Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-26

dred yards across, the irregular space,
like a great scar, lay stark open to the
sun.
Grandstand Is Swamped
Along the western edge OF this field
were grouped the spectators, scattered
from one end to the other But unless
you had a side-line seat, it was difficult
to see, for the rise of the hill was not
abrupt enough to permit a good view TO
those behind without much craning of
necks and standing atip-toe. A few
daring souls VINO climbed the roofs Of
the officers quarters were called down
by the military police. Others COM
mandeered saw-horses and camp chairs
and trash cans and anything that would
permit a slightly higher elevation. Only
the reviewing stand had an Al prospect
and this was filled to overlooking.
1T was a motley crowd. Mothers and
fathers, whole families, and soldiers,
soldiers and more soldiers. Looked as
If these boys. off duty, were enough to
have a review all by themselves. Oc-
cas- .onally passed brave figure in the
bright blue of the French army
or the swagger cut uniforms of the
British and Canadian troops. Pretty
girls galore. Gay hats and dresses.
Prominent citizens enough 10 hit a bank
president every time you threw a brick.
And all very hot and dusty and sweaty
and eager for the review to begin.
Shortly after 1880 o'clock the muffled
,eat of drum sounded, and far off to
one side the first column of reg. ment
swung Cnuo the field. Another mIffled
drum beat and another regiment lar off
to another side. And so another and
another. The play of the sun against
the shifting banks of bayonets, the
steady swing of the rows Of light les
giant cent4pede writing over the hill,
giant ssntipede writing over the hill,
the red artillery flags fluttering over
the banks of brown and the monotonous
thrum, thrum, thrum of the drums--tt
was all very pretty and heart-catching.
Soon they were all drawn up in mass
formation. From one end to the other
of that vast drill field were troops. 4
solid square marked a regiment. A seq
ment' of hillside. Another solid square.
In front of each square the pygmy-like
figures of officers on horseback and the
band, with the cleaning brass of the
instruments. At rest, they were very
still and silent, all but the fluttering
red artillery flags and the gllmmer of
the fixed bayonets.
Mrs. Gordon Is Cheered
While the crowd waited, the dignita-
rles Of the day came onto the field and
walked toward the reviewing stand,
passing just in front of the line of peo-
pie General Burnham and his staff
Governor Dorsey and last Mrs. John b.
Gordon. widow of the famous Confeder-
ate general after whom Camp Gordon
was named, and her daughter, Mrs
FRANCES Gordon-Smith.
As they passed, the crowd broke int.
little headquarters of applause, swelling
to cheers for the sweet-faced lady in
black, whose silvery white hair alone
bespoke her years.
And then the troops out on the field
began to move. a square broke AM
swung cut into the open and turned
toward one end of the field. There il
turned again and advanced along the
edge where the crowd stood. In front
were the mounted officers, next tic band
and then the regiment in mass forma-
ton, the bayonets bristling above AMI
! the many-footed centipede swinging
! along, pendulum-like. below.
But a short distance down the course
/ the drul major lifted his baton, twirled
/ II twice and the band crashed into a
march. The crowd reared, for it was
! Dixie" And it was Dixie every time
! varied now and then with MY Old Ken
lucky Home" and "The Stars and Stripes
/ Forever" and that premier marching
| song Of them all, Way Down Upon d.
! Suwanee Ribber."
! In that vast open space, the music
was so thin that at first it seemed
, almost lost. But as the band reached
; the reviewing stand, it turned out and
drew up information and the drum-ma'
down smart1y and the band swelled
into a crash of sound as it played the
/ regiment past.
And thus with every regiment, swing
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