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 136 the return of the Social Democratic members of the second Duma, who had been in exile for 10 years. Their leader Tseretelli afterwards played a great and noble part in the development of the Revolution. All regiments sent guards of honour to meet him and his companions at the station, and delegations of the workers came with banners. After an enthusiastic and tempestuous welcome at the station they were solemnly received by the Soviet, and Tseretelli was elected as a Vice-President. There was great enthusiasm on the return of Plekhanov, the founder of Russian Social Democracy, of Breshko-Breshkovskaia, the "grandmother of the Revolution," and of Chernov, the leader of the Social Revolutionary Party. But the greatest celebrations were made on Lenin's arrival. The news of his arrival came unexpectedly, and on a Sunday when no papers were printed; but it spread with tremendous rapidity and a large crowd of delegates, soldiers' and sailors' guards of honour and workers assembled on the square outside the railway station to welcome him. Speeches were made by Lenin and by the President of the Soviet amid scenes of great enthusiasm.

The most wonderful day of celebration in the Revolution was the 23rd of March, the day of the funeral of the victims of the Revolution. It was a solemn and sacred vow of the new democracy—an initiation before the open graves of those who had given up their lives for its sake. It was at the same time a triumphal review of the revolutionary forces in their silent and mighty living power. It was an historical day—a landmark in the transition from the old Russia to the new, from tyranny to liberty. From the very early morning the inhabitants of Petrograd flocked out into the streets: hundreds of thousands took part in the triumphal procession; literally thousands and tens of thousands of banners and flags were carried. There was not one incident, not one accident, to mar the effect of this ceremony. "In three weeks of Russian freedom, her people has grown to maturity. The most brilliant proof is the day of the 23rd of March;