The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-07
MEMPHIS
GREETS 115TH
WITH CHEERS
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Continued from First Page.)
"a hours the days; after having wres-
tied lb5-m. m. guns all over the east
ern end of Northern France they didn't
feel like plumed knights. What they
wanted to do when those three sec
tons OF troop trains pulled into Union
depot was to hug the folks, 60 home
and sit down. or course, the boys Of
the regiment who didn't belong here
cherished non Of these homely de-
slres, but just figured they were in
for a good time"
Went Over Top Again.
Getting through the gates was too
slow for many Of the Memphians when
they detrained. They scaled the eight
foot steel fences n fell into the arms
Of their mothers.
Mothers we're dazed with the pros
pect of seeing their boys again. Some
Of them went temporarily blind as they
stood in line by the main gate with
the women Of the Red Cross and wait
ed for their boys to come through to
them from the trains, They forgot
that any boy but n wore khaki and
an overseas cap. They grabbed that
boy.
ooh, you are not my boy. You are
not my boy!' cried one mother after
she had heaped a hundred kisses on
the neck and ears and cheeks of one
stalWart youth. NO." said the soldier,
but don't mind me. You kneY, my
mother died while l was away"
Another mother espying her boy
standing by the fence waiting a chance
to come through the gate, reached
through the wide bars, drew him up to
her and kissed him until those looking
on had to avert their eyes to keep from
crying.
There's Daddy" Cried Girl.
There's daddy" said one young
woman, who had stood two hours UNI
der the station shed with a little bun
die of fluffiness OF her arm. In a
moment a tall sergeant had wrapped
a pair Of strong long arms around both
Of them, putting his tanned cheek
had never seen.
Mothers could not speak when their
boys rushed toward them, but simply.
cried out an inarticufate joy. For two
hours one could hear these shrieks Of
unutterable happiness as the men came
through to meet their families.
Aged fathers shaking with emotion
and unashamed, kissed their sons again
and again. Family groups, mother,
father, sisters and brothers, stood
locked around soldiers, oblivious to the
rest of creation.
Older brothers in khaki Rugged kid
brother until the kid brothers began
to think peace was more dangerous
than war.
Somehow or other a few sweethearts
must have got through the police and
Red Cross guards, for the hugs some
of the girls received under that station
shed were too ardent to come from
brothers, even if said brothers had been
away two years and fought the Hun
in Northern France,
Parade Moved Promptly.
1t should not be regarded as one whit
detracting from the brave, manly rec
ord of the 1l5th field artillery to re-
late in conjunction with these family
meetings at the Union depot, that most
of the boys had to wipe their eyes The
stern experiences Of wal had not made
their emotions impervious to the tears
and kisses Of their mothers. When
a boy found himself in his mothers
arms n her lips on his, the tears
just came trucking out whether or no.
The parade got under way promptly
at IL O'Clock, n the regiment was at
Forrest park by 2 O'Clock. Fully 5000
people were gathered at the park and
Lieut.. Col. Billy" Bacon got a loud
huzzah for his own particular self.
The Red Cross canteen workers gave
lIe DOyS II HldSIllllCenl teASC at the
Scottish Rite cathedral. The ceremonies
there were brief. The Rev. W. ID. Buck
ner, rector of Calvary Episcopal church,
was master Of ceremonies and the invo-
cation was pronounced by the
Rev. G. II. Williamson, pastor Of the
First Presbyterian church.
Traditions Upheld.
Bishop Gailor made a forceful and
deeply moving address to the boys, fol-
lowing the dinner. You are our boys"
he told the 115th. You have upheld
every tradition Of your fathers. They
bled and died in the Revolution. Their
bones have bleached in the dust of
Bunker Hill and there are many of your
comrades whose bones will remain on
| French soil.
While you were away we thought of
you every minute. We continually
prayed for you.
I'VE realize that our government has
been imperfect, our poor have been ou-
pressed. Our mistakes have been made,
and now you have come back to help
rectify them. 1t viii be up to you. Nav
God bless you for your efforts"
The soldiers of the regiment enjoyed
the leave given them in the afternoon
and evening when they had marched
back to the depot and put their equip
ment on the trains. Hundreds of them
were seen in the soda fountains, movie
and vaudeville theaters and riding
about town In the automobiles which
the public had furnished at the request
| Chamber of Commerce and Y. M. c. A
The Memphis boys naturally spent most
Of their hours in the city at their homes
In the midst of their families