The National tribune., 1900-09-06
REVIEWING THE PARADE.

It was 1885 before the column moved,
and for al hour before that time the
streets along the route, which was about
two miles in extent, was one mass of hui
manity. The sidewalks were packed to
suffocation, and the windows up the fronts
OF the towering buildings We're vignets OF
living faces.
The streets were aglow with the Nation
al colors; there were festoons and flags
and banners without end. 1t was a roy.
al, joyful, and inspiring welcome; inspiring
alike TO the veterans who marched and
the cheering crowds who waved flags and
clapped their hands as the head of the
column appeared wheeling out of Ran
dolph into State street, led by the usual
escort of mounted police and followed by
the civic and military dignitaries on horse
back and In carriages.
At the head of the Commander-in.
Chiefs escort was Gen. Daniel Il. Sckles,
and Gen. Miles who had arrived only at
$50 that morning to represent the Pres
ident, was there also, but he was recos
nized by few, because he wore only the
plain uniform of a comrade of the Grand
Army Of the Republic.
In accordance with the rule of recent
years the Department entertaining the En-
campment brings up the rear, and for this
reason Illinois, which generally marches
first, came last, and Wisconsin had the
right of the line.
The Badgers turned out in great force,
and the man in the buckskin shirt carry
ing the whte-headed eagle led the process
sion, as usual. There were ] 800 veterans
In this division, and then came Pennsyl-
vania marching TO the strains of Tramp,
tramp. tramp, the boys are marching"
In front were the old battle-fiags, close
furled, and the sight of the faded banners
brought tears TO the eyes of many vet
eran who stood with the spectators on the
sidewalk as he thought of his marching
days that We're done. Pennsylvania
showed up in great force for people so far
from home, having fully 800 men in line,
and a fne-looking body they We're. One
feature of the keystone section wns the
Lambs" Post made up of small rem.
nants OF many regiments, and while the
big silk banner which they followed bore
the picture of pair OF gamboling lambs,
what attracted most attention was the
lamb itself. 1t was led by Mary in
person, dressed in pure white, and the
lamb trotted along behind her, we'll
combed and beribboned little creature who
seemed entirely obliyious of the tumult
sbe created.
The Buckeyes came next, $500 men,
with bands and banners galore. Com.
mander Monfort, of Cincinnati, proudly
led his contingent, and after them came
New York, looking comparatively few
with only 1000 men in line. Connect
icut came next, but old.timcrs who have
witnessed parades of former years missed
the famous white hats from Danbury
1t was explained afterward that the
white hats" had been consolidated re-
Gently with another Post, that while the
men were there as of yOre, the hats had
been changed to black. Following them
came Massachusetts, and New Jersey, then
Maine, with its pine tree twig, and the
Pacific Coast Posts and Departments.
Little Rody was there with her clam shell,
and the veterans of the Old Granite State,
and then Vermont, with the habitual fir
twig in their hatbands.
The Department of the Potomac was
loudly cheered, as it contained many men
well known in Grand Army circles. and
some who had not only been through the
days of 81 to '65, but who had also won
honors in the war with Spain. The South,
ern Departments were small, but they
marched none the less proudly. Then
came Nebraska, stalwart, sunburned fel.
lows, gathered from all parts of the I'm
ion who had made the State, after the wal
was over.
The Department of Iowa was 1,10C
strong, and their shouts Of "I-O-WAY'
could be heard all over town. The thou
sands of cheering spectators on either side
as they passed could not put them down
Their audience seemed to enjoy the di
version and Joined in the chorus.
Indiana, with Commander BEEN al
their head, brought out 2,100 men, and
then after Colorado came the Sunflowel
boys. As they marched they sang "JohI
Browns body is mouldering in the grave
but his soul goes marching on" They
had big delegation, and were second tc
nobody In enthusiasm. The company Of
uniformed girls, with their muskets at q
shoulder-arms, so conspicuous at Phila
delphia last year, were missing. TheiI