The times., 1898-09-10

Washington was profoundly stirred
yesterday by the return to the city of the
First Regiment District of Columbia Vol
unteers, after four months of suffering
in pestilential camps and trenches.
Had the District regiment, alone and
unaided, won the battle of Santiago, the
people of the nations capital could not
possibly have given it more cordial, a
more enthusiastic or more heartfelt
welcome home.
Strangers have said that the people of
Washington are cold, Unconditional and
Indifferent, because they have become too
familiar with pulse-stirring spectacles to
feel deeply on occasions when people Of
other cities would become wild with en-
thusiasm.
There is just little foundation for
this misunderstanding Most of the visi-
tors TO Washington see nothing and
know nothing of the home life of the
people. They see the official side-the
hotel side of Washington life, as it were,
and they judge the city by that, than
which no more superficial basis of judg-
ment could be found.
Washingtonians Not Cold.
The people of Washington proved yes
terday that they are neither cold, unemo-
tional, nor Indifferent. They proved that
they love their own with a warmth of
affection that is most nearly akin to
. mother love; they proved that they
were not ashamed TO SHOW their emotion
at such time, and, having given this
proof Of the sweetest of all human quail
ties, it is unnecessary to say that they
are not calloused and not Indifferent.
Yesterdays reception to the volunteers
was a purely Washington affair. yet
Pennsylvania Avenue was crowded as it
never has been before, excepting on days
when a President has been inaugurated
and hundreds OF thousands of visitors,
from Sandy Hook to the Golden Gate.
have come to witness the spectacle.
The people of Washington Unconditional!
There was so much emotion in the hearts
OF Washingtonians yesterday afternoon
that cheers were checked only by sobs
When a strong man tries TO cheer but
cannot because of the lump that forms in
"
radiant with the JOY that fills her heart
endeavors fairly to Shrek her ecstacy
but bursts into tears instead-when there
are thousands of men and women thus
affected watching a weary regiment of
soldiers passing along a city street, 1t
certainly indicates the presence of at
least the emotional spirit.
Knew Them All.
Here is a sample incident: Almost d.
rectly in front of The Times Building,
where the throng on the Avenue was
most dense. stood big man. Time and
again he tried 10 cheer as the returning
laurel-decked soldiers went by, but every
time his lips parted he uttered only a
sound that was half gasp and half sob
He turned away finally. his huge frame
shaking with emotion.
Had you a friend in the regiment?" p"
a sympathetic bystander asked.
They're all my friends" he replied
81 know every one in the whole outfit -
1t seemed as if the soldiers must be
known personally to every man, woman
and child along the Avenue. When the
regiment turned into the wide thorough
fare from Third Street, the police had
some difficulty in keeping the people from
taking the bronzed fighters into their
arms then and there, but once straight
ened out for the march TO the White
House there was no interruption until
the men had been reviewed by the Presi-
dent and had stacked their arms in the
Executive Mansion grounds.
Glorious welcome.
No regiment of American soldiers re-
turning from victorious campaign ever
received a more glorious welcome than
was accorded 10 these District troops
They were met on their arrival by COM
mittees who Were prepared 10 minister
to every possible want. Those who were
strong enough were escorted to tables
where a bountiful breakfast was proyid-
ed. Such of the soldiers as were too III
to walk, from the effects of fever, were
assisted to carriages. In the muzzle of
each soldiers rife was placed bouquet
of freshly cut flowers, and around every
hat was entwined a wreath of laurel
Shoulder sastles of laurel and flowers
were furnished TO the officers.
When the regiment swung into the
Avenue ii presented a curious blending
of the grimness OF cruel war, and the
beauty of gentle peace.
There were mothers and sweethearts.
sisters and wives of the soldiers among
the women along the sidewalk. and thev
most pitiful sight in the world is that OF
woman who is so happy that she weeps
There were thousands or them along
Pennsylvania Avenue yesterday. and
whether it is peculiar or not. one could
not watch them without feeling that
strange puckering of the chin that inva-
riahly follows tug at the heartstrinys
Some of the tears yesterday were for
those members Of the regiment who will
never return
Cheers and Tears.
From one end of the route of the pro
cession to the other there were cheers
and tears, the waving of flags and ban
ners, and yet above all was the senti-
ment of patriotism, feeling that these
soldiers were not welcomed back with all
this warmth altogether because they
were dear 10 the people among whom
they had lived, but because, like the
brave men they are, they went forth and
suffered and were ready to die for the
honor of the old flag
Many OF the men are suffering yet from
the effects of hardship and privation in
camp and trench, but now that they are
home again ii is to be hoped that they
will quickly recover health and strength.
T4 se e. - H. E.