The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-05-06
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tBy s. ": Press Association.) +is
Isl SAN: FRANCISCO. May Il 3 ,-. ,44:
There's nothing to Z It. 4:cul1, these
boobs have gone plum ,bug.house
over these hero gallant Jack tars.
See that goi1 yonder: kissin. a sailor
man him no lighter. either. but
just "a second mate on a old merchant
tub. Don't 1t make you sick Amt
we sojers gallant fighting men. too
as well as these salt ~ water u; booze.
fighters? An you don't notice any
Eoils kissin's us Of anybody offerln'.
to stand treat. 10 ye? y It's ali \! a
dinged farce. that's what lit is.Frs 1is;i
This wall Of woe. coming straight
from the heart OF a soldier from the
Preside. was hopeless protest
against the mental condition sof the
people OF San Francisco and thu,
thousands upon thousands Of Il visit
ors who Joined in welcoming the great
armada as 1t made Its spectacular,
entry through the I! Golden Gate to.
day. lesolate, forlorn figure was
this land.ftghter among the mob of
thousands which pressed gnbou thu
water front anil cheered lustily5whe
ever a naval officer or sailor appeared.
San Francisco Is mad. stark. raving
mad. over the arrival 4of a the fleet.
We're ever: sailor an old world king
wearing the crown OF despotic power:
he would not find more willing anil
enthusiastic subjects than those who
gathered to-day to pay tribute TO- thA
gallant officers and sailors who have
safely brought Uncle Sans ma gnifi:
cent fleet OF sea fighting machines
from the Atlantic to the! Pacific. :5 {;
Never before during & period /; Of
peace. in the history OF: America, 9has
there been such Wild .enth husiasn over
|aSnaval event. such a ! mad bubblins-
over of Z patriotism. such a popular
and universal sapheavals OF the spirit
Of war. With the arrival OF the bat.
tleships the dove OF peace has taken
flight and the eagle OF war is brood,
ing over what was recently d devas:
tated and stricken city.5Thei old blood
lust. which. since history, began; has
set man gainst man and nation
against nation. flows like wine through
the veins Of the rhowHng people who
throng the streets and crowd. thou
sands deep, about the water front.
The machines that kill and the men
who slay have become the objects OF
a city's alteration. Like Romans OF
old. eager for the slaughter. or wildly.
exulting over the 4 victories Of con.
quering 1egions. the batt1e-mad mob,
between moments OF: admiration for
the fleet and It's men. discusses the
possibility Of war with Japan anil
sees. in imagination. the proud navy
OF Nippon shattered and annlhilatel
by shrieking shells from, the engines
Of destruction that frown forth from
the battleships in the harbor.
But It Is not the lurking menace
OF carnage and bloodshed. the sveiled
threat OF war. the grim shadow that
hides behind the immaculate paint
and Furnished brass Of the battle.
ships. that most Immediately con-
Germs the fleet.mad, San Franciscans.
Fun and frivolity are the keynotes OF
the demonstration. Mars. the ihideous
god OF war. Is ;afare off. and maybe but
a vision. and Ia the peaceful present
San Francisco ds worshipping at the
shrine OF the gods OF merriment and
Joy. Bacchus. too. has his devotees.
and. so be It the reyeler wears the
uniform Of Uncle Sans sailor, ali WIN
be forgiven and forgotten. q 5ss
The rush for places OF vantage 70
witneso the incoming OF the fleet be-
gan long before tho hour set FOR its
arrival. and continued without abate.
ment until the great: naval pageant
began. All sorts and conditions Bof
men. women and children made up
the great concourse Of hundreds ::of
Thousands OF sightseers. Thousands
if5 them had come from distant cities
in California. Oregon. Utah. Nevada
and other States to see the fleet and
take part IN the frolics. School
boards in scores OF California cities
had proclaimed to-day a holiday in
order that the children might see the
fleet, and thousands OF young hope
fuls. with shining. well.scrubbed