The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-11-09
STORY OF GREAT.
tcsnanpsa from pars essI

leading to III eplatform in the
hall were carpeted in red and were
OF aud palms and flowers
were everywhere. The two great
men came to the platform hand in
hand. People just went crazy oven
waved and clapped
and shouted and flags were huri-
ed asd the color OF them filled the
sair. 1t was go minutes before or
der was restored. General Perish.
ling has a wonderful smile. After
ais address people gathered about
him and asked him all manner OF
questions. They even asked II 1t
were true that he intended marry
ing MIS-. Vanderbilt and he eVad-
ed the question by remarkihg that
the lady herself would answer
that. He said he could never for
get his wife and children who were
burned to death in a hotel While
he was on the Mexican border.
! General Pershing addressed the
soldiers who talked to him my
Icomrades." During his address he
.touchcl ~ the conference saying
lit was pl y and fitting that ma
!tions ass ! BILE to discus matters
for their happiness He said never
would we forget the lesson we
learned, however. OF the terrible
condition Of unpreparedness. He
spoke OF the soldier bonus and said
Justice must be done the soldier
who gave so much to the war. He
said our last al should he for
the soldier, so that.he should have
his due.
Three car loads OF shell shock
soldiers attended the convention,
friends and relatives hoping that
somehow, someway. they would ee
forced back 10 normal thinking
through the sight OF other soldiers
and through the influence of that
mighty convention. The sight was
one never to be forgotten. They
sat and stared ahead Of them and
seemed to notice nothing at all. II
was SO pitiruI many wept openly as
these soldiers rode by in the
streets.
Two impressive Incidents occur
red during the program on the sec
ond day. One was the making OF
Marshal Foch a member OF the
American Legion and the ptnnine
on him by General PershinG OF
the symbol Of the Legion. Com
mauder Galbraith of Indianapolis
awarded the distinguished
service cross. His widow was not
present to receive it. Commander
Gallbraith was killed in an auto
mobile accident in indianapolis
while attending to duty.
Marshal Foch's speech was Civ
en- in French and many left be
cause they could not understand It.
Immediately following the address,
an aide read 1t in English.
The big dinner to $50 distins-
uished guests on last Tuesday
night was given at the Hotel Bal
!tinorc. A lovely thing happened.
Some OF us were in the lobby look
ing on when we saw Madame
ISchuman-Heink. We spoke
quickly. There sShe Isl" We en-
claimed. She overheard and turn
ed around. She was dressed all
in dazzling white. and just as
pleasantly as though she were a
good friend she said 10 us. Hello.
Just so sweetIy aid she speak we
remembered it all during the con
Ivention.
The menu for the dinner was
written on scrolls of,real parch.
Iment. hand engraved. 1t contained
the preamble OF the constitution
OF the American Legion. the menu
and the guest list. The flag Of
the speakers was engraved on the
scroll and was colored to represent
the nation Of each one
The military ball was another
high light OF the convention.
Everybody attended this and the
crowd was fearful. Fourteen cou.
pies were married on the stage
free Of charge with even the we'd
ding. rings furnished by a local
jeweler. Most OF them ere out
OF town visitors though one or
two were couples living in Kansas
Lefty. The service was given col.
l~lectively and then they were mar
Tried separately. The ball lasted
till midnight and many beautiful
gowns we're seen-in truth one
saw everything in the way Of cos
tune from ordinary suits TO full
dress.
Many articles were lost. ons
woman said her diamond wrist
watch was cut from her hand and
there was great commotion for q
time. The watch was gone and
her wrist showed a small cut. A
diamond ring or two was lost.
There were quantities OF babies
present at all the programs-some
looked not much older than six
weeks.
All manner of gifts we're offered
by various delegations, such as
cigars. candy, pepper saUce, and
small %souvenirg of all kinds.
The garbage cans all over the
city were torn up and some were
tied to automobiles, soldiers were
rolled on top them, and general
fun prevailed everywhere with ev-
erybody talking to everybody else
and the whole convention n big
happy family on the streets or
inside.
Wednesday the election OF Off
GERS took place and II vas decided
the next convention should be at
New orleanS. Three conventions
have been held already. When
people got ready to go home the
trains were n~ot-Teady. All night