The Washington times., 1902-10-09
FAST-THINNINl BLUE LINE ONCE MORE PASSES IN REVIEW

] 1865. when the armies of the Union
having fought the good fight and won
marched in grand review over the same
route before disbanding for their homes
Stained they were then and dust-be-
grined with long marching, but of per-
feet physique. perfect health fester-
day few of the halt. the lame and the
blind represented what General Sher-
man at that time termed 1.-The most
magnificent army in existence.
Scattered through the parade We're n
number of women. Those in charge OF
the long march endeavored to discourage
the participation in the parade of wo-
men. as itN was desired to make the
formation distinctly military. The ladies',
however. could not be kept out, nor
could they be censored for desiring to
walk beside their husbands. Like the
sterner sex, they have war to look
back upon.
Anxious Ones at Home.
The suffering of those terrible four
years: the stories of the little hands o.
women-mothers, wi2es. sweethearts-
who often gathered in the silent homes
OF one of their number and offered pray
er to God to spare their loved ones; the
hours of knitting by dim freight, that
the boys on the firing line might be
kent warm through the cold months; the
packages of sweetmeats and the little
Odds and ends which were sent to thc
soldiers when their commands happened
to be in the Observation-Disclosures are the
incidents sacred TO the women of the
Grand Army. The fellowship between
these women, who waited and hoped To-
rether. is the same as that between the
soldiers who faced death together.
One could not look upon the parade
Yesterday without feeling within him
a thrill at the knowledge of what the
veterans in faded blue did for this ma
ton. Many of them are old and bent.
The hair which once was luxuriant and
black is thin and gray. The shoulders
which once were square and strong. are
round and feeble The eye which once
lit AT the approach of dash and danger
is dimmed by the presence of old age.
Deep burrows scar the brow which once
was clear and smooth. But the heart is
The fire of youth still
surges hotly in the sunken breast.
Spirit Is Still Young.
In body only is the veteran aging. In
spirit he is the same boy in blue who
fought stolidly in the Wilderness, who
rushed madly forward at Antietam, who
sat silent and hopeful at Vicksburg The
flesh may be feeble, but so long as the
spark of vitality burns just so long
will the old soldier be the gallant. be-
loved warrior who gave his all that the
nation might live. its fair honor I'M
sullied, its fair name without a stain,
its glorious flag without smirch.
Realizing all this, one must under
stand that a greeting between comrades
men who struggled side by side to up
hold the nations honor-is tinged with
Because of that the word
'comrade' has a dearer and fuller
meaning for the war veteran than
can be grasped by the younger gen
Grafton. II means more than acquaint
ance; 1t means more than friend. Often
the earnestly spoken "Comrade, I'm glad
TO see you again and the firm hand
clasp bring TO mind the picture of a
eashing young soldier stopping long
enough in the heat of battle to give
drink of water to a wounded brother
who. perhaps, has lain for hours on the
field with parehed throat and throbblng
brain. When tears well up in, the eyes
Of veterans who often cannot speak
when they meet. these are not displays
Of weakness, but of the true feelings OF
rare comradeship.
Crowds Bear Out Estimates.
line crowds in Washington bear out
he estimates of the encampment Off
Gals and OF the railroads The capacity
Of the city is taxed 10 the utmost. Every
boarding house and hotel is full. In
rearly all cases each room being the
sleeping apartment OF three or four per
sons. Hundreds are unable to secure
quarters, and walk the streets until
others are ready to get up. and then
gladly steal into the deserted beds for
a few hours sleep.
To date there have been no serious ac
,idents Policemen by the hundred
guard carefully the welfare of pedes
rians and restrain those in vehicles who |
re tempted to move too rapidly. The |
immense crowds. however, do a grea: |
Ieal toward keeping order in the city |
W their unqualified good nature. The |
pirits Of everyone are high. DISPOSE |
ions, 1t seems. cannot be ruffled, no
natter how trying the circumstances |
The policemen answer cheerfully all |
uestions put them. regardless of wheth- !
r they are foolish or wise. Wash |
appear TO have organized |
themselves into individual bureaus of |
and the strangers within .
he gates reciprocate by doing their .
hare toward producing smooth, al
hough noisy surface
tatr