The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-04-17

touch to the sprinstime melody Of
color.
Yes. there are hundreds Of soldiers
In the United States army Of Irish
descent. or, who. from respect for
their ould sod comrades, donned the
green, and the bouquets were a
source Of great surprise TO the ma
tives. st. Patrick may have a place
in the church Of France, but .ap-
parently the episode of the snakes
has not caused any great furore
here.
One young French woman who has
gained. in the past few months, a
| surprising command of English, ask
/ ed for an explanation OF the green. II
| was given her.
La! ouI! Oh yes, it is that the
American soldier would do like the
sainted Patrique and drive the Gers
! man snake from France" she ex-
claimed. Bon. trea bon, Ia fne!"
! The sunshine seems to have put a
new pep" in everyone and not even
the sadness Of a funeral could mar
the day.
Military Funeral.
For today the old regiment Of the
Dakotas conducted a military flu
neral. The name has by this time
been flashed over the wires to you.
1t was not one of the boys who left
the state with the regiment, but a
poor chap from another regiment,
who, taken sick in England, had ap-
parently recovered, and suffered a
relapse after having been assigned to
Company @. He was 8. soldier Of the
United States, and through the mach
nations Of reorganization assigned
to the regiment. 1t was but fitting
that he be entrusted to the earth
from which he sprung with all the
honOrs meager as they may be Of
military funeral.
One could not but be reminded Of
william Cullen Bryant,s Thanatopsis,
Nor could one wish couch more
magnificent. Thou shalt lie down
with kings, the powerful Of the
earth; the wise, the good, fair forms
and seers of ages past. all in one
mighty sepuichre. The hills rocks
ribbed and ancient as the sun, the
wales stretching in pensive qufetness
between. the venerable woods rivers
that move in majesty and the COM
planning brooks that make the mead
ows green, are solemn decorations
all Of the great tomb Of man."
Bryant in his youth, when he
wrote the famous classic. could not
have known, could not possibly have
conceived how his description Of the
tomb Of man could At the scene Of
today.
The First North Dakota band led
the solemn funeral procession to the
place adjoining the French cemetery, |
which has been set apart as a rest
ing place for the honored dead Of
America in this particular section.
Streets Of - were Ghronged with |
natives and soldiers az the cavalcadeI
wound its way through the narrow
winding highways. out into the coun- |
try 10 the entrances Of the cemetery. |
There was a large escort OF soldiers |
and hundreds OF others 'fell In" at /
the rear Of the column.
Through q Woudsrous Hall.
Past the ruins OF a wonderfully |
fantastic chalet they marched to a |
place, whore, standing aa mighty /
senttnals hundred pine trees form
ed an arch Of green, a perfect hall OF
wondrOus cotortng down a long ave-
nue. 10 the entrance OF the cemetery. \
You have seen military funerals.
One need not dwell on how thu es-
oort company broke ranks and stood
at attention as six comrades took the
flag draped rude box from the motor
van and marched between the col
umns to the grave; the old, old fu-
neral services. the firing of last vol
,eys and the blowing of taps
It was merely another American
added to the list Of those who have
given their all. He did not die on
tbs field of battle, but is he any the
less to be h0nored7 The boys over
here. and they are the judges, say
mo-"
Nature Is baninE at times. Her
wondrous combinations dare one to
Try and put mere words together to
Adequately describe the beauties.
Such q place Is this French cemetery.