The New York herald., 1874-07-18
THE CHILDREN'S PICNIC.

Distribution OF Tickets for tho Four.
teenth Ward Poor Chiidren's FREQ Ex-
cursion-Three Thousand Given Out.
Mulberry street is not the abode OF wealth;
neither are It's homes 'replete with comforts" It
has variety OF architecture, but makes no boast of
beauty 1t Is densely tenanted by the very DOOR,
and its rutted pavement and broken footwalks
reek with filth. Many Of It's citizens earn the
bread OF industry at home, being shoemakers,
blacksmiths. stablemen and the like. Quite
large proportion industnously draw beer
or mix toddies. Dense as is the aduls
population the proportion OF infancy and
childhood ia in an astonishing ratio
thereto They are dirty, ragged, baretooted. hat
less, often shirtless, and, as to the females very
scantiy draped at this season Of the year. About
the only fine buildings IN the street are the Gen.
tral Police ONCE, the Cathedral and the new police
station house OF the Fourteenth precinct. These
are exceptions to the general character OF the
buildings IN the street, and, with these eXCep-
tiOns, the street is pretty fair
SAMPLE OF THE FOURTEENTH WARD.
Having seen better days, when New York lay
below Union square. 1t Is now the middle ground
between reputable dwelling neighborhoods and
the exclusive business localities. It's houses, buils
for one family have become tenant hives, made to
shelter family on every noor or sometimes twice
that number, while often the basement serves as
small grocery or shoe shop. All natonalities
which claim New York as their home are domf-
Mulberry street to hear All the Of
Europe and find representatives OF antipodal
races while the descendant OF involuntary emil
grants from Africa, in full black or varOusy
watered by miscegenation whtework, is seen in
every street, his picaninnies as dirty as their
Caucasian playmaIes.
RAGGED PARADE.
All these kinds, varieties and admixtures OF
street yesterday afternoon At three O'Clock the
whole street between Captain Cincnys station
CONCERNS printing building on the ~ east was diIed
with solid, surgng congregation OF dirty, hut
brigns-eyed children, reaching nearly block IA
length and numbering fully 5000. There were all
ages and sizes, from the BABY, who walks with the
uncertainty OF FIRST steps to the strappinR ooys Of
fifteen. But these last were there for naught ex-
cept to see the crowd. They came for tickets to
to-days Free Excursion Picnic BY the exertions
which walked In single file past the station house
door. Here EACH except the TOO big boys, received
excursion. Having received the precious bit Of
pastebOard the little creatures would secrete them
in the folds Of their clothing and scamper away
home or in some instances steal back through
the crowd to come second time along the thin,
ragged. dlrty nne win open hands Tor second
ticket for little brother or sister at home. In
REPEArERs WERE DETECTED
aud sent TO the rear In gnominy and temporary
disgrace IL was believed they were the offspring
OF ballot suffers, but in consideration that their
appearance indicated need OF q salt water bath
their original and honestly acquired tickets not
con6scated and to.day they Will have milk, lemon
no trick the credulity OF Colonel Williams, who
distributed the cards In less than an hour all tho
tickets PROVIDED, 5000, had been given away, and
though the continuous line OF applicants had been
supplied, children continued to come every mo-
menJ. These were told to be ready to fall into line
at eight O'Clock tins morning, and they would be
received on the barge even though they had no
cards. The Governors Island band will lead the
procession to the DOat From the indications
yesterday the number taken on this days excur-
sion will largely exceed those on the two preced-
ing ones. Tne boat Will to-day be decorated with
the fa9s and banners presented by Mrs. William
Butler Duncan and no doubt the excursion will
be as full OF profit and pleasure TO the little boys
and girls OF the Fourteenth ward the former
ones were TO those OF the First and Fourth. God
bless the little walls anu those who help them!