The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-08-30
Veterans Of 81 Participate j
the Greatest Parade Since
the Days Of IS.
Muititudes of People Cheer thu
Thirty-five Thousand Men
Who Take Part.
Representatives Of Seven Thou.
sand Posts of the Grand
Army in Line.

CHICAGO, Aug. 29.--Along streets
filled with cheering multitude, past
towering buildings gay with the glow
of the Stars and Stripes, through arches
of honor, beneath suspended banners
and swinging portraits of illustrious
leaders, now part of the muster beyond
that dark river whose brink their feet
had so often pressed on fields of death,
$4,000 of the life guard Of the nation
the Grand Army of the Republic
marched today. #
1t was their greatest parade since
that day in 1866 when, with ranks
fresh from the triumphs of war, they
had marched down Pennsylvania ave.
nue. in Washington with their faces
turned toward home and their hearts
filled with the promise of the victories
,ot peace.
1t was probably the last of the great
parades upon which the members Of
the Grand Army will march on earth.
The average age of the veterans is close
upon the average span of human life, its
Ranks Are Thinning Fast,
and it's membership has commenced to
fall away. The muster roll must here
after, according to the officials of the
organization, decrease more rapidly
than at any period from the end Of the
war ito now.
Not in many years has Chicago ex-
xonlad en- of xyo1oop,o ta tho
stranger within her gates as that she
gave to Uhe heroes of the Grand Army.
As Chicago estimated them SO she
greeted them. Old soldiers from every
state in the Union were in the march
with their comrades of former years,
land throughout the length of the pa
rade 1000 posts of the Grand Army had
representation. The parade which
started at the intersection of Randolph
street and Michigan avenue was about
five hours in passing given point.
The kne of march was short, and from
the start to the south end of the court
of honor, where it disbanded after pass
ing in review before Commander-in-
Chief Shaw, it comprised ~ of the city
squares. Even though the majority of
the marchers
Were Men of Advanced Years,
the parade moved swiftly and without
breaks or disorder The formations
were almost invariably well kept, for
the men who had gone through years
OF desperate war without being guilty
OF struggling were too old to be lag
CARDS now. -.
The marching column was headed by
a detachment of the city police. Be-
hind them came band of 20 pieces,
and then Chief Marshal J. II. Wood
with his immediate staff. A regiment
of assistant marshals and aides came
gathering on, and then, behind the
great band of the Second infantry, came
Csmmander-in-C Chief Shaw and the
members Of his staff. Acting Governor
Warder and Mayor Harrison followed
in . carriage and then came 80 men,
beers of Columbia post of Chicago, form
ing hollow square in the center of
which were borne 50 battlefiags car
risd by New York regiments during
the war. The spectacle of the worn
aad tattered flags was greeted, at times,
with cheers and at times with a deep
slsnoe more expressive than applause
osald ever be. A
Long Line OF Carriages %4
followed the battlefags, each contain
inx ladies who are officials of the yari-
ous organizations who are affiliated
with the Grand Army. Bidwell Viii
ksson post OF Buffalo, which had the
largest number of men in rank of any
organlzation that came from outside
Chicago and Cook county, made a fine
appearance as they came marching past
the stand, headed by the Buffalo Mill
tary band of 80 pieces. The old CONT
mental drum and bugle corps of New
York city led Chaplin post, also from
New York, and both were heartily
chsered for their excellent appearance
and marching. Then came the Arion
Military band of Milwaukee, forming
the vanguard of the various depart
ments which marched under the lead
ersAip Of their department commanders.
Maine was given the right Of line
and as her column came turning around
the corner of jackson boulevard in the
broad sweep Of Michigan avenue and
with bands playing and celors flying,
the Army Of the Republic came march
ing down, the people seemed to realize
that here at last came the true pageant
Of patriotism. The old. worn ont, fut-
tering flags that had gone before were
nothing in themselves, but as
Representatives of the Power
that gave them the glory that they
wore, they were everything. March
ing behind them under oolors fresher
and brighter as their own fame must
ever grow with the advancing years,
came the units of that power in the
fighting men Of q mighty race uncon-
quered yet by land or sea. In them lay
and through them came the force that
has made the nation what 1t Is and
what it win be. No matter what might
come in the future. the men before
them had made the past glory that
may mellow. but never grow dim and
the crowd seeming 10 catch these
things in breath.'as rank after rank
Of the old soldiers wheeled into the