New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-19
RANDAIL'S ISLAND.

In the general Thanksgiving yesterday-amd the
general feattinz snd joy, the children at RandaiTs
Island were not forgotten. Their Ten Fathers, as
TIE boys call them provided most bountiful Thanks
giving dinner for ther 800 children and, judging by
the bright and happy faces, there wa, nowhere, yes
tercsy, more truly thankful band than these little
opes, who are the special care of our city.
The Randalls Island regiment, about 400 boys
stroDg was out parade early in the morning, ard
after marching about the groands, they drew up IN
front Of the scLoohouse and gave marching salute
TO the Governors and other guests. They then pro-
ceeded TO the schoo.rooIn when the exercises CON-
menced by singing the Sabbath-Schooi hy mn, " en-
glad L IN in this array.
Master RYAN then delivered the opening address;
referring to the fact that Thanksgiving day had again
arrived for the boys He spoke Of the many blessings
for which the boys the leland should be thankful
While many poor children in New-York were suffering
from want and cold, they were here provided with all
the comforts of life; with food and raiment and a
home They had also here the advantages for good
educ alton BY which they might rise to places of dis
tipction and horor. He said that they ought to be
thankful to God for all the blessings they received
He was followed by dialogue between two of the
bows in which ore started out with the bold PROPOSE
ton that 10 boy could be thankful and happy with
not red cent in his pocket" but the other convinced
him that with krd friends and good home, willis
other poor boys had none he ought TO be very thank
ful.
Ex.Goy. DRAPER then addressed the boys referring
to the sickness OF Gov. Anderson and asking the boys
to remember him while giving thanks for all their
blessings and advising them to obey their instructors
and by good conduct entitls Themselves TO respect
Gov. r. +. PIScKsEY also made short address to
the boys. The girls were assembled in the play-room
some two hundred Of them looking as neat as snow
white aprons and clean dresses could make them. They
sang several pieces two Of them repeated dialogue
and they all listened atcntivey to short addresses
from Ex-Gov. Draper and Gov. b. +. Pinckney. In
the small boys room it was, perhaps, the most inter-
estipc portion OF the exercises to the little fellows
90 through with their gymnastic evolutons, clmbins
ladders, swinging by ropes and turning somersets
They all seemed very happy ond cheerfa, but at the
same time abxiously waiting for the dinner hour. In
preparation for the Thanksgiving diuper, 63O pounds
of poultry and 200 pounds Of pork were on Wedn6ay
sent to tie Island and the boys most abundantly
supplied The tables were all set n readiness, the
plates were piled Up with chicken and vegetables and
the boys marched in and took their places. AT the
call zone" they stepped back step from the table
at two they bent their heads at three, one of the
number invoked the Divine blessing upon the food; at
"four,' they all stepped back to the table aud at
"ive' they fell to work with will. twas easy to
see that although they obeyed all the orders readily
yet No. five" was the to which they gave their
undivided attention. About 500 pounds Of cake we're
slso sent to the Island on Wednesday, that the boys
might have "cake supper" There may have been
more sumptuous dinners given yesterday, but We
doubt if there were any that better appreciated
or where there was mole happiness and enjoyment
than at the dinner on Raudall's Island.