The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-27
COLOR GALORE,
THAT'S STATE
LEGION PARADE
Gay Uniforms. Bands, Fun
and CheerS-It Was
Some Show
BY JOE COLLIER
Iimes stan Winter

The American Legion boys and
girls took their show on the road
yesterday afternoon. and parsded
through streets filed with people
who love a parade.
Their bands were cheered, their
marchers applauded and their
comedy relief laughed at. Il was a
gay and gala city. and not even
showers that spotted the line Of
march could dampen anything but
clothing.
The crowds were generous with
applause. Il was one of the best
show parades the city ever has seen.
For instance: There was the man
who marched. sOlemnly and with
dignity. IN his stocking feet. car
rying a cane in one hand and his
shoes IN another Gov Paul Y. Nc
Mutt, IN the reviewing stand at Me-
ridian and North-sts. laughed and
waved MS hand
Then there were the elephants
from Peru. drafted for the occasion
from a circus They sWayed down
the streets tails IN trunks. locking
neither to left nor right. Gov. Nc
Mutt saluted them, laughingly, but
there's no truth TO the report that
he Is boiling the party.
But They Never Missed.
There were bands everywhere.
each playing louder. or better or
smarter than the last. it seemed
from the sidelines. Some Of them
wore Furnished helmets. some were
dressed in elegant uniforms.
All were led by drum ma jors who
tWlrled their batons into intricate
patterns that always came out right
just when every one thought they
couldn't possibly make sense. Some
OF them threw the batons in the air,
and had every one on the sidelines
on edge. Nevertheless, all batons
got home safely.
The crowded watchers were a part
of the show all along the line as
they rended the air with partisan
cheers, and called to friends in the
line OF march But no where were
they as much a part Of the show as
at the reviewing stand.
There stood the Governor in full
Legion Tegalla, and there also stood
Col. Oliver P. Robinson. command
er of the Eleventh Infantry. and
acting cOmmandant of Fl. Benja-
min Harrison.
Depression Band Could Play
Almost in unison these two salut-
ed the COlOrs as they passed the
stand at frequent intervals. And
Col. Robinson laughed as much as
any one else at the antics of the less
serious IN the parade, even though
by long training. marching is a
serious matter to him.
There was a depression band Its
members were dressed in clothing
that might have been good on a
certain day in the fall of 1909. but
certainly had been worn shocking,
" since then. They played pretty
good music. even though it was a
bit sad and slow. and reminiscent.
Lots of LegiOnnaires, remember
ing what the doctor told them about
ver-eXercise, rode the parade in
machines arranged to resemble the
pert little French railroad engines
and cars. Gov. McNutt. who ap-
parently knew some one personally
in every unit of the parade, waved
at them, and joined their fun.
Cupid Slightly Overweight
Strictly on the comedy side was
the compound man who was dressed
as some one must have figured
Cupid would be. and who numbered
along in gigantic caperS. looking for
all the world as though he has
missed the cabooSe elephant up the
way and was hunting it.
Yes. the Legion boys and girls
took their show on the road yester-
day. with the 18th Infantry. the 10Th
Field Artillery. the Citizens Mill
tary Training Camp cadets and the
indianapolis police force
1t seemed that the whole show
was there. but if YOU had proWled
about a bit you would have found
some stray acts here and there over
the city.
For instance. what in the world
was that white horse doing in the
Lincoln lobby. paving the marble
floor. and looking confused about
his Emily Post?
And who was the chap in the
ClaypOol lobby with the horn play
ing in mOurnful drawn-out notes
that ditty about the French being a
funny ro1e .,ovrov- ,.o,,~0