Evening journal., 1918-11-08
CITY JOY Wild
over PEACE "NEWS'
Bells and Whistles Usher
in Demonstration Never
Approached Before
SHOPS AND OFFICES
CLOSED FOR DAY

The explosion Of ecstasy that rocked
the city TO its foundations early yes
terday afternoon following the report
of cessation Of hostillties on the west
ern 'front.' was continued in a peace
celebration that lasted far into the
night. Wilmington has never seen any
thing approaching the delirium Of JOY
( that seized the entire city, as indeed
il did the whole nation.
No matter what doubt might be cast
upon the signing Of the armistlce Dy
reports OF the late afternoon and eve
ming, the people would have none OF
them. The general attitude was, III
the armistice has not yet been signed,
1t soon VIII be. We might as well
celebrate now. because il Is only a
matter Of brief time before Negotiations
are concluded. anyhow The people
wanted peace with all their souls, and
nothing else would they have.
From the time the spirit broke out
spontaneously and simultaneously in
several sections OF the city, there was
a continuous parade through the city
streets. Every industry sent out
motor trucks bedecked with flags and
filed with cheering men and women.
The street cars were tied up time ana
again by the procession.
Never have the streets OF the city be
held such crowds thr0nglng street ana
sidewalk for hours on end. All the pc
destrians were carrying flags or gen
erous size, the tiny buttonhole en-
blems being totally insufficient to eX-
press the warmth OF their patriotic
feeling.
The dupont Urger Division was one
OF the first to join in the celebration
coming down Market street one hun
dred strong, carrying Old Glory, their
service flag and an "Urger" sign. Al
Tenth and Market they were promptly
ioined by other parades. the number
IN the ranks increasing with every
block. "a
and county offices for the afternoon,
and sent its clerical workers to Join
The peace celebratOrs. There was little
attempt at work on the part OF any
industry. Shipyards, munition works
factories Of every description, dis
gorged their thousands to swell the re-
joicing multitude. Clerks In stores ana
Offices that had kept open spent as
much time as possible at front doors
and windows, unrebuked by managers.
The orchestra Of the Majestic Theatre
delighted the crowd by assembling out
side on the canopy roof and playing
patriotic music.
The flag counters in stores were
speedily exhausted Of their supplies |
excent for those emblems that were
too small 10 be popular. Persons that
wore utter strangers grasped each other |
Nv Inc hand. Men that had never set
eves on each other before, pounded 1
eoch other on the back and shouted
their iov at the coming Of peace Many
omitted going home 10 sup
per. unwilling to leave the uoWnloMh
iuhiIaslon. Flags and bunting decor
afed stores and private houses all oNer
the city. =, A.
The High School assembled In the
auditorium at o'clock for a service OF
At the invitation OF Prin-
,ipal Berlin, numerous pupils sprang 10
heir feet and gave words OF fellcitation.
'he school sang the star Spangled
,anner" and saluted the flag. Such
Genes were repeated in public, paro-
HAL. and private schools all over the
itv. the pupils singing and saluting the
ag. The High School paraded down
own. the y6ung men doing the snake
ance.
With the coming Of darkness, red IRE
.lares lit up the scene, and the num-
,ers down town were doubled. II seem
"a as If every person in the city wished
q show his or her enthusiasm The
,sallzation that such a spontaneous out
pouring was likely never to occur again
in the city, brought the entirfe town
out to witness and take part.
The playing Of the national anthem
In the theatres was marked by devoted
attention from the audience and fol-
lowed by a tumult of applause. All
audience were late in assembling
STAYING out on Market street as long as
possible. The Playhouse Orchestra pre-
,eded the performance by playing the
National and Allied national anthems.
The Italian parade in the evening was
he nucleus for the largest parade In the
istory OF the city.
Tle thousands of Italians in line car
led italian as well as American flags, \
, celebrate the victory OF Italy over
ustria.
All along the line the paraders were