derful city, seated on more than her
seven hills, and ruling the western
world, was thronged from curb to curb.
Gay with bunting and streamers, the
tall buildings of the rival newspapers
and the long facades Of hotels and bust
ness blocks were gayer still with the
life and color and enthusiasm that
crowded every window. Street traffic
was blocked. Cable cars changed vain
~ and the police strove valiantly. 1t
was day given up to but one duty and
one purpose, that of giving Godspeed
to the soldiery ordered for service In
the distant Philippines, and, though
Of the union, except the Pacific slope,
as though they were her own children,
with all the hope and faith and pride
and patriotism, with all the blessings
and comforts with which she had load
ed the foremost ships that sailed, yet
happily without the tears that flowed
when her own gallant regiment was
first to lead the way, San Francisco
turned out en- masse to cheer the men
from far beyond the Sierras and the
Rockies, and to see them proudly
through the Golden Gate. Early in the
day the guns of famous light battery
had been trundled, decked like some
rose-covered chariot at the summer fes-
tival of flowers, through the winding
lanes of eager forms and faces, the can
noneers almost dragged from the ranks
by the clasping hands of men and
women who seemed powerless to let
go. With their little brown carbinei
; tossed jauntily over the broad blue
shoulders, half regiment Of regular
cavalry dismounted, had gone trudg-
ing down to the docks, cheered to thu
gateway of the pier by thousands Of
citizens who seemed to envy the very
recruits who, only half-uniformed ant
drilled, brought up the rear of the col
umn. Once within the massive wooder
portals, the guards and sentries holding
back the importunate crowd, the sol
diers flung aside their heavy packs, ane
were marshalled before an array O
tempting tables and there Toasted, com
fo1ted and rejoiced under the ministra
tons of that marvellous successor Of tn,
sanitary commission of the great civi
war of the sixties-the order of the Re-
Cross. There at those tables in the dus
and din Of the busting piers, in tn
SCOT and heat of the railway station, il
the jam and turmoil at the ferr,
houses. in the fog and chill of the sea
ward camps, in the fever-haunted ward
Of crowded field hospitals, from daw1
till dark, from dark till dawn, toile,
week after week devoted women Il
every grade Of life, the wife Of tn
millionaire, the daughter Of the da
laborer, the gentle born, the delicatel
reared, the social pets and darlings, tn
humble seamktress, no one too high
stoop to aid the departing soldier, non
7 too poor OF low to deny him cheer an
sympathy. The war was still youn
o then. Spain had not lowered her riddle
d standard and sued for peace. Tw
: great fleets had been swept from til
q seas, the guns Of Santiago were s
!. fenced, and the stronghold Of the or
emit was sulking in the shadow of til
flag, but there was still soldier work I
be done, and 10 long as the nation ser
9 its fighting men through her broa
5, and beautiful gates San Francisco an
+ the Red Cross stood by with cage
lavish hands to heap upon the warric
l. sons of score Of other states, even 8
upon their own, every cheer and con
e fort that wealth could purchase, or b,
}. man sympathy devise. 1t was the or
feature of the war days of 'ss that wi
e never be forgotten.
u At one Of the fower-decked table
e near the great ..'stage" that led to IL
p main deck Of the transport, grou
r of blithe young matrons and prett
9 girls had been busily serving fruit, CO
e fee and bouillon and substantials [
the troopers, man after man, for ovs
two hours. There was lively chat an
d merry war Of words going on at IL
n moment between half dozen youn
= officers who had had their eyes on tn,
particular table ever since the coming
r the command, and were now maxim
i the MOST Of their opportunities b,
g fore the trumpets should sound tt
II assembly and the word be passed I
move aboard. All the heavy baggae
!, inflammation had, at last, been swun
:, into the hold; the guns of the batter
had been lowered and securel
d checked; the forecastle head W,
= thronged with the red trimmed un
d forms of the artillerymen, who had a
e. ready been embarked and were no
b jealousy clamoring that the trooper
+ should be shut off" from the furth,
d ministrations of the Red Cross, an
d broadly intimating that it wasn't ia
deal that their rivals should be above
:. whole additional hour of lingeriu
e farewells.
r Lingering farewells there certainl
< were. Many young soldier and man
lass paired off" in little hooks an
q corners among the stacks of bales an
L boxes, but at the table nearest IL
J, staging all seemed gay good hume
e A merry little woman with straw-co
:, ored hair and pert, tip-tilted nose an
t much vivacity, and complexion, had al
= parently taken the lead in the warfal
U of chaf and fun. Evidently she W,
+ no stranger to most of the officers. A
e most az evidently, to a very close oil