The National tribune., 1904-08-11

AT THE GRA
"One Of the regiments down there is
scrubbing it's canteen straps" reported
Alf.
Good idea," answered Monty. "We'M
scrub ours"
1.-The cavalry over there. of Clusters Di-
vision, are all going to wear new red neck
ties" reported Harry. But none but men
of that division will be allowed to wear
them"
why didn't We think Of getting up
something like a corn tassel, or a bunch of
wheat ears to wear for Indiana? sOr
rowed Monty.
''Or big red acorns for the Fourteenth
Corpse" added Harry.
We'll. it's too late now," said Monty.
Zone Of the regiments over there has
got new Mcclellan caps for every man."
reported Harry again.
We'll all wear low-crowned black
slouch hats decided the Committee of
the Whole. when the question was put to
them. ST and Shorty took their arms and
accouterments to the boarding house,
where they could have the society and help
Of their wives preparing for the great
event.
Here, boys, I've got four fine seats for
you and your wives" said the Adjutant.
coming in on the evening before Tuesday,
May %, the day set for the review of the
Army of the Potomac. "They are on q
stand in Lafayette Park. directly in front
Of the Presidents. Best place along the
line to see everything. They belonged to
friend Of mine. who had no end of trouble
to get them, but who has been called away
by the sickness Of his father
"Adjutant. you're laying up a big pile
where the moths don't corrupt, nor thieves
break through and steal,' said Shorty,
of tbo TO- of ho ha baa
heard the day before"
''Wil.' said Maria reprovingly.
The great day dawned in beauty that
can be only found in Washinton weather
when Nature sets out to do her best. The
brightness was tempered by a GOODNESS
which made it perfect for men to march.
The audience was worthy of the day
and the event. People had gathered from
all over the country to witness the grand
pageant OF peace. They packed the long,
broad avenue from the White House to
the Capitol, until, outside the wide space
reserved for the marching column. there
was not a foot of ground for another man
to stand upon. The cross streets. sloping
down from the higher ground of + street
were similarly crowded. wherever there
was a chance to see. Stands were built
over the circles, triangles and other vacant
spaces along the Avenue, and they, like the
roofs and windows, were crowded
Flags few everywhere. The public build
ings were dressed in a wreath Of bunting,
and the business and private houses We'd
with them in their display of glad colors.
1t was the season of flowers. Washington
has more flowers than any other city in
the world, and loyal hands and Hearts had
been busy in heaping them wherever they
would gladden. the sight.
The names of the great victories which
the soldiers had won were painted on
str af oil ~ rhod ,ivnn
buildings, and across the spacious front
Of the great Capitol was a great inscrip-
ton reading:
.The Only National Debt We Can Never
Pay is the Debt We Owe to the Vic
torious Union Soldiers"
The seats Of the boys and their wives
were all that the Adjutant had said. Be
fore them, across the Avenue was the
Presidents stand, mass of bright bunt-
ing, with the severe beauty of the White
House in the background. On either side
of the Presidents stand were others for
the Supreme Court, Congress, the Diplo-
matte Corps, Governors Of States, etc.
Next to 81 sat One-armed soldier, who
was a Senate employee, and apparently
knew everybody. He took to ST and Shorty
at once, still more SO when he learned that
they were Western soldiers, and from In
diana, and was at pains to point out and
explain everything to them.
There's the President, now, coming
into his seat" he said, pointing to heavy
checked, cleanly -shaven man, whom they
recognized at once from his pictures in the
papers. "That's old Andy. There's Grant
right beside him, and that clean-shaven
man in naval uniform is Admiral Farra-
gut. The one with the heavy black whisk-
ers is Admiral Porter, and the one with
glasses is Commodore Worden, the Moni-
tor hero. His eyes were nearly put out by
the shot that struck the Monitors pilot
house. Next to them is Admiral Dahl
gren. That fnest-looking man in the whole
crowd, he with the mustach and goatee, is
Gen. Hancock, my old commander. be-
lOnged to the Second Corps. We think
Hancock the greatest soldier that ever
lived, and he ought to have had command
Of the Army Of the Potomac. And there's
the Cabinet The short man with the
heavy black whiskers and glasses il Sec-
retary Stanton, and the one with the long
white whiskers, and his hair In q curlique
topknot, il Gideon WeIles, the Secretary
Of the Navy. They're all there, except
Secretary Seward. who has not got well