New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-07-08
Picnic for Poor Children.

tnoso WHO pTopost ~ So'eAA shS PooPo
and :hose who prepare the people 10 govern
themselves. The first rely upon force and
corruption; the latter upon schools. facto-
riee, excursions and picnice. The New
York Times is disciple Of this last schooi.
1t goes for the Tweeds and Connoilys. 1t
interviews the schoolmarms, and takes the
children 0: the poor from the city to taste
the pure air and water OF the country.
There is ''poor children's excursion fund"
which row amounts to more than SoOoO.
1t is dedicated to taking The children by
wards to a days ride and holiday II
tho country. We can Lot forbear the
qualification of transcriblng some OF the
scenes which attended the second picnic:
Scarcely had the gangways been pre-
pared for the passage OF the children than
a ringing cheer announced that the work OF
embarkation had commenced. lhe task
was an arduous one, despite the systematic
method adopted. As the boys and girls
passed over the gangway they were formed
In two lines, each being sent in different
direction, IL order that both stairways to
the upper deck could be used. AS each
child came ON board a printed refresh
ment ticket WAS thrust into it's hand. to be
taken IN at breakfast, and the line was
kept moving so rapidly that in less than
twenty minutes about 700 children were
| safely embarked.
Every child over the prescribed age was
! rejected except in two cases OF crlppler:
| Those turned away took the matter III good
part, despite their disappointment. Those
children belonging to the schools were un-
| der good discipline, but with them came
large masses of boys and girls wholly dis
tiDct in their appearance. The school
children were cleanly though poorly
| dressed but the street waits came in the
sbreds and tatters so familiar in the streets
where tenement houses abound. One class
marched soberly on board, careful to obey
the instructions given them, but the un-
| tanned Arabs of the streets sung and
found themselves going on the barge. SO
much has been said about the diversity OF
costume among the children enjoying these
/ excursions that it seems unnecessary to de-
scribe those seen yesterday. The most no
ticeahle feature was the fact that scarcely
any boy had full suit of clothes. Some
were minus jacket, others had no shlrt,
over hundred were hatless and fully four
times that number were baretooted.
When all were embarked, the barge
started up the North river and stopped AT
the Christopher street dock for another de-
tachment Of little ones. The same system
| of embarkatiOn was observed, and with
such success that 700 more children were
! soon on board. Still the crowd continued
and it was found impossible to take all thai
were applying, though 400 or 800 Of them
were eligible and deserying-the manager
finding himself surrounded by dense mass
Of children. all clamoring to be taken, who
were only quieted by = promise to take
them some other day.
| AZ soon as the barge started up the river
1 preparations were madetOr breakfast. 1ht
buttered rolls were all piled up on Ions
tables near one of the staircases. and at TIL
other end of the deck were other tableI
filed with mugs Of milk. As soon as al
was ready the children were formed in lint
on the upper deck and passed down thu
stairs in single file, each boy or girl bein&
required to surrender the refreshmen
ticket received at the gangway. AS the.
| passed the ticket-taker the children wer'
given roll and sent forward for milk
When all had emptied the mug handed
them, they were sent up stairs, and, havin:
no ticket, were thus prevented from comm:
down stairs again. In this way the who'll
number were fed in remarkably shor
time.
The trip to the grove was very pleasan
one. and the tide being favorable the chill
dren began to disembark at eleven o'clock
each receiving sandwiches and cake. Th
girls went up into the woods in search o
flowers and ferns, but the boys rushed
headlong to the bathing cove, after whicl
all repaired to the tent and witnessed
Punch and Judy performance, the bant
also adding to the fun. At three o'clock tn
| children began returning to the barge, ant
as they did so received more sandwiche
and mug Of lemonade. BY four o'clocl
all we're on board, and the party started fo
home. While the ice cream was being
served, q terrific rain storm came on, &C
companied by thunder and lightning. b,
lowering the storm awnings the childrel
were thoroughly protected, and when tn
rain ceased the air was cool and pleasant
Very few cases of illness occurred. all of al
nnlmpOrtant nature. BY seven O'Clock al
of the children were safely landed at thei
respective wharyes, all in excellent spirits
We can not imagine , more touching
spectacle than the ragged little wretche
whose daily life is toll and starvation
seated at good meal, or the little Arab
who infest and prey upon society adm;tte
among kind and well clad people.
The spirit of Dickens must have locke
kindly down upon Joe and the little MAI
chioness tucking in lot of grub, whic
they had only seen through the shop wiz
dows. Many little heart, touched by thi
unexpected kindness, will beat more hope
fully and with more gratitude to the fount
ers OF this wise and noble charity. Th
ballot suffer will sneer. The only use b
can have for . people is, perhaps. once
year for the voters. Those purchased Q
perverted, he has no moro thought or car
for the miserable thousands those vote
represent. These noble philanthropists Q
the picnic are preparing the nateria
for future elections. They care for the en-
ployment and enjoyment of the people
The veri.st little pauper that ever scudde
through the streets clad with single art
Gle of ragged apparel will lean to the forn
OF government which cares for all. an
value their birthright as an American Cit
zen as something precious.
Now. in this season Of heat and dullnes,
while the politicians have no use for tn
! people, can not the philanthropi.ts take tn
ragged children of the metropolis and Civ
them bath, breakfast and an excurs,o
on the water: What say the clergy!
Catholic Total Abstinence state Cnion
This organization was formed on Sunday
! morning last in the hall of the Jesuits
1 College. 1t is composed Of delegates fror
al hSf Sc