New-York tribune., 1921-10-31
abingdon So. Buries Feuds for
Day to Honor Her SoIdier-Dead
Cangsers as Peace the Historic West Side Battle.
field When Statue Typifying Villages Sacri-
flee Is Unveiled; Hyan Seizes Parade Spotlight

There was shooting yesterday down
in Abingdon Square.
Shots have echoed in that triangular
patch on other days when the Hudson
busters rallied there to repel invadir
hordes of trouble-hunting Gophers
from old Chelsea. But this was diff
ferent.
Gophers stood shoulder to shoulder
with Hudson busters, gang rvalries
forgotten, as enshrouding flags were
drawn from the bronze figure Of a
doughboy that had been mounted on a
block of granite In the exact center Of
this shabby, insignificant park, with It's
two naked trees inclosed by an inhos-
pitable iron fence.
The memorial is the Abingdon Square
neighborhood's tribute to it's men who
Joined the armed forces of the United
States in the World War. The folks
who live down there were determined
that the occasion be made one calcu-
lated to please group of their boys.
who were represented yesterday by a
score of old women dressed in black.
Flags Make EnYirons Comcly
The dingy facades of the brick build
three sides of the miscalled square were
concealed by flags and bunting Lean
ing from the windows were the people
who for this one day in their lives could
be grateful for living there The caves
OF the smoke-blackened tin roofs pre-
sented frieze OF reckless humanity
caring nought for life or limb so long
as they could see every detail of the
ceremony in the swarming triangle be-
low.
1t was nearly o'clock when the pro.
cession began. 1t had formed at Twen-
ty-eighth Street and marched down
Eighth Avenue, one short block of which
is the hypothenuse of the so-called
square. There were half dozen bands
a dozen American Legion posts, the 9th
Regiment and Spanish Wax veterans.
already become gray, elder patriots, be-
sldes score OF organizations with vari-
Gus purposes and influences not felt be-
yond the confines Of the lower West
Side, but felt there very decidedly.
FIRST came squad of mounted NO.
lice to warn the masses on the side
walks to keep their line along the curb
ing. Next the 9Th Regiment Band. and
after that the slanting steel bayonets
OF platoon upon platoon of the 9th
Regiment, itself a part of Green
wlch Village, as attested by the sbrill
yeils from the throats of every spec
tator.
Mayor Hylan and Borough President
Henry Curran, opponents in the pres
ent municipal campaign, marched in
5nat parade. Mayor Hylan was an iso-
lated figure in the parade. None could
miss ms flaming head, as with out
stretched derby he responded to cheers
and calls of Hey, Mike!" with bows
right and left. Ahead Of him and
behind him for nearly block each way
the street was clear except for a few
individuals accurately listed on the
parade program as the "high hat com
mittee." Much of the enthusiasm for
Hylan came from the gathering massed
on the iron grille balcony Of the Sd AS
sembly District Democratic Club.
Curran With Soldier Comrades
But Curran's ears caught no cheers.
lhe man who few months ago was
saiuted overseas as Major Curran
marched yesterday, in civilian clothes.
Keeping step with his comrades of
Greenwich Village Post of the Ameri-
can Legion. Only the sharp eyes of
Mr.. Curran's Eleventh Street neighbors
and few others recognized him in the
ranks of the marchers. He was as in
conspicuous as the day he marched
down to the transport that ferried him
over to France.
There was another marcher there
who was cheered. John Voorhs, Com
missioner of Elections, small Ameri-
can flag fluttering against the brim Of
his high hat, flower in his button
hole. Ninety three years ago, when he
was born within shouting distance of
yesterdays scene of patriotic fervor,
Abingdon Square was as fashionable as
Park Avenue is to-day.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians, the
Kelvin Barry Irish Republicans Gall
Dem ocrats) Band of fifers and drum
mers, ST. Joseph's Holy Name Society,
Veronica Council, knights of Column
bust, were in that procession, which
kept marching into the square and
wrapping itself about the tiny park
until there seemed to be some kind of
magic at work disposing of their bulk,
hut when the veru tail nx4d of the M =