The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-22
with THE CoLORs."
Series No. /.
BY Gus Durdan, Des Moines, Iowa
Sons Diary.

z a. m. Saturday, November 25th-
The big red sun is now rising from
behind the foothills. The pine COW
cred Blue Ridge mountains are hedg-
ing in the low lying fertile valleys,
dotted here and there, with small
farm huts.
As the sun brings new light to
the dwellers Of these hills, so new
day brings joy to my soul, which has
been sorely tried by the chaos of last
night.
am reminded Of song and begin
to hum. The boys join me, and soon
the strains of s'The Trail of the Lone
some Pine" fill the car.
We are surprised that we have the
courage to. sing, after the ordeal of
the night and early morning.
How can the inhabitants Of this
beautiful valley have such vulgar
thoughts and actions? Is it possible
that nature hasn't the power to trans
nit it's beauty to hose who live among
it's grandeurs
8 Rah! Rah! Rah! The football
team of Lynchburg Seminary is re-
turning home, after receiving a good
beating from West Virginia Institute.
They are good "bunch" of clean
sportsmen, and loud in their praise of
their victors, their tutors and school.
These Lynchburg boys truly under
stand the purpose of athletics. They
go out to do battle for the good that
-A1 nd a1xy
20 win victory. They are better
men because they have the true con-
ception of sports.
/ have become friendly with num-
Der Of the boys, and they have invited
me ta breakfast with them. I accept
ed their coffee and sandwiches partly
because they were rendered in the
true hospitable spirit, and partly be-
cause was hungry, after having been
cramped up in car for ten hours
without food. sorely needed some
ching to keep back that inevitable
headache which always accompanies a
sleepless night.
donyille. The last dim clouds Of
smoke are visible in the northeast.
The train which brought MS from
across the Mason Dixon line hither
lias> disappeared around the hills, on
is journey to the nations capital. Our
party will now take up the "On to
Richmond trail, and go to the seat
Of the rebel capital.
Ny parents have always been pa
triots. When these Virginia rebels
were striving hard to destroy sold
Glory" my forefathers were giving
their lives blood that its folds should
never trail in the dust. And this is
how their children are rewarded! They !
are Jim Crowed, segregated, and ILL
used, while the rebels children enjoy
the comforts Of life. And the govern
,nent sanctions this!
But this is neither here nor there.
I am going to pay my debt Of honor
to my country even though l must be
ill-treated while en- route to the train
ing station.
The savory odor of fried chicken !!
assails us on all sides. Over beside the
station a Negro woman is selling
chicken fried to adelicious brown, ap-
petizing ham sandwiches, and spicy
pumpkin pie. We help ourselves to
plenteous supply.
Down the dusty road comes num-
Der Of these lunch venders, in single
file. Each is dressed in an immac1-
lately white wrapper, and upon their
heads they all carry large tray OF
edibles. with as much grace as the
girls back home wear the latest Paris
ian millinery.
From Gordonsville to Richmond the
NEGRO SOLDIER