Hawaii Holomua, Volume II, Number 12, 2 ʻOkakopa 1894 — A VANISHING ARMY. [ARTICLE]

A VANISHING ARMY.

An entir corps lms clisappertred frora the ranks of the Graiid Armv wifhin the past year. From 397,223 in I89i, the !iiembership of the order has fallen t > 369,034. The twoyears ago, nnd is expected to continue steadily until the last old s*ddier lms laid d >wu his arras. Bnt the prospect is one whieh the veterans c»n contemplate without g!oom. Theirs is not the case of an ordinarv decaying societv, declining iu uombers throogh bad m inagement or laek of ioterest. Deat» a!one thins the ranks of the Grand Army. As the nunobers gr >w less, tho p"’de and enthusi sm gro>v greater When tlu*re werc fonr h'.mdred thonsand raen wo<ring the bronze button might not have been eonsid r»*d a supretnely high distinctim, but »s the honor heeomea rarer it , .vill raore intensefy prized. There ; a one raeraber of the Grand Army now t > every two hundred inhabitants of tbe Cnited St .tes». Ten years hepee there raay not be more tban one to a thonsand. In that time, wheo the o!d sokl ers are no l.mger conrted by po!itic a' S and tempt ed fco turn their g!ory inio eoin, they will constitnte as near an approaob as we ahali bave or . ought to have to au aristocr*cv. Ex.