Newport weekly independent., 1902-10-17

man was master of himself, self-as> sertive and eager for the fray.
 In this grand army of to-day there is not a man less than 55, and they are very few. Some of the little drummer boys are here, but all of them are 55 or more. The average age of these veterans is 60. Their hearts are as light and their spirits as bright as in the heyday of youth, but they don't march as though every step were pleasure and every alignment a rhythm of collective individual power. The grand army which I saw during the civil war not only had ruddy cheeks, but hair with some coloring matter in it. The boys had black, brown, red O. auburn hair. But here is an army oI men whose heads are all blossoming a a the almond tree, and there is not rud~ dy cheek to be seen."
 One of "the boys" from Minnesota sang songs for a crowd of comrades in hotel on the avenue, beginning with T feel just as happy as big sunfiower." Finally he started the ''Star Spangled Banner" and all joined with him. Then he told story of the song, saying:
 Frank Lombard, who used to sing Old Shady for us, was popular min- strel before the war, and he sang the Star Spangled Banner all over the north and south. He could sing it bet ter than anybody else, because of the range and power of his voice. In June, 1863, while we were creeping closer against Vicksburg until our earth works were so near each other that we could almost throw stones across the line, Frank Lombard came into our camps one night and entertained us with lot of songs. When he sang the Star Spangled Banner,' we heard a voice calling: Say, Tank! Ain't that Frank Lombard?' When we answered in the affirmative, the voice called back: I heard him sing it in New Orleans. It sounds good to hear him again!'"
 During the long lulls when there was no marching and no fighting to be done, everybody learned how to play cards to pass the time away; and lots of fellows learned how to win away the small salaries of the others. It is very apparent that they have not forgotten their old tricks, for in all of the tents there have been gath cred lot of fellows playing seven-up and poker. One old, grizzled fellow from Kentucky says that he came here ex- pecting the other fellows to pay his expenses, and he has won enough to | satisfy him. And he claims to love | his comrades as we'll as any of the other fellows; and he probably does, | too. But where old soldiers gather some of them are bound to gamble, just as they used to do.
 Another habit of the long ago has been painfully apparent. There are some old fellows here who have been looked upon as models of dignity at home for many years, who have been unable to say mo" to old comrades who have invited them to ''take a lit tie commissary." Indulging, for the sake of old times, they have overlooked the fact that they can't stand what they once could, and quite a number of them have felt their legs giving way beneath them, and the ambulances have taken them to the hospital.
 But yet they are grand army, and even those who have shown their weak nesses by reason of old age and good fellowship, are entitled to the love and veneration of us all; and of their chil. dren's children, for many generations and ages.
 Good-by, old boys; we ne'er shall see your like again. SMITH D. FRY.