The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-05-31
THE SEATTLE STAR EDITORIAL AND MAGAZINE PAGE

himself Into H. in hla ehareotorls
Tie manner.
II Just happened that the mayor
ended hts speech. ~ the procession
arrived.
The reporters rushed for First
Sergeant 1911 jerks.
What is this Hbautl" asked nli
Tins.
Just thought we'd run over to
tho comotery 10 put some flowers
on HE graves, before the ball
game" said lilll
The reporters saw that each ball
player carried flowers. They were
nOborfaced. quiet boys The spirit
OF tho day had fallen on them.
Blffina ran toward tho crowd
Make way, please" he said
'llere are some flowers"
Thon he motioned to Bill Down
IL lane Of tho crowd, which made
way Tor him. proudly marched hlll,
and behind him osme tho boya
Over the graves they scattered
their tokens Of sehoolboy love.
Their Interest waa the genuine ln'
tsfeut Of boyhood There was no
grief here, fresh from their play
ground thay brought tributes Of
honor II was real. fleahand blood
America, giving glory because glory
was due. From grave To grave. the
base ball players passed silently.
When they had finished. they
passed outside tho circle Of the
eruwd.
walt a minute" rang out a
strong voice. There's one word
more | want 10 nay"
II was the young mayor speaking
That vas the most splendid thing
! have seen today I know my
speech wasn't good. hut now I
know why II was because / was
trying Ia feel as the old soldiers
feel, Hut cannot do that No one
Of ~ who waA not In that Grand
army eau do that We don't know
what memories these old soldiers
have. We haven't seen our CON.
rades fall beside us in battle. their
feelings 90 Decoration day must
be a hundred times deeper than
ours but you and !. who do not
know about the war, may have our
feelings also, with ua there IL
more pride than sadness. more
EiorJ than loss These old soldiers
come here filled with fomcmhranocs
aftor years Of lhlnkihg over battle
tines We ought 10 come here. as
did these fine boys today, fresh
from our play and work. 70 pay
tribute 10 tho men who made II
possible for IA to play and work
IN these United States.
"old soldier boys. We love you +"
There we're tears in tho mayors
syea and voice a. be stretched out
bis arms 20 the veterans. We love
you. Forgive vs., wont you. II we
don't Heem 70 fully appreciate all
your memories. n we don't seem 10
feel a. you DO on Decoration day ?
We aFs a new generation. But
uhercYsr there's a base ball game
today. OF a picnic. or a horse race
wheruyer thora ia an American
crowd gathered together you may
be sure that ever pleasure seeker
loves the memories Of the boys In
blue"
Every body ehocfed him this time
They sald the mayors speech vas
good, after all, And nill and the
base ball nlnea walked away.
Hos did you Get them 10 come
for to the eamotarY7" Bifiinn asked
First Sergeant Bili.
4 told thum n they didn't come
over TO tho cemetery with me. |
wouldn't umpire their game Bill
replied.
Whom the newspapers were read
Al the Soldiers home that night tho
old soldiers we're delighted. The
stories told all about NIL aud the
strange. inspiring scenes at the
Cemetery. They even gave the score
of the bail game.
Young mayor made a fine
speech" said First Sergeant Jas.
Whlioomb
He wouldn't have. n II hadn't
been for nill.T said Peter. Blll's
roommate.
"nill IL lust like a Md said First
Sargean, Whiicomb, "nui s'pose
4 takes man like him to really
understand what the young folks
do think about US. guess the
mayor was right
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