The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-11-27
PEOPLE
WELCOME KING
Brussels Witnesses the
Greatest Celebration
Ever known.
Countless Thousands Fill the
Streets With a Cheering,
Singing Throng.

Brussels, Friday, Nov. % (By the
Associated Pcess).-It is midnight OF
the greatest day in the history OF
Brussels-the day Of the triumphant
return Of the royal family to theii
fighting against the German invade:
and the city is still celebrating the
Homecoming Of its king and queen.
Brussels tonight was absolutely
frenzied with happiness. AL the pent-
up emotions of its people which hau
been held in leash through those
years by the stern hand of bondage
broke loose in mighty volume with
the advent of their king and queen
and the city which in years gone b.
has been konwn as one OF the gayes'
capitals in Europe has been swept
with such a wave OF patriotic joyous
ness as it never experienced before.
Countless thousands of loyal sub
jects for hours have been literail!
dancing their way through the prin-
cipal thoroushfares singing, cheering
and laughing as they danced. G:a!
haired men and women, youths ant
nlaidens, children and soldiers anG
civilians all have joined in the g.ea
throngs which have swirled hither anC
thither chanting their paeans to th(
German downfall
The overwhelming reception glver
to the royal family This morning ?ipor
their entry into the city from Chem
was in itself unprecedented, but moro
remarkable scenes were TO come.
AS evening fell the city for the frs
time in four years burst into bill
liant light. The street lamps whici
had remained dark under German
rule were lighted and the night i:
Brussels was turned into day.
Even the changing; electric signs 0
the big buildings began their endles.
play and sent thhlr variegated r>.y.
twinkling down on. the streets as i,
the happy days before the war. Man,
Of the. big restaurants are still closed
but others in plenty threw wide thei
doors to the crowds ciamoring for al
mission.
Hours passed and the Boulevard dr
Nord-incidcntally this great thor-
oughfare today was renamed 1i'
Boulevard Adolphc Max, in honor
he famous burgomaster-and othe
neighboring streets became the play
ground of hundreds of thousands o
people The Boulevard Adolphe Ma:
itself was filed for hours with
crowd of not less than 100000 celc
orators.
SO rapidly did the merrymaker
give way to others and move their ac
t;vities to adjoining streets that prot
ably no succeeding hour found thf
same crowd in the boulevard. Thero
was plenty of music. It was mostl:
vocal, but here and there civilian
bands blared their way at the head o:
Joyous columns. There was little traf
tic in the streets and endless lines o:
oeople marched and danced along All;
in arm. Many streets were janlmet
from one side to the other with hu
man streams passing in either direc-
ton.
It made no difference whether you
Knew your neighbor or not, you simp
" linked arm with him or her anc
hoped away to the swing of The
Marsellaise'' OF other marching songs
[nnumerabIe huse rings were attract
ed and the happy citizens circlet
lnadly about until forced to pause
from lack Of breath.
Within the cafes there was no less
enthusiasm. Every establishment We.
sacked to the doors and the peopl
alternated in cheering and singing
However. it was an entirely harm
Jo}1 torC11Ubn11t
Thousands Of soldiers-Am,erican
Belgian. British and French-cvery-
where Joined heartily with the peo-
Dle in the festivities.
The sound Of singing and O.:
tramping feet still continued anF
thousands still will be celchratinS
when The dawn of new day arrives