The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-01

Soldiers marching along hugging
sweethearts or half carrying mothers
and sisters were common sights on
Kansas avenue as the column swung
up the street. Hard boiled sergeants
paid no attention to uneven ranks
the boys were home and didn't care.
Office rooms on Kansas avenue
were at a premium last night. Every
window facing the avenue was crowd
ed. Men. women and children hung
out over cornices and the roofs of
buildings were alive.
The guardsmen kept beautiful order
on the avenue for the hours before the
parade. The crowds formed a perfect
straight line for blocks. But when the
Stratns of the band music were heard
and the swinging troops could be seen
in the distance. the guards were help
less. 1t was necessary for the van
guard of the parade TO break thru the
crowds
The State Journal telephones were
ringing constantly from o'clock last
evening until the last section of the
troop train finally arrived. Are the
boys in?" was the universal question.
The State Journal is indebted to the
accommodating Union Pacific officials
and women at the Red Cross canteen
for their efforts in keeping this paper
informed.
The two girls. Miss Daisy Neil and
Miss Mary Paxton, who stood on the
triumphal arch long before the pa
rade appeared brought cheers from
the crowds in their representation OF
the Goddess of Liberty and Columbia.
Despite the cold wind and their fluffy
attire the girls braved the chill to
carry out their duties.
boy. howdy. pipe the pretty girls
\ 4
they plowed thru the crowded streets.
Happily few of the Topeka lassies
understood French or they would have
blushed at some of the compliments
showered upon them by the engineers.
The seventy-ffve-foot greeting in
French along the Eighth street side
Of the State Journal building was
translated quickly by the soldiers who
glanced up and caught its meaning.
The street railway kept Kansas
avenue clear of cars Immediately after
the parade started. Motor cars did
not appear on the avenue after $50
o'clock The entertainment committee
under Ralph Baer carried out its pro-
gram to a dot
The beginning of the end groaned
a Topeka white way moth" as he
stood on the corner watching the girls
crowd to the center Of the street to
greet Ine engineers. NO cnanCe
the fellow who didn't go over
The -theaters were deserted last
night Patrons were under the i'm
preston that the parade would be
along before the end of the first show
and of course there was chance to
go to the second.
The line of marching soldiers was
swinging up Ninth street just before
the turn was made into the state
house grounds. The crowd was pass
ing a bunch of rapid repartee back
and forth with the quickly moving
troops. From one wearied engineer
comedian: How far is it to Topeka"
From his buddy: II couldn't say.
Can't see for the people"
One particular company seemed to
have an abundance of exceptionally
large, good-looking men. There was
group of girls-also mighty easy to
look at. Not a girl in the group was
wearing a man. What fine bunch
of big, good-looking men," said a girl
who appeared qualified to judge. "Oh,
there he is There's that big boy"
And there-he-is turned that way. OF
course he wasn't talking to anyone in
particular-but then. Il haven't got
any relatives in Topeka" said the Big
Bov, with a smile, but l am mighty
willing to make lot of friends. Come
on over and see us, tout sweet" The
girls evidently voted unanimously and
spontaneously in favor of that pro-
cedure.
A prominent local marine strolIed
thru the crowd at tho capitol grounds
A girl chung to his arm. AS the
marching troops flashed smartly past
her nervousness increased perceptibly.
81 wonder if we will find him? Win
he still care for me?" Il don't
know" said the marine. but he
ought to" Afterwards from the SOL
der. Now if helping a pretty girl
hunt up her sweetheart isn't your idea
of nothing to do, tell me what is
"A Burlingame girl came to Topeka
at 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.
She went Immediately to the Union
Pacific depot and refused to leave un-
til the troops trains came. She was
in the front rank when the troops
rushed the waiting line. She swung
into step and marched the entire route
with the lone boy in all the world
She was on her tiptoes until the SOL
diers were well on the way. Then she
did the thing she had fought back all
day-curled up on a station bench and
wept her soul out.
Been in service a year" srowled A
buck private from Lawrence as he
talked with friends at the state house.
burned if it don't look as tho we will
be in another year. 1t must have been
six months since we landed" And
that was the soldier measure of time
for the final week and the last hours
before the men reached demobilizat ton
camp.
Every trooper started on an equal
footing-with a carnation. A half
dozen cfgarets-judiciously bartered
by a thrifty warrior-won enough
flowers to decorate the front of a
floral shop. Tim just crazy about
these things" said the husky engineer
as he carried the flowers down Kan
sas avenue.
Say, fella, just supposin'. how
would you like to dance bit tonight
Suppose they shimmy the SHIN him
out here" Shakky the leg-leg dance
boy I'm tired. We walked most