Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-05
REJOICING AND TEARS
ASEXPATR|ATES RET URN
Mothers and Babes, Husbands and
Wives Reunited After Four
Years Separation.

Evian, Franco. Nov 25.-The return
to France of the women, children and
old men who were sent out OF that part
of France and occupied by Germans for
more than four years presented pithul
sncctacles Many of these refugees were
little tots whose fathers and mothers
bad been taken away by the cruel Roche
10 work in Germany or behind the tight
ing lines. Others were orphans.
Twice daily the affecting scenes Of
their return were enacted here when the
trains bringing them through Switzerland
brought too 10 700 rcpatriatCs back to
the beloved soil of France. With them
were Bclgians who came from parts Of
Belgium then occupied by the Hun.
Much was done 10 relieve the sufcrngs
of these poor people by :. > Howland,
representative Of the Belgian Relief
Commission stationed here, and by Mrs
Howland, his wife.
Describing the scene Of the return Of
a trainload Of refugees, Mr.. llowiand
writes:
Slowly. the long line came towards
MS. the old and the young about equally
divided alas. but few of middle age, for
the Germans had use for such anG would
not let them 90. While few showed
traces OF actual destitution, We knew that
nut q small number possessed more than
the clothes they wore and what the hand
bags and bundles they carried contained.
II hey were not cmao oiatCd Tut their
faces were worn, sometimes ancmc How
could thcv 10 otherwise after the wears
of constant suffering and continued
horrors thew had endured, with no hope
of release before them but victory for
The Allies, or pcrchanre the good fortune
to hc enrolled in ono Of these little bands
of rcpatries
Now and again someone would rush
ollt from the sidewalk TO greet relative
or friend recognized after wears Of absence
But though such instances were rarc,
they served To buoy m the hopes of tie
rcst that perhaps farther along they too
would To rs fortun$te.
Two short rests were made that the
seemingly countless children might hc
able to keep up Brave little tots they
were. holding close 10 their mothers, II
they had them, or II not 10 those who
had bcfricnded them on the way, 1or
many were orphans, or had h9d their
parents taken away by the Germans @
work perhaps hun lrcds of miles from
their homes
Inside the great rooms Of the Casino
long lines Of tables set for supper filed
'ilcd IN. women showed them to thCIr
seats. while others distrll utci small
French flags to Young and old alike
he tiag that once more they might w3vc
freely.
.I}owls Of soup. slices Of good bread.
hot well-cookcd meat and glasses OF red
wine still further chcered the hearts oi
the stranger, 50 then when the orchestra
IN its gallery began to PLAY well known
and cherished French 4lr~ airs that had
not hecn heard before in all these hong
,ear~ tears streamed down the checks
# many, and Of lookers-on as well, while
h"na~ and voices proclaimed their keen
.iclicht
No men did we sec between IS and
and comparatively few women who had
'1a2 been separated from sons and daughter
f.rtnrles sud mines, even on fortificationS
r.. used against their own kin.
ha fe.t>f was nearing lis end when
h, 81 Perfect mounted the rostrum
.."I cEan 70 speak Instantly there MSS
euee lie dwelt anon France's love fnr
Her aeuplC hcr sorrow for their suffering |
HIS words had hardly ceased " hcff /
lie land struck up the MaregilIaisc |
Fhc old. he Young, the hait, tie blind |,
-prang II their lee. tr1lrr their hcst to
ON N III refrain but frequently rre- /
rcntc.! ~ sheer nervous exhaustion /
~o!s could = heard and the faces IT +
le~t ii the women and Of many 81 ra. I
rer uerc hidden IN the handIcr~he'-
- II which they wiped away their tear