Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-10-30

A st. Mary's boy in Washington
writes his father as follows:

A st. Mary's boy in Washington
writes his father as follows:
30 ID. A. N. E.,
Oct. IL. 1902.
DEAR FATHER Your letter re-
ceived this morning and was glad
to hear from home. Have just re-
turned from the Office 1--WE get out on
Saturdays at 2.30) and, as il is a
drizzly, rainy day, will take advant-
age of the opportunity thus afforded
and reply immediatetely: We're
to digrcss at any great length upon
the scenes of the past week it would
be voluminous enough TO constitute
q book. Suffice for the purpose, how
ever. will be aslight reversion to the
principal day-Wednesday-and the
incidents leading thereto. The
crowds began to come in the latter
part of last week and continued
through the earlier part of this, un-
til the accommodating capacity of
the city was taxed to it's utmost.
Even the transportation facilities,
both railway and street, had as much
as they could conveniently handle,
and the latter, especially, even more.
We had holiday on Wednesday, of
course, as did all the public offices
and most of the business houses,
except hotels. cafes, souvenir stores
and the like. The parade began ear
ly in the forenoon, say $50 or 10 A.
NJ, and lasted until 4 in the after
noon. The city generally was ar
rayed in gala attire, and the numer-
Gus bands, both local and visiting,
added to the festive appearance of
the occasion. Some of the saddest
and most sublime sights ] ever wit
messed transpired here that day.
Old soldiers from far and near, many
of whom had not seen or heard of
each other since "the days that tried
men s souls, met for the first time,
and the glad hand-shake and friend
ly grasp readily portrayed the JOY
of seeing each other once more,
while the tear-stained cheek showed
they had not forgotten the tribula-
tions of days gone by, nor the alb
sent ones who were not fortunate
enough TO survive the bitter strug-
gle. Many who had not seen Wash
ington since the COS stood in awe
struck amazement at the develop
ment and progress. Where before
they found trees and bushes they
now saw well-built, substantial
houses and broad concrete avenues.
Ii was such q crowd as never saw
before nor ever expect to witness
again. Intermingled with the old
soldiers of all ages were their wives
aud children, making pleasing di-
version to the monotony Of blue coats
and brass buttons. One brigade es-
pecially had for its bugler the daugh-
ter of its former commander, and
well did she perform the duties OF
the Office, rendering the music for the
command tomarch by, and also seem
ngly aware of her position, of which
she. so justly had q right TO feel
proud. Again we had entire musi-
cal corps composed of ladies only,
all of whom were in some way con
nected with the veterans of the Civil
War, and the music they furnished
was second to none in the city
Nearly every section OF the country
had its distinguishing mark on its
veterans, other than the banners
which fioated at the head of each di
vision. For instance, Minnesot;
veterans all carried few strands ol
wheat tied together-Georgia baC
4 OAouNuCS VI paiuAo bhnCh ttOih Wv
palmetto tree--Kansas was glorious
| ly represented by an array of um
brellas in imitation Of the sunfiower
etc, Sometimes we saw the anus
ing and ridiculous as well as the
sublime. The front of the parads
seemed to be unable to keep clear o
those who followed after, owing pos
sibly to having numerous corners Il
turn, and this caused the latter por
tion, as well as the body, to come Il
an occasional halt. OF course dur
ing this delay the band continued
playing. and in one division that cam'
along an old soldier Of 65 or 20 year.
old began to dance a regular goo(
old-fashioned country hoe e-down, and
judging from the result of his at
tempt. in his younger days he mus
have been no mean follower Of til.
Terpsichorean art. OF course eEe
rybody was very much amz 5