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
capital after four years of gallan;
and the city is still celebrating the
homecoming Of its king and queen.
Brussels tonight was absolutely
frenzied with happiness. All 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 viii.
and the city which in years gone BY
has been konwn as one Of the s5ayes
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 literall!
dancing their way through the prin-
cipal thoroughfares singing, cheerins
and laughing as they danced. Cara!
haired men and women, youths ano
nlaidens, children and soldiers anC
civilians all have joined in the gceai
throngs which have swirled hither anC
thither chanting their paeans to th<
German downfall.
The overwhelming reception glver
to the royal family this morning Ipof
their entry into the city from Chen
h11f mr.
remarkable scenes were to come.
AS evening fell the city for the frs
time in four years burst into bill
liant light Fhe 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 o
the big buildings began their endles.
play and sent thhir variegated r&y'
twinkling down on the streets as il
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 cianoring for al
mission.
Hours passed and the Boulevard d,
Nord-incidcntally this great tho--
oughfare today was renamed th'
Boulevard Adolphe Max, IN honor
the famous burgomaster-stnd othe.
neighboring streets became the play
ground Of hundreds of thousands Q
people. The Boulevard Adolphe Ma:
itself was filled for hours with
crowd of not less than 1000 cele
orators.
SO rapidly. did the merrymaker
give way to others and move their ac
tivities to adjoining streets that prob
ably no succeeding hour found tht
same crowd in the boulevard. Their
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
fic in the streets and endless lines O.
people marched and danced along a!1:
in arm. Many streets were jammeo
from one side TO the other with hu
man streams passing in either direc-
ton.
It made no difference whether you
!,new your neighbor or not, you simp-
" linked arm with him or her anc
hoped away to the swing Of 'Tht
HIarse!'aise' or other marching songs
[nnumerable huge rings were attract
ed and the happy citizens circlet
nadly about until forced to pause
from lack of breath.
Within the cafes there was no less
enthusiasm. Every establishment W.:
packed to the doors and the peopl.
alternated in cheering and singing
However. it was an entirely harm
.ess celebration throughout.
Thousands Of soldiers-Amerlcan
Belgian. British and French-cvery'
where joined heartily with the peo-
pie in the festivities.
The sound of singing and o.
tramping feet still continued ans
thousands still will be celehratins
when the dawn of a new day arrives