The National tribune., 1904-08-25


and exciting history have been made since
that day when the Rev. VIM. Blackstone
invited Winthrop and his associates to re-
move to the Mushanwomuk Peninsula, to
enjoy its abundance of fine, pure, cool
water.
To tell what has happened since then
would be to recount the history OF the
country. in all of which Boston has had
q very large and influential part, besides
having an undue share of troubles and ex-
elements peculiarly her own.
Yet all the papers of the city agree that
Tuesday, Aug. 16, 1904, was the greatest
day Boston ever saw.
1t was the day when 1,OOOOO people
gathered in her narrow and tortuOus streets
to see march by some 1900 aging veter-
ans of the greatest war in history.
The census of 1900 gave a population of
$50. .S92 men, women and children to Bos-
ton They were all on the line of march,
and for each one had come another from
the teeming factory towns of New Eng
land of which Boston is the center, as we'll
as myriads from much farther away.
They had all come to look for the last
time upon the muster in Boston of the
remnant of those mighty hosts which had
victoriouSly borne the shock of the Ma
tion's rending tumult.
They were right about its being the last
time There will be other parades of the
Grand Army of the Republic. and let us
hope that the numbers in line will approach
the Boston figure, but the column had
shrunken painfully from the last parade
over the same streets IA years ago. Scores
of famous Generals who then graced it,
thousands of sturdy comrades who then
swelpd its ranks now live only IN history
and the hearts of those who mourn Tor
them as those who have hope of meeting
them in the Great Reunion beyond the
Last River If so long time shall again
elapse before the G. A. r. goes to Boston
the parade will be made up of carriages
carrying feeble old men.
A STIMULUS AND AN INSPIRATION.
The immense crowd seemed to appre
ciate this. They acted as if it was priv
ilege to see the still surviving heroes OF
proud and mighty Past-men who had
made the American name lustrous and the
Nation great beyond the anticipation OF
prophecy.
And this had. visible effect upon the
veterans. 1t is great stimulus, an lnspl-
ration. to know that one million loyal, ad-
miring Americans are watching you with
intense interest. Never before had they
paraded before such a multitude, and
multitude i'm which the sentiment was so
unanimous and manifest. They took on
new life. Their step had something of the
old spring. They Strengthened their lines,
touched elbows, and swung around the nu-
merous street corners in way that
showed either that their youth-time drill
had made an unbreakable habit, or else
that it had been much less than 80 years
since the last time they strobe past the
reviewing officer in platoon front.
The specta tors We're properly astonished
at so much fire and vim, such excellent
marching in men who were fighting battles
as long ago as the seventh. decade or the
last century.
The Grand Army of the Republic never
appeared to better advantage never gave
a more favorable impression Of the men
composing 1t.
Every State and Territory was we'll rep
resented. Many of the delegations were
astonishingly large, considering the dis
tance they had TO come. A much larger
proportion than ever were in uniform. All
of the uniforms were neat and attractive,
and of many of the Posts unusually fine.
Considered merely as a street display,
and without regard to the fact that its
numbers were much larger than those al
most any other Order can turn out, its
appearance was better and more attrac-
tive than any other organization can put
upon the streets. This is astonishing,
when We compare the age Of the veterans.
and the comparative inexpensiveness of
their outfit. to that of younger and wealth
Ter Orders.
THE FIRST SURPRISE.
On Commonwealth Avenue, at the place
of assembling. il seemed TO lay observers
an inextricahle tangle. Men by thousands
and horses by hundreds We're scattered all
around. without semblance of organiZa-
tion. But at the bugle call everybody found
his place at once. and the coil untangled
into m orderly column with celebrity and
certainty that immeasurably astonished
those who had only seen other organiza-
tions attempt To form columns
There We're three reviewing stands: One
on Boylston street. occupied hy Gen.
Black and staff. National officers and
friends one i'm front of the State House,
occupied hy the Governor of Massachu-
setts staff and distinguished public men.
and third in front of the City Hall. oc-
cupied by the Mayor of Boston and civic
funcfionarieS.
Gen. Black. escorted ny Kinsley Post,
led off the parade promptly at the hour set,
but the guide for the Department of Illi-
nos. which had the right of the line by
seniority. became confused by the tangle
of Boston's narrow, crooked streets. and
led the Department astray. threatening for
awhile To lose the whole parade in the
hopeless maze. This was one OF the few
breaks which marred the great. success Of
the pageant.
ILLINOIS.
When brought back into line Illinois
made a magnificent showing with her vet
Grams. The National Association Of Civil
War Musicians. led by Chelsea joe as
Drum Major. supported ny Boston's own
Inspector Joe" Knox Of the Police De
partment. created sensation. The old
Drum Major. with his long, snow-white
hair barred to the breeze. his army felt in
one hand. and staff baton. twined with the
red, white and blue. in the other. executed
one of the most striking salutes to Gov
Bates of any rendered his Excellency. The
old soldiers greeting was responded Il
most cordially by the Governor, and the
famous drum corps, to the tap on the ole
Goldsboro rebel drum captured by KnOl
himself. gave the three ruffles due al
officer Of rank in the old army style.
THE PENNsYLvANIANs,
with their square of % battle flags borne
by color bearers of the civil war. was tn,
next touchstone for rounds of cheers. II
the center of the square marched Color
Sergeant Owen Jones. of Post 191, Phla
delphia. carrying the flag of the Pennsyl
vania Reserves, Third Division. Fifth
Corps. representing the ID regiments raised
by Andrew G.Curtin, the great war Cover
nor Of Pennsylvania, which fought i'm every