Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-21
Lets Take tho Lid on and Lose It


d ICHMoND'S soldier sons are coming
N home. Already some OF them are on Viz
ginia soil and have clasped to their breasts
the loved ones from whom they parted
year or moro ago when they left to seek the
great adventure. Still others will arrive In
home waters today. and next week will see
the last Of the old guard units back from
Europe and the war. The Richmond Grays,
the first to arrive, are now in Newport News.
where the States official welcome was
tended to them yesterday by Governor Davis
and company of distinguished citizens. To-
day the Blues will sail into the same harbor,
and on Sunday all eyes will turn seward for
first sight Of the Howitzers. Then, only
few days more, and the Eightieth Division,
in which are the Virginians Of the National
Army will be welcomed and the home-com-
ing will be complete.
These coming days Of reunion with the
boys who braved the terrors of battle on
foreign soil thousands OF miles across the
deep will be days Of rejoicing. There will
be heartaches and tears for those who will
never return, but even those who sorrow for
loved ones who sleep In France will smile
and cheer hcroically for the boys who risked
all and escaped from wars inferno Let
these be days Of demonstrative rejoicing, not
the quiet, restrained sort OF emotion that has
given Richmond an undeserved reputation for
GOODNESS. but real ebullition Of glad spirit
which brooks no restraint. Let the lid be
taken off and thrown away, and let the air
be rent with cheers and yells and song and
har, 6clo Nnir he
thunder of trumpets, and let the tens of
thousands of young and old who will pack the
streets make their Joy SO unmistakable that
no soldier can for the fleetest of moments,
entertain In his mind thought that Rich
mond people after all are unappreciatiye of
what he and his comrades in arms have
passed through II Richmond had real cause
for celebration on armistice day. and that
was the gladdest and noisiest day in its his
tory, it will have cause magnifed a hundred
fold on Saturday when the Grays and the
Blues parade the streets bearing the war
torn standards which they followed in France
TO the jaws of death, and on the following
Thursday when the Howitzers come home
for they are heroes all, and deserving and
expecting the very best Richmond can pro-
duce in the way of demonstration.
But there are certain things that cannot de-
pend on spontaneity. There are certain
things that must be prepared in advance
With the Gray-Blue parade scant three days
away, there is a distressing lack in the dis
play OF the colors. There is time enough
but none to waste. The Stars and Stripes
should float from every building in Richmond,
and It's folds should mingle with the colors
OF our valorous allies. Let the city be swathed
in bunting, and let patriotic cards and deco
rations adorn every window. For the time
at least let's make it real city patriotic and
beautiful, for it is an occasion that comes
but once in century And in the display
of the national and allied colors and in the
general scheme OF decoration, there should
be no discordant note or any sort Of adj
vertising or propaganda. 1t is not time for
the ''antis" or pros OF any kind to force
themselves on the joyous throngs, nor for
any faint of advertising. This time belongs
TO the soldiers, and to them only. Let Rich
mond body heart and soul, devote it TO them