The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-04-04
THIRTIETH HEROES
GET WARM WELCOME
Greatest Throns in History of Column
bia Greets Troops-Soldiers March
in Packed Streets-Occasion One
of Great Rejoicing and
Gladness.

Columbia, S. c., April lin
the presence of multitude, the like
of which has never been seen in Co.
lumbia, under a white and blue sky,
the beloved boys of the Thirtieth Di-
vision paraded through the streets
yesterday afternoon, being greeted
with an acclaim which was but fee
BILE expression of the pride and af-
fection in which they are held and
which must have warmed their hearts.
Crowned with martial honors, re-
warded with the unstinted praise of
their commanding officers, considered
by military leaders as second to no
soldiers in the world, they came home
to their own and yesterday they
nestled close to the warm heart of
the people of South Carolina.
A happier occasion for the soldiers
and for the people of the State could
not be imagined. For months these
boys in the devastated regions of
France must have dreamed of the day
when they would come home again
over and over again the vision of
themselves marching Though Main
Street, cheered by the crowds, must
have risen before their eyes tantaliz-
ingly; for weeks they had planned
as to just what they would do, just
how they would conduct themselves
when in the homecoming parade. And
yesterday, the dream all came true.
Forgotten now the mud and rain
faint memories the zing of the ma
chine gun bullets and the whine of
high explosives; as dim as a day old
dream the binding light of the star
shells and the moan of the mime
werfer. All over now, and back
again on their home soil.
And the fathers and mothers! They
came from everywhere, stood for
hours in hot sunshine, and waited
with. never a sign of WEAKNESS for
the swinging of the column around
the corner of Gervais into Main
Street.
For them no more agonizing search
of the casualty lists; no more chok-
ing fear when a messenger with a
yellow envelope came up the front
walk; no more throat clutching anx-
iety when they read in the papers
of some great drive in France; no
more pointing out the photograph on
the family mantel of some sturdy
youth to a visitor with the explana-
ton, "He's in France now. We hope
he will come back safely" All
through and done with, for the boys
were back with record that makes
the cheeks flush and the heart beat
treble time.
And the folk were out to show
the boys how glad and how happy
and how proud they were Of them.
Great Demonstration.
The demonstration yesterday was
unquestionably the greatest given
to a returning army in the history
of South Carolina. Never had such
thrones assembled IN the State to
welcome home returning soldiers,
and never was there such stirring
display of enthusiasm and joy.
It was an occasion which will long
be remembered by every soldier in
the parade and by the spectators
that lined the route of march for
blocks.
Undercurrent Of Sorrow.
1t is axiom that on occasions of
great happiness and gladness there
is an undercurrent of sadness. It
was so yesterday.
Under one of the hotel verandas
there stood yesterday an elderly
lady together with young woman
dressed in black. The young woman
was waving flag bravely. The col
umns were marching by and some
how the waving of the flag became
more and more labored. Directly
it ceased altogether. The older wo-
man was leaning forward eagerly.
"Here comes his company" she said
softly. eff Jim had come back, he
would be with these boys" But Jim
wasn't there; somewhere in France
he sleeps quietly. His blue service