Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-12
CROWDS REVEL
UNTIL MORNING
Entire Population of City
Joins in Noisy Wake
of Autocracy
CONFETTI CARPETS PAVE
Theatres and Cafes Make Up
for Losses of Epidemic.
Music Everywhere
Ne. It wasn't a llghtless might

Mirth and madness had their ding
The populace went crazy yesterday. and
last night set fire 20 the asylum!
II was sure one huge and hectic
evening The pavements sizzled Tho
connagration OF gladness couldn't have
been put out IL every fire plug in town
had been opened The town fairly burn
ed out with joy.
It's over now. Only the litter on the
morning streets. only some broken der
bies and clothes that must go TO the
tailor FOR repairs only few head
aches. maybe 70 remind folks of that
most glorious Of nights. And memories
Nobody will forget them until ready for
the undertaken
The big doing were confined TO no
one section OF the city. II wasn't just
a midtown celebration. West Philadel-
phia. Kensngton, old Southwark, wis
sinoming, Frankford, Germantown--pict
them at random. anywhere you will
they paraded the streets. and pounded
tin pans. and rang cowbells. and footed
horns. and generally raised the merry
hell TO which a million placards and
hatbands consigned the Kaiser.
Crowds pick on weikiu
But downtown was the place There
they mado the well-known welkin ring
until 1t was cracked worse than the
venerable old Liberty Bell on its pedestai
at Independence Hall. 1t wasn't such
night as comes once in Il generation. .r
onco in a lifetime
It was night all by itself. II was
d night that comes once. There never
was q night like IT. there can't be a
night like 1t again, for yesterday with
shouts and gladness. without tear and
without 81 regret. the world dug n grave
for artnaments and autoce,cies
The streets downtown blazed and scin-
tillated with jubilaton last night Chest
nut street. Market street and Broad
stree; were noonday-bright with lights,
gorgeous with colors, intoxicating with
the spirit of boundless gaiety that sped
like happy rumor through the tens
Of thousands crowded there TO celebrat e
the peace.
The mobs and masses Of humanity
that congregnted through the hours Of
afternoon scarcely diminished at supper
time. For every person who rushed home
to get bit to eat a newcomer rushed
downtown to be there for the start Of
the fun. The restaurants, the quick
lunch places. the pie-and-sa ndwich
street stands fed thousands who could
scarcely persuade themselves - stop
long enough to stay the appetites created
by hours OF walking the streets during
the afternoon. There was so much to
see. SO much 10 laugh and be merry
about. that no one wanted TO miss Il
minute.
Confetti Carpets streets
Chestnut street and Market street
were carpeted with confetti. II was
like q fall of early winter snow. blanket
ing the pavements and dulling the sound
Of footballs. Every sidewalk vender
sold IL: every man and woman in the
laughing mob was throwing II by hand
fuls.
A xtaiG middle-aged Couple stopped
! M front OF a confetti merchant near
Twelfth and Market streets. She was
fat and dimpline; he was lean and SOL
emn
Gimme a dozen bags" said he.
But you can't carry all that and
throw Il, too, Joe" objected his wife
You carry it, then I'll do the throw
ing"
mot much; / want to throw IL my
4 self"
can right" said the husband. struck
with a happy thought. IN put it in
my hat"
And he gravely punched out the crease
IN Q perfectly new hat and held II
while tho vendor flied It to tho brim
with pink and green bits Of paper,
And then suddenly the wife 'Flll
mine. too" While the crowd roared
she took of very modish little bonnet
and held 1t till the confetti flowed out
on the street.
They went off bareheaded, shreting
with laughter like a couple OF Kids
Ato~fnC Ha h,r hapdfuIg II N
and left and all about in o. very halo
OF confetti And how the crowd yelled
A Night Of Flags
II was a night of flsgs. II you didn't
have your bit OF red, white and blue
stuck in your hat, or pulled through
your buttonhole. or floating from it,
stick, you didn't belong to the elect
Flags OF all the Allied nations. tn,
French tricolor. the British Jack or blaz.
ing ensign, the banners of Italy and Bel
& giunn. the golden harp OF Ireland on it'
field OF shamrock green. the unfamilIal
eolors OF the little mid European nation,
tust emanclpated from age-old tyranny
were waved side by side with the EN-
blem OF our own America, exalted thii
night as never since the days wheI
Betsy Ross stitched the first white stal
to It's field OF blue.
There was music everywhere. Band
crashed at the head CT compact march
ing columns. Mandolins. accordions
played oftentimes by lads in the uniform
Of the s. A. I. G., accompanied tn,
voices OF little groups Of men and girls
scurrying through the crowds will
linked arms. singing the songs that tn,
war has immortslized.
Small boys beat time on pots and pans
or. failing that, banged the trolley pole
with clubs. A trolley pole makes
very satisfactory drum. by the way, from
the small boys point OF view, its onl,
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