Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-04-20
CHAPTER VI.

Ihegreat thorOughfare OF that won
defrul city, seated on more than her
seven hills, and ruling the western
world, was thrOnged from curb tocutb
Gay with bunting aud streamerS. the
tall buildings OF the rival newspaper
and the long facadeS Of hotels and
business blocks we're gayer still with
tie life and color and enthusiasm that
crowded every window Street traffic
was crowded. Cable cars changed
vainly and the police Stroye yaliautly.
1t was day given up 10 but one duty
and one purpose, that Of giving God.
speed 10 the Soldierly ordered for Serv-
ice in the distant Philippines, aud,
though they hailed from almost every
section 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 loaded the foremost ships that
sailed. yet happily without the tears
that flowed when her own gallant reg
iment was first TO lead the way, San
Francisco turned out en- maSse 10 cheer
the men from far beyond the Serras
and the Rockies. and to see them
proudly through the Golden Gate.
Early ia the day the guns Of a famous
light battery had been trundled,
decked like some ruSe.cOyered chariot
at the summer festival Of flowers,
the winding lanes OF eager
forms and faces, the CannoneerS al. .
most dragged from the ranks by the
hands OF men and women who
seemed pOwerless 10 let 60. With .
their little brown Carbines tossed .
jauntily over the broad blue shoulders, .
half regiment of regular cavalry dis .
had gone trudging down 20 .
the docks, cheered 10 the gateway o.
the pier by thousands OF citizens who .
seemed TO envy the very recruits who,
only half-uuformed and drilled,
brought up the column. Once within
-he massive wooden portals, the guards
and sentries holding back the impor-
innate crowd. the soldiers flung aside
heir heavy packs, and were mar
halled before an array OF tempting
ableS and there feaSted, cOmfOrted
md rejOiced under the miniStratiOnS
II That marvellous successor Of the san.
tary commission OF the great civil
var OF the SiXtieS-the order OF the
Red Cross There at those tables in
he dust and din OF the buStling piers.
n the SCOT and heat OF the railway
tation, the jam and turmoil at the
cry houses, in the fog and chill Of the
eaward camps, in the fever-haunted
wards OF the crowded field hospitals.
rom dawn till dark, from dark TIL
lawn, tOiled week after week devoted
women In every grade OF life, the'wife I
i the millionaire, the daughter OF the
lay labOrer, the gentle born, the deli.
ately reared, the social pets and darl- :
ngS the humble SeamstesS. no one
90 high To stoop TO aid the departed
older, none too poor or low TO deny
i'm cheer aud sympathy. The war
vas still young then. Spain had not
)wered her riddled standard and sued
Or peace. Two great fleets had been .
wept from the seas, the guns OF San
iago were silenced and the strong
old OF the orient was sulking in the
hadOw of the flag. but there was still
)ldier work TO be done. and so long as
he nation sent its fighting men
Trough her broad and beautiful gates ]
an Francisco and the Red Cross S
God by with eager, lavish hands 10 &
cap upon the warrior sons OF score a
other states, even as upon their own C
very cheer and comfort that wealth S
,uld purchase, or human sympathy j
evise. IL was the one feature OF the /
ar days OF '9s that will never be for S
Jtten. a
Continued Next Week.