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

reunions. There were aged fellows
who sat well on their horses; the bat
tie flags OF many a campaign, the
daughter OF Robert Z. Lee. and the
maids and matrons OF the New South.
There was one unprecedented, vi
brant, gripping thing about the Con
federate parade OF 1917. That was
participation by $500 student officers
now training within sight OF Wash
InEton Monument for service IN
France. They have been in camp only
a month, but they marched with the
confidence of youth in their eyes ana
the zeal of red-blooded patriotism In
their limbs.
With guns cleaning in what sunlight
there was, these young men. the poten-
tial generals Of the future, swung as
nobIy and as GRACEFUL down Pennsyl-
vania Avenue as ever men have marched.
Get Warm Reception.
They came behind the old and. limb
weary, looking straigN' ahead at the
disappearing forms Of the warriors OF
other days No organization received
greater applause. none deserved more.
Here vas the contrast OF which
have writien-the indissoluble link OF
love for country and a cause, what
ever that cause be, that ties together
American hearts and that reaches out
across the years the handshake of I'M
Outstanding.
Youth. adventuresome, valiant, pa
triotic youth, came into Its own again
when the cadets Of the Virginia Mill
tary Institute, their uniforms OF blue
A dark background for the preceding
hosts. whirled by. And again youth
and the heroiEm OF today was served
as the regulars of our army-soon to
90 to the backgrounds OF Europe
where men night in trenches instead
of across open plains as we did in our
war-saluted their Commander-in-
Chief.
Some Lingering Thoughts.
There is much that might be de-
scribed, now that the parade has
passed and the thoughts of home
come upon me. First, the mounted
police OF Washington. rejecting civic
authority and protection.
Next Col Hilary A. Herbert, grand
marshal. an da veteran.
Then the nephew OF Gen. Robert E.
Lee, with his aides. and on down the
line to Miss Mary custis Lee, daugh-
ter Of the great commander; the
Marine Band: Col Myron NJ.
Parker, leading Union veterans, who
fought against US in the dark period
Of internecine strife; Senator Bank
head, a private OF other days; the
picturesque Lone Star Band" that
came from Texas to- be here; the Dali
las Guards, with a stuffed Texas
rabbit" hung high on q pole as their
mascot; the old fellow in the Texas
division who halted now andSthen to
dance a Jig on the asphalt OF an ave
nue. that was q road when we sought
to take the Capital: faded flags OF the
Confederacy, with the bullet holes
still in them. and tipped by the stand
ard-bearer toward q companion who
carried the Stars and Stripes OF re-
union: cavalry swords that clAnked
against new saddles thrown across
hery steeds-and so on and on.
But I tire. for the day and its mem
cries have pulled at the heart-strings
and blurred the eyes.
What the Martyr Said.
When Lincoln was asked how he
would regard the prodigaI South after
the war he said:
81 shall treat them just as though
they had never been away"
That is the way the Government of
today and the Capital of our country
treated US this morning.
So the vision comes again and some
how I feel that Lincoln, Grant, sheri,
dan, and Meade looked down approx
ingly today from the land Of the last
roll call, and that with them. peer,
ing through the blue and gray of
heaven. Lee and jackson and Pickett
and the others who led US on in the
sixties-joined in the benediction OF
their former foes.
And now that it is all\over, and the
| handiwork OF Providence has been re-
vealed in the passing Of the years,
and while war is upon the young men
! Of this generation, am glad that we
came to Washington in 1917 instead OF
when we battled for the Capital OF
| this Government a half century ago.
Yours till we meet again,
JOE.
Iother news of the feunIon on