The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-07

Of q union that will last forever and
grow stronger because OF the travail
from which Il came.
Add to this panorama OF color and
patriotism the white sashes and the
3urs Of the maids of honor. the little
gray caps with black borders worn
by the camp mAscots, the gold on uni
forms OF gray and blue, the silk hats
and dark clothing OF the citizen es-
cort, the uniforms of the metrOpoli-
tan police, the flash of sabers, the
dull appeal of khaki. and the bright
raiment OF the bands, and one may
picture, even though far away, the
wonderful spectacle that Washington
afforded today.
Airs That Stir the Heart.
And above all, my dear, bringing .
lump in the throat and q queer tin
gle to the body, were the airs that
these bands played.
7-he Stars and Stripes Forever"
with its plea to laggard feet; ''su-
vance River" with its call to senti-
mental thoughts; "Old Black Joe"
bringing memories of "darkies" and
snte-bellum days; My Old Kentucky
Home" with its day dreams Of con
tent; Garry Ne Back to Ole Vir-
Einny," forcing pictures OF Bull Run,
Manassas, Petersburg. and Richmond:
THE Girl I Left Behind" one OF
the campfire songs OF the COS; Mary
land, Ny Maryland" with Its martial
swing-end "DiXie"-"Dixie," under
the spell OF which men went bravely
to their death and died with a bless
ing instead OF a curse on their lips
more than half century ago.
Happy To Herr "DIxIe."
And many an "old Confed" smiled
happily from the ranks today when
Dixie" was played-because no mat
ter at what point along the Avenue
it was heard, the throngs on the side
walks cheered and waved hats and
hAndkerchiefs, and heartbeats were
faster.
But not all OF the music came from
the bands today. Now and then one
could see, a little apart from the
others, a struggling group OF gray
clothed veterans beating the drums
and lingering me flies they played in
the Army OF Northern Virinia or the
Army OF Tennessee. These fife and
drum corps, a remnant of what they
used 10 be, lent a touch to this scene
that never shall forget.
What though the breath Of the fife
players went short at times and the
rat-a-tat-tat OF the drums WAS not as
steady as once upon a time? They
were playing the airs of yesterday
: and living again in yesterday, ana
were beating the requiem Of departed
hopes and charges that failed. By
this do not mean that anyone today
would have II diffeernt-but men
must have memories and nations
must have memories If they are to
be worth while.
war-Worn Uniforms.
I thrilled again as here and there
came along some aged comrade in the
uniform he wore through our civil
war. The gray was everywhere, but
its real Significance came when # was
faded. The bright and pressed uni
forms Of today are typical only The
recollection clings to the gray salt
that is dust-stained and shabby, aud
possibly bullet-torn. Just a few Of
the OlQ men came TO the NaplIdl OF
their country today wearing the real
habiliment OF wsr-uniforms that are
valueless. but which money cannot
buy
Among the wearers Of these faded
suits I saw go by Private Bowling,
OF the First Confederate Eolunteers,
who came from Georgia to march
again: Major William A. Gordon, Of
this city, who was with PjcRytt when
he charged at Gettysburg: Major Will
liam II. Ellis, of Virginia, who com
manded the James +. Preston Camp,
and with him trudged Sam Palmer
and Caleb Sewers. with the drum and
FIFE they used IN lme sos: Colonel
Tom Booker, also Of Virginia. whose
banjo playing whiled away the hours
in camp.
There were others, but they were
swallowed up in the steady stream
of gray that swept by the President
and the thousands who cheered on the
nations greatest thoroughfare.
C. A. r. Feature New.
But for the presence of C. A. r.
veterans, and the fewer men who
passed, the parade formation was not
unlike that OF twenty-sIx previous