The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-11-20
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OBSERVATORY, x
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1t is rather late to write about NV
eastern summer trip; but there were
certain features about the National
Grand Army Encampment which will
keep and bear telling at any time. All
who have visited Detroit know of the
place. It's city council voted fiftv
thousand dollars to help entertain the
visiting soldiers, and no city was ever
more hnely decorated for such an oc-
| caslon. have attended many large
conventions in the east and the west
and nave neven seen better arrange
ments OF all kinds for such a purpose.
But one feature stands out above
all others, and that was the use of
the Boy Scouts. | came from New
England through Canada and as our
tram was crossing the river on the
Dig Terry boat we saw several big lake
steamers starting for a sail on De-
troit River and Lake ST. Clair, loaded
to fullest capacity with old soldiers
and their families. AS our boat near
ed the railway dock on the Detroit
side we saw numbers of bows clad in
the Scout kakhi uniform, and we were
not fairly off the car before one of
them reached for our luggage; thev
immediately saw the brown button
and insisted on being helpful; we did
not have hand luggage enough to 90
around that each boy might have
piece unless we let one little fellow
have the umbrella; they quickly led us
to bench behind which were men
and women with badges; our desires
as to quarters were at once ascertain
ed, big registers were consulted, and
IN ten minutes we were located to go
to a private house; one of nv sons
and his family had just left St. Louis.
whom we had visited going east, and
had come through Detroit that they
might meet us again, and my son and
grandson could easily carry all our
packages; but the Scouts would have
none OF 1t; they had passes on the
street cars and piloted us to our
quarters without waste of time.
The next day was that of the great
parade when the Scouts covered them |
selves with glory; while the parade |
was being formed there were long
waits; the Scouts seemed everywhere
ready for any kind of aid, full of life |
but so loaded with a sense of their re-
sponsibility they had no time to "let
off steam" and "skylark" as youngs-
tiers usually do on such occasions.
such irrepressible lads are SO full OF
life that 1t must come out or thev will
burst; thew would be on the street
poles. breaking through the lines, un-
der foot everywhere and running all
kinds of risks. But that day they had
a place and duty, were never out of
place, did everything without fuss, and
seemed to anticipate every want: and
noticed another fact; apparently,
heir actions had an effect on BOYS not
of that Corps; these outside urchins
we're so impressed with the example
If their Scout comrades that it used
Up their surplus vitality watching and
ldmiring the khaki clad lads.
1t was when the grand march be-
ran that they began to show their
greatest usefulness; by that time il
vas getting warm, and the old men
we're tired by long waiting: the line
lad no sooner started than the Scouts
egan to appear with boys wagons
n which were boilers filled with hot r
Office or ice water; one boy would :
rag the wagon, another handle the !
oiler cover and three or four run in :
nd out of the line with their cups =
coping up with the parade, never in :
nyway but just the right one. This !