Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-09

ers as possible. But 1t was tmpos-
sible to get all of them.
It'd take a net to catch all these
bouquets" remarked one fellow
who had his hands full, land they
are coming thicker all the time.
It's just like q barrage, but the
Germans never laid such a barrage
down On US with those high ex-
plosives as these people are putting
down with flowers of their love-"
Everybody was trying to keep in
step and do the last Job of their
army career with feeling of salts
faction. But there were too many
things for them to try to look after,
flowers from all sides, and rela-
tives and friends who bore down
upon them In q seconds notice.
at was roses, roses all the way"
as Browning described a parade in
one OF his poems,
There was one general act of
sentiment which was manifested by
the soldiers Of our battery in this
parade which caught the attention
OF nearly all who watched US pass; ,
and that was the earnestness in
which many of the fellows who
had more flowers than they could
hold gave vent to their Nuncentrol-
liable feelings of gratitude in throw
ing several bouquets of their flow
| ers into the arms of former vet
Grams, boy scouts and others, whom
they could tell by their shouts and
cheers of patriotism were as earn
est in their love for their country
q SCAs 1R +.
as any man can be for a country,
There never was a greater show
of appreciation from both marehers
in the parade and those along the
sides as was shown On the line OF
march, Many could not hear the ex-
pressieRs of some Of the fellows,
! Such remarks as these were gen
eFaf;
''i didn't know there were this
| many people in this part of the
country" Il never expected such a
parade as this; most of them they
tell about were a burden upon the
fellows. heavy packs and every
Pthing." 81 hope 1 say hello TO
everybody who speaks to mel there
are SO many of them here and there
that I'm afraid I'll miss somebody"
81 didn't know there were SO many
flowers in bloom now" This is the
last march to be in, I guess, and
it'll be the last to forget, | know"
''The war was worth goins
through when you see what kind of
people we're backing US up back
here"
The fellows realized that this
81 Of
one, and an appreciation in one day
and event of what the home folks
had thought and felt during all the
time that the boys were away from
hons.
Most of them couldn't tell Feu en-
just what streets they were march
ing all the time. The crowds were
so thick and they were so excited
with joy that they didn't attempt to
keep their bearings. They knew
enc thing, though, and that was
that Rs matter what street they
were ga, they were "home" and
NEST of them hers ta stay.
The line of march took US On the
following streets;
South on FeFty-thiFd street to
Sixth avenue;
East On Sixth avenue to Forty-
sixth street;
March on FeFtF-sixth street to
Fourth avenue. Moline;
East on Fourth avenue to Fifth
street;
South On Fifth street to Fifth
avenue;
East en- Fifth avenue, Moline, and
Seventh avenue, Rock Island, to
Augustana gymnasium.
As the column reached the arch
in entering the grounds of the
Auglstana gymnasium, there came
the greatest profusion' of flowers
that had crowned the battery On the
way, and completely amazed every
one. One soldier expressed his feel
ings as he>passed through this last
showers sRpsies.hy saying: sIf
flowersSars . frHe@expression of
love- eEerEsgfd hereis your sweet
heart, every man a brother Or faith
+er and every Weman 2 metheF.S
.Tha = T faa q = fss :. 3 1eSc4Ifne