The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-30
CHILDREN THE SANE
Even N Rn|nElANO


streets the wee inhabitants trooped
this morning, gieefuily bearing all the
wonderful things old Kris Krtngle
had lett IN their stockingA
There were an unbelievable num-
her Of wee women with braided blond
hair pushing woobiy baby buexiss
along the esplanade and making fire.
Quent stors 10 peer with motherly
sotcitude at the wtde-eyed dolls
within.
Big American military policemen
keeping watch and ward OF the traiflc
ut cross corners found a new and en-
crossing duty IN rtxhtine these sniali
vehicles and assisting the tiny mann
mas in gathering up their precious
contents when hugg4es teetered too
far At the turns.
There were myr1ads Of boys in
snort pants and with marvelously
shiny faces Juggling toys Of various
kinds IN THAR arms. Everywhere you
went you saw groups OF them roam
ting about like bAndA Of maraudinE
xypsies with newly acquired loot. In
every group there was ut least one
proud possessoF Of a toy drum keep
ing up n steady rub-a-dub dub. and
no drum owner lacked an admiring
following.
Boy With \ Cornrt.
There was one small lAddie who
had 4 cornet. Strangely enough he
had no personal audience. He wan
dered about the streets extracting tho
most singular sounds from his cornet
for all the world to hear but he
moved alone. We are unable to ex-
plain this phenomena save on the
| ground that he was regarded as a
sort Of musical Yshmael. Cornet play
ers are friendiess the world over.
And now there sose In this land OF
| little children new Napoleon. or
| perhans we might better say new
Won Hindenburg. Down the espian-
grandeur boy no taller than a walk
ing stick who was panoplied In won
drous fashion. On his head was a
little spiked tin helmet. Around his
small torso was suit Of giitterinE
tin armor. In his hand he bore a
/ tin sword He moved with the step
Of conuueror.
Gaspe OF admiration swept the land
Of little children. Wee women
paused letting doll buggies tit az
they pleased and gated with shining
eyes on the spectacle. One drum
owner hesitated moment them fell
In behind the armored younEster and
began beating his drum more Justify
than ever before. He recognized
genius at a glance. His court trailed
after him. Another drum beaten fol-
lowing fell In. then another and an
other until soon there were ecore OF
drums in line and scores OF the drum
less.
They passed Ishmael the corfet
player. wandering along in solitude
His sad young eyes looked Mt the pro-
cession above hts cornet keys and his
cornet suddenly became mute. Then
suddenly he found his feet dragging
him into the line
The armored leader saw him and
waved him To place Of honor amons
the drums. The chest Of the cornet-
list swelicd visihiy and he began urg-
traordinary endeavors. He had
found his place among men.
Kids Arc Kids Everywhere.
! Far back behind in the line fiust-
cred little blonde Maedchens trun-
died their doll buEgies forward al
great speed. trying to keep up with
the parade. their staring dolls iurch.
Ing a!bou. sr their S4afs in rntss: FTs
caricus fashion. The small leader IN
armor looked neither TO the rirht MOI
left nor changed expression az his fol
lowing grew in size like q rolling snow
ball.
i Past the Hotel Reichfurstenhot
|
where some Americans are auartered
past the stately hotel Cob'enzehof
where dwell high oHhcern OF the
American army and on paAFt the army
headquarters itself marched thu
column while Americans peer~d from
windows IN astonishnent The size
walks were crowded with American
soldiers ana civilians most or whom
were Just coming from church
the soldiers were All shined uf
while the civilians we're rather re-
splendent IN white collars and Sunda,
clothes. though some OF the loca
mats would give Weber ana Fields m
dying pleasure. Christmas - no on<
DAY anasf even IN Rhineland Every
body paused TO view the proceaston.
You sec said tho pessimist SAD
~. the military spirit VIII never dfe
mere. II springs out evon a. the land
Ia IN shadow. having met dereat II
n a primal instinct These children
are not like other children. They are
potential machine gunners almost
from birth.
i Follow the Band.
Just then terrific blast Of nius4e
swept the esplanadc and distracted
evcrybcdys attention as tho third
army headquarters band swung into
cfc~ fnf1NUaA hV a rONn1A ~ HnvrV l.