The Washington times., 1902-10-06
VETERANS OUT ON PARADE
Hundreds Again March Up
and Down the Avenue.
PLENTY OF TOBACCO SMOKE
Old Soldiers Bring Their Pipes Along
and Have Good Time-Many
washingtonians on the Street.
Ie,s a hero. sarbed in blue;

! He's a hero, garbed in blue: 4
Battlescarred, and smoke-stai.ied. too;
And he's older than he was scme years ago;
But he's just as full OF fight.
And his SOULS as pure and bright :.
As when In his youth he marched TO meet the foe.
| II the country goes to war
| He's ready as before.
| Whea he grabbed gun in April. sixty-one. s;
| He was for the Union then
He Is for it nov, Amen
And you'll find his fghtirg days have Just begun.
| He was up and down the Avenue last
night and he wasn't alone Hundreds
of his brothers were with him. saunter-
ing along with their pipes in their
mouths. their breasts covered with med
ais and badges, and looks OF content
ment on their faces. They were Of all
ages and sizes. but their blue coats and
black slouch hats made them kin.
Washington was glad to see them.
| Some of the old veterans are in the
Capital now for the first time since the
memorable review of the Federal troops
just after the close of the war. and their
eyes last night looked with wonder upon
the work time has wrought in the city.
City has Changed.
.Tts hard to believe this is Washing
| ton." said grizzled old fighter, shaking
his head solemnly at the Capitol. IT
1t wasn't for the Capitol I'd hardly know
where / am. When I was here the last
time Pennsylvania Avenue was mud
hole, cut into ruts by army wagons and
artillery. and lined on both sides of the
street with mean little hotels and stores
where there we're any buildings at all.
81 remember the morning we were
dumped into the city. fresh from Rich
mond. The city was in confusion.
Troops were everywhere. and more were
constantly arriving. officers were dash
ing all around like mad. and splashing
mud over everybody. and the noise was
deafening. Then came the review. That's
the brightest spot In my memory. There
aren't many OF US left now, but We all
want to march up the Avenue again.
You know. holding an encanpmsnt in
Washington is different from holding 1t
in any other city-Washington is ours.
Old Soldiers Smoke. .sssIon sG'
The old veteran Of half dozen Of the
most memorable battles in history saun-
tered up the street, his felt hat pulled
down over his gray eyebrows and smok-
ing with great enjoyment. All the old
soldiers smoke, apparently, and they all
smoke pipes. More pipes were seen on
Pennsylvania Avenue last night than
IT 1n .
fragrant odor of tobacco smoke llsd,-
the rair, and the gray clouds eobscursd a'
many lights.
The crowd on the Avenue-and every
body hocked to the Avenue with one
accord-was typical, and such another
had not been seen in the city for ten
years The very atmosphere was mill
tary, and charged with the ghosts OF bat
tie smoke and the roar Of spirit cannon
Some OF the veterans were strong and
sturdy specimens of manhood. but there
were Others who limped. or who walked
with crutches, or stumped along on
wooden legs. Armless sleeves were
plentiful.
But whether whole or mutilated the
old veterans enjoyed themselves to the
utmost. until after midnight Both
sides of the big thoroughfare were
packed with people. 1t was wet. and
close and very disagreeable. and the
heavy downpour of the early day threat
ened to repeat itself. but nobody cared.
All were intent on good time, and de- ,Ft
termined to have it. In the neighbor-
hood OF the Pennsylvania depot the
throngs were densest Hundreds of peo-
pie poured through the exits, bewildered.
and looking for friends difficult TO
locate.
There were many unlucky individuals
who were unloaded into the city with
no idea where they would spend the
night These were unfortunate. and as
tine sticky. disagreeable weather grew
more so, and it began to get, later AMI =
later the awkwardness of their position
dawned upon them. Little groups OF
struggling veterans complained bitterly
to one another, and stood upon street
corners to bewail their lot. A common
bond OF sympathy was discovered often
in this manner and many friendships
sprung up.
I'm mighty sleepy growled wrirl-
kled. seasoned old soldier. 'and want
TO go TO bed. l can't sleep out doors
like | could once" He was in party
OF half a dozen other veterans, wrin-
kled and grizzled like himself a
trailer for a boarding house found
them and offered assistance. 1t was
eagerly seized. until 1t was learned that
a bed would cost dollar
Price Too Steep.
i've travelled all over the country"
declared the cid fellow. land I never
pGd dollar for lodging yet. | know
| amt going to do it now" The others
the same economical aentf.
menis.
They went off in search of cheaper
place, pathetically padding about in the
rain. stepping in puddles, getting wet.
and burdened with baggage too heavy
for their bent bodies to bear. There
were some pathetic things to be seen
last night and the aged. weakened old
soldier, determined to take part In the
big reunion and TO march in review with
his comrades once more, was one Of
them.
The streets were slippery and wet. and
the clouds heavy, but such things could
not dampen the enthusiasm of the vis-
itor The ticket broker-the busiest
man in Washington just now--plied his 6
business in ioorways. in vestibules. in
hot,l Hobbies. and on street corners,
with all the energy of Grand Street hat
store clerks.
The dragged unsuspecting strangers
put of the ranks. induced them to part
with their railroad tickets. and sold
IL hi oh thAy a M