The National tribune., 1902-10-16


half a hundred organizations, Posts, Com
mapds and what not had Reunions. But
mainly this first day was devoted to get
ting located and acquainted.
Tuesday. Oct. z.
Tuesday things began to go with whiz.
Early in the morning the comrades were
hotels and boarding houses, and reuniting
was in full blast. Besides few regular
official affairs that started in between
times to avoid the rush. there were little
ones in every hotel lobby and on every
corner. where old stories were re-told to
new audiences and new-old stories heard.
Washington is an attractive city, and
there is much to see. but, after all, there
is world of human truth in that old
story about the woman who, asked to say
what had pleased her most at the Chicago
Worlds Fair, admitted it was meeting on
the street another woman from East
Skowhegan. Maine. So the comrades got
more pleasure out of meeting folks they
used to know than from anything else.
But, little later, there were other and
more official things to hold their attention.
Along in the middle of the forenoon came
one of the great scenic events of the En-
campment, the parade of the regular
forces. Spanish War Veterans. National
Guard. etc. 1t was scheduled for 10
O'Clock, but, OF course, with the usual per-
versity of animate things, it didn't dawn
into sight until. much later. For some rea-
son parades are unusually perverse and
as unpunctual as an Iowa railroad.
One of the characteristic Washington in
stitutions is the barring off of the Avenue.
Parades are frequent in the city, and, of
course. they always take place on Penn
syivania, Avenue. BY long experience the
municipal authorities have learned exactly
how to handle them, and one of the ex-
pedients is a double row. of posts stretch
ing from the Capitol to the Treasury along
the Avenue, thence up Fifteenth and Ex-
ecutive Place past the White House and
out along the Avenue again. On these on
each side of the roadway is a rope, and
beyond these cordOns no one is allowed to
pass, the asphalt being reserved for the
marchers. to the exclusion alike. of ped
estrains, bicycles, cars and vehicles.
Ginning the ropes. or the front rank
mans shoulder, as luck served, were two
long files of spectators. Not all We're
Grand Army men-half Washington al
ways agog for a spectacle, was there also.
1t was vast, good-humored crowd, en-
livened by the perfect day and out for a
holiday. enthusiastically in every square
entertainment aud diversion of the long
wait would be afforded by the sight of a
little comedy-a brace of squawking
darkey girls, trying to break across the
sacrOsanct open space to attend to their
urgent private affairs on the other side,
with portly policeman in full chase, in
tent on maintaining the ordinances made
and provided, and on hauling back the OF
tenders where fortune originally placed
them. Sometimes it would be veteran
or citizen, temporarily forgetting his
years and his position in society, and ske-
daddling before the outraged majesty of
81 To-, r 1Ix-t tI,a off rreybf 10
fugitives, sometimes he didn't, but the
crowd applauded generously and impartial
ly in either case. Anything was welcome
that varied the monotony of the wait. But
there were plenty of other amusements
also, from eating bananas to testing the
wares of the street fakirs.
Not all the watchers were down in the
undignifed throng, although all that
wanted q good time, irrespective of the
parade, were. All the windows along the
line of march were for rent-or had been
rather-and they were full of giggling
girls and giddier ma irons. Besides, there
was another Washington institution-the
street stands. AS means of raising
money for these affairs, the Government
allows spectators to build rough board
bleachers, very much like those at the
baseball game, on the various little parks
on the Avenue and clinging to the build
ings. Seats in these are on sale for var
ious prices ranging from 80 cents up.
Some times, at the Inauguration cere-
monies, the stands are elaborate affairs
with roofs and stoves; oftener, as in this
case, they are merely open rows of seats.
Generally, Gen. Hancock's eftigy and the
other statues are completely inclosed by
these stands, but this time, in Difference to
the susceptibilities of the veterans, the
statue parks were kept free of incum-
brances. But every other inch of avail
able space was used. At the Treasury, the
assive pillars of the East front were COW
cred by q stand put up at the expense of
Treasury officials for their own use. All
the seats were full of folks who were on
their dignity-as befitted people who had
paid 80 cents-more than those in the
street. They saw more of the parade, but
they did not have nearly so much fun. The
National Tribune, which fronts on the
Avenue, set apart its entire second floor,
for the Use of the veterans, and many
found accommodation at its windows. In
front of the White House Park was an
unusually ornate white painted stand,
draped with flags, in which were the re-
viewing party, Admiral Dewey and Gen.
Torrance, with group of Cabinet officers
and less notables behind them.
After the usual bunch of galloping Aids
came midshipmen, engineers, artillery, cav
airy, marines, sailors and National Guard,
followed by Prisoners of War, Spanish
War Veterans Sons of Veterans, and
Naval Veterans, all as described else
where.
1t was very good parade and the regu-
lar forces made gallant showing. If
anything, popular favor seemed to be with
the sailors this time. The naval uniform
is not so familiar to most of the veterans
as is that of the troops. But the latter
had no cause to complain of their recep-
tions. Seen in mass. the new khaki uni
forms look very well, although they are
indefensibly ugly individually. But, then
after all, il is the man behind the uniform
that counts, and these were all a lot of
well set up, well developed boys, looking
very much as we used to in the stirring
days we commemorate. One organization
that attracted much attention was the
company of colored National Guards of
the District of Columbia, crowd of clean,
straight, intelligent appearing young
darkies. 1he 40 years of freedom which
we have given the race has been utilized.
and we'll utilized, judging by these "buf-
falo boys.
After the procession, and taking up the
afternoon, there were n myraid of corps
Reunions and regimental gatherings in
Camp Roosevelt The White Lot was a
busy spot. Late in the afternoon Com
missioner Ware had big reception at
the Pension Office, and at night there were
more Reunions, hundreds and hundreds of
them. counting official and nOn-official.
Wherever two old soldiers from the same
regiment, corps, or brigade met, there was
one, and they were meeting all over the
city. This was the big day of the Sons
of Veterans in particular.