Kansas University Weekly.
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the rest, but his voice, after one discordant, semi-gutteral whoop, failed him entirely. The sound which on the first impulse he had made seemed to confuse him, it harmonized so poorly with his inward feeling. In fact he was somewhat embarrassed by the banks of faces on both sides of the street; it seemed to him that everybody was looking at him. But the next time his company cheered he made a more determined effort to join them, and this time he succeeded in repeating all the words though he spoke the last ones hardly above a whisper.
But Twen was not seeing much of the parade except the feet of the man in front of him, with whom he tried in vain to keep step. Two bands, one behind and one in front, and both about equal distances from Twen's company, were both playing; each in different time. Consequently there was great confusion of steps and discordant bobbing of heads. The band in front was playing The Star Spangled Banner and the man ahead of Twen kept step to this; but the band in the rear played Washington Post, and as this was Twen's favorite piece, he found it almost impossible not to keep step with its familiar strains. In fact he soon gave up trying to follow the old marching rule to keep step with the man ahead, and allowed his feet as well as his heart to beat in unison with the music from the rear. He experienced no little satisfaction also from observing that the tastes of the larger number of his companions decided them in favor of Washington Post.
The procession marched through the main portion of the town, and then turned about and came back up the opposite side of the street, and it was then that those in line had opportunity to see the parade. As the procession thus doubling upon itself came back by Twen he watched it pass with varied feelings. The dignity of marshals and mounted police was mostly wasted upon him; but the seventy-five wheelman each bearing a large card with the motto: "We want better roads" were of more significance. Then came a company of horsemen from a country district. They were mounted on good, honest farm horses and rode
with some little show of order. A band marched next escorting the speakers who rode in carriages. The band was uniformed and well drilled, its music was really inspiring to those near it in the line. As they passed, Twen found himself transformed into a soldier; his chest swelled out, his step became firm and quick, and a bouyant and exultant thrill filled his bosom. But all this soon passed away. A motley, dusty horde of horsemen cantered by, yelling and waving their hats. Their appearance and actions were alike disgusting. In marked contrast to these came a company of vererans on foot; most of them gray, many of them maimed, all of them honorable men inspiring the beholder with respect akin to veneration.
About this time Twen came to the turning point, and had opportunity to look at those who were behind him in the line. Several country clubs and a drum corps passed in quick succession. Then came the floats; one containing forty-five young women dressed to represent the different states; one containing farm produce; another bearing a printing press upon which were being printed pictures of McKinley; another covered with little girls singing a verse in which the other candidate was called a fool—and Twen inwardly cursed the man who had taught that verse to little children. Other floats followed, all bearing facetious mottos. An old weather-beaten ram was labeled "Free Wool," a clown on a mule was making fun for a crowd of urchins following him.
In watching the parade Twen had ceased paying any attention to the cheering; but as his company came under the large McKinley banner suspended over the street, his companions suddenly snatched off their hats and turning their faces upwards uttered loud hurrahs. In an instant Twen was doing the same; but in another instant he realized what he was doing, and not for the life of him could he fetch another cheer. Nor did he succeed that day in losing himself in enthusiasm.
He watched for some time the seemingly in-