The sun., 1917-09-05
CITY EMERSON
1000 PATRIOTS
MDRAFT ARMY
impressive Services at Polo
Grounds After Parade
Men Sing America"
MARCHED LIKE VETERANS
.Simply Great!'' Said Col
Roosevelt Of New Defenders
Of the Nation.

The listeners on Coogan's Bluff. who
roost all afternoon at the top Of the
cliffs and deduce from variations In the
babel below what is happening at any
,,van moment in the Polo Grounds, no
inch OF which can they see because Of
The grand stand roofs. must have haA a
pussline experiences before the Giants
and the Braves began to play ball yes
terdsy
up from the depths OF shadowy con-
crete rose a chorus OF thousands Of
voices. That was understandable. 1t
vas the baseball crowd, including 1000
young men drafted into the National
Army who had marched 30 Informally
and appealinsly up Fifth avenue three
hours before and for whom the baseball
esme, in addition to counting for the
National League pennant. was a special
treat provided BY tho owners Of the con-
tending clubs.
II was singing America" In exercises
precsd.ng the game. One, two. three
sands and thousands Of throats and
sweeping the blu1s and the river with
unaccustomed sound.
Last Verse More MystifyinG.
A pause, and then the last verse-the
Our Fathers God. to Thee" one-sung
rot by the earlier chorus but by q small
choir Of men. Maybe some swell down.
town church had sent up Its singers.
How could Coogan's Bluff. above that
irritating horseshoe Of roof screen. guess
whence this final harmony really came
The bluff has its advantages for fans
with practised ears and lean pockets. but
for real understanding yesterday one
rad 10 see as we'll as hearken,
Out near the homeplate stood Harry
Barnhart. director Of the Community
Chorus, which was banked back Of the
boxes wherein Mayor Mitchell and other
notsbles were seated. This chorus and
band We're the nucleus. OF the singing
That spread through the stands as the di-
rector waved his arms this way and that.
He led them through the flrst three
stanzas Of My Country. "ris Of Thee
then suddenly signalied them TO stop.
The Giants were scattered over the
diamond and outheld. In front Of the
batting cage John McGraw was poised.
bat in hand. The singing had inter-
rupted New York's batting practice. The
Boston players were grouped near their
dueout ready for their turn. Both teams
had stopped their work and were just
listening. Their speciality was to come
later. II hadn't occurred to them that
they were part Of the Community
Chorus. but when Harry Barnhart Is
around everybody Is.
Compels the Giants % ssas.
What's the matter with you fellows? -
be asked. stressinE the ''you." why
not all sing? Now you boys gather
around and we'll have the last verse
Come on!"
McGraw dropped his bat. From the
Boston bench stFted Rabbit MarAnville
To the batting cage trooped all the play
ers Of the two clubs and lined up ir
four ranks before the director. He dis
trb1ted song leaflets. stepped UP clost
and gave the group the chord. They
hummed like glee club tuning up
Barnhart waved An arm at the band.
Everybody knows or should know tina
when baseball players are rowing II
Pullmans they're the closest harmoniserl
IN the land. When they struck UP "Oui
Fathers God. to Thee" all tho rest o.
he choral community was silent. Whe,
they finished the 1000 drafted men and
all the others around the arena didn'
hesitate TO spank their hands loni
time In applause. even though some folk
see lmpropriety in applaudins hymn.
Thank you." said the director. :"
wish had you in the chorus regularly.
Rather sheepishly the players stood {
second, then the brisk patter Of baseball
carried their thoughts back to the bust
ness Of the day and Coogan's Bluff wa
itself again.
Parade Of 1000 COnserlDts.
To get back TO Fifth avenue and tn
morning OF the same day and the event
mat undoubtedly should have come mrs
N this story. the parade Of 1000 drafte'
men of Manhattan and Richmond--
Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx wer
celebrating simultaneously in the sam
way-caused many an onlooker to via
ike President Wilson that ne could ''b
with them on the field and in tn
trenches. where the real and final BATH
for the Independence Of the Unite
states is to be fought"
Wholly different In every aspect ex
cept its purpose from last weeks proces
sion OF the Twenty seventh Division. tn
\ march Of conscripts in their variety 9
attire and blithesomeness OF spirit-ls
nobody who saw them say that there's
sorehead among them-was a spectacl
that both sobered and gladdened the cit
and the city in return proved by Its d.
neanor from Washington Arch
Fif,eth street that II holds them In VI
measurable affection.
Next week per cent. Of them 60
Mat queer sounding place. Yaphank.
be trained for soldering by the very o.
hcers o. the United States Reserve WI
led their ranks yesterday and who. con
handing men for the first time In pull
lc, green, utterly undrilled men at tina
gave a demonstration Of what Platti
burg had done for youths who wei
Themselves Just ~ green . few montt
ago. When Yaphank IL ready the otheI
VII GO So yesterday. National Arm
DAY, was 1ust as much Of . sendo6 o
casion as WAS last Thursday. when
was the National Guard that WI
marched over the sans course in the o.
poste direction.
The "Mak1as.' Of Coed Sol1iers,
Naturally the march Of the sslsctl
: soldiers was less Inonotonous than tn,
ot the much larger company reviewed
'he city last week. Instead Of the lev
rows Of olive drab and the smart ste
ping Of militia accustomed TO step tn
way! one saw xtGxagginG lines--the
Htraigh,ness was astonishing, howeve
when one came to think about it--aI
evidences Of painful effort on tho part
everybody except . prActissa few 70 -
Cosssssss % TAts Rass.
Ia ssl... u. 49,.