Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-07-21
For the Worcester Daily Spy.

This morning the 5lSt regiment is to return
to Worcester. We who have staid at home
can hardly form an estimate of the intensity
OF the emotions Of JOY and devout thankful
ness which crowd into the rugged hearts of
those brave patriots who have. been spared,
unframed by any of the chances of war, and
are now returning to the city of their love to
their own homes; to their old friends. They
believe-they have a right to believe-that we
who have staid at home will be glad to see
them. They have right to expect from US
such cordial greeting as men deserve who
have taken their lives in their hands, ready
at any time to throw them away in our de-
| fence.
| Now we wish to put the question to every
man who expects to witness the return of that
regiment, whether we shall drench the joyous
emotions of those noble men in the same icy
bath with which we chilled every thrill of
gladness which struggled into brief existence
| in the ranks of the rifle battalion" and the
9th Massachusetts on that day which we ought
to have made the happest in all their lives,
frem the war. We have been told ana can
readily believe that our freezing apathy on
| their return was something harder for those
brave men to bear than any one Of the trials
| they had been through in their absence.
When the battalion came home, we turned
out to be sure in large numbers to meet them
The old Home GUARDIAN organization now
defunct, but of which corps the writer was
then member-turned out in body to do
escort duty, arrayed in dress coats, white
| gloves, silk hats, and other habilaments of
war. We were no doubt pleasing spectacle
| to the brown-faced veterans as they marched
by us, but it would have been better, ten times
better, and more gratifying to those we wished
to honor, if we had stationed ourselves as cit
| liens along Main street and sent up such
shout as would have made their hearts glad.
As it was, the procession passed through a
| street as hushed and solemn as if the body of a
comrade had been passing to his last resting
place. The lively airs played by the band
seemed out of place and discordant. The
roll of muffied drum would have harmonized
better with the mournful solemnity which
reigned throughout the whole route of the pro
cession. They had believed-that their march
through Main street would be an ovation. To
our disgrace it was as depressing it should
have been gladdeniDg.
Shall this thing be repeated to-day? For
Heavens sake, let us resolve that it shall not
be. Shame on the man who will stand in his
door way with his mouth shut while those
brave men pass by! Shame on him who will
not make him himself hoarse for week, when
by doing so he can send such thrill of Joy to
every heart in those ranks as will seem for the
moment to repay them for all they have suf-
fered for us. CtvIs.
NoTE.--The aim of our correspondent is to
secure for the ffty-frst demonstrattve, as
well as cordial reception. We hope the eff
fort will be successful If some of our read
ers think the receptions to which he releri
were somewhat warmer than his portrayal ad
mits, they will notice and approve his present
object with entire satisfaction.
The DRAFr.-Willam L. Rice and ID. S
Goddard, of the firm of VIM. E. Rice & Co.