Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-10

the streets, wheeling around the corners in perfect line.
Infantry and cavalry it was, all the same. steeds pranced and sabors
ratified, but never once was the formation broken and never once
was there excitement or haste or worry.
A feature of the parade which attracted much comment was the
age Of the soldiers. Seldom was there a "grizaled" veteran, but the
officers and men, though many we're veterans of a war and wore
medals for gallant service. looked young. indeed. to carry the re-
sponsibility that rests upon them. Riders never before sat on their
horses more gracefully than the cavalry boys who participated in the
parade and infantrymen marched as one solid body. The cvalry
band received a most generous welcomes
The pack mules we're a revelation to the younger generation
and an attraction for the older generation. The mules to the old
veterans may not have been such a sight, but to the civilians who
seldom come in contact with army folks this wa a most interesting
feature of the parade. Each mule was armed with two bales of hay
and they trudged along as unconcerned. as though pulling a pillow
in old Missouri No bride hindered them, but they followed the
bell mule of the drove. One young woman, who had evidentally been
reading the advertisements lately, in answer to an inquiry, said the
mules were loaded with homemade freless cookers" She said she
could tell by the hay sticking out of the bundles.
The six-mule teams driven with a jerk line won the admiration
of those who have tried to drive one mule with two lines aud a rope.
The soldier boys won the hearts of the people. For hours thou
sands who had secured a point of advantage to view the parade
stood and waited patiently. 1t was a tedious wait, too, for there
was much crowding and pushing, but it did not sap the enthusiasm
of the visitors.
The stamp of approval was placed OIL every company and a an
endorsement of the honorable calling of the soldier the High School
cadets came in for the greatest applause of any company. If en-
oouragement was needed to make the boys stick to the business
they got it Thursday afternoon.
The fact that many of the regiments in the parade have made
glorious history for the government also added much to the interest.
The Thirteenth infantry was organized during the revolutionary
war and became a regimental organization in 1912, taking part in
the Mexican war. In 1851 William t. Sherman was its colonel.
The Second cavalry was organized in 1885 and participated in
the Mexican war. The Fourth cavalry dates its history from 1870.
The Seventh cavalry, known IS Clusters regiment, was organized in
1866.
The Seventh cavalry received great applause when it was rec
ognized by the visitors for it's history is new and it's progress has
been watched by many who were pioneers in this country when it
was organized and many who became personally acquainted with its
officers and men.
All in all Thursday was a redletter for Uncle Sans soldier boys
in Omaha. Much was expected of them and they made good. And
not the least of the pride felt and expressed by Omaha people and
the visitors was that occasioned by the presence in the line of tho
future soldiers of the country a S represented by the High School
cadets, who made a splendid appearance.
At Fort Omaha the soldiers have had a gala time. General
Morton invited the people of Omaha to visit the fort at any time and
thousands have taken advantage Of the invitation to bring them
selves in close touch with real soldering. 1t is from this association
that the commanding general expects his soldier boys to profit
Some of the soldiers appear to be hardly out of their teens and
they are enjoying life to the limit Hundreds Of the boys in blue
secured leave of absence to take In the town and visit the shows IN
the carnival grounds. Their uniforms gave them right-of-way
through the gates and on the street cars. While they did not fail
to have their fun on the grounds and proved good spenders around
the confetti barrels, no policeman has registered against a soldier,
a single complaint.
The troops who spent the week in Omaha are: Second cavalry
from Des Moines; Fourth cavalry from Fort Meade; Seventh and
Fifteenth cavalry from Fort Riley; Thirteenth infantry from Fort
Leavenworth; Sixteenth infantry from Des Moines. The Seventh
cavalry will leave Tuesday on its long march back to Fort Riley.