The New York herald., 1874-07-07
THE CHILDREN'S PICNIC.
Happiness Among the Little Folk-*oyous
Crowds on Raritan Beach-Ths tlrst
Excursion of the summer
True Christian Charity.

nwas all excitement Yesterday among Tue Ju-
Vennes OF the Sixth ward. Tfe loheei-oi iio'u'ie
Tor the picnic-the first picnic o. 'ne sea'on-n"'
arrived From very early hour boys came-some
even At four A. Mo The Franklin station, deter
mined 70 be on hand IN une fossioV they never
.Ient a wink the whole night, IN their ANXIOUS eA-
oectaton OF the treat before them. Tue dehiAeus
of the sixth ward have learned iull appreciation
a, the rushing competition OF life and the necessity
of sezing time by the forelocx. BY seven O'Clock
-, 40 these early birds had found out where
the barge for their reception lay and
presently there was general stampede IN that
d,rectlog Unfortunately, however. The reward
n,overblaly allowed 20 the extremely matutinal
fowl was not accorded TO the early Sixth warders
on TINS occasion. nor was the race to the strong
.,,her for on the arrival OF the regular army the
nrecursers had to take position in the rear OF the
column The scene In 'front.' OF the FRANKLIN street
station house at hall-past seven O'Clock was OF the
most lively character; admiring mothers and
friends on the opposite sidewalk, IN windows,
wagons and at every place of vantage, a dense
conmn Of children ia the roadway and a Babel OF
voices 10 which the changing rookery" would be
lullaby
.Youn have good number there to take care
Of Captain Kennedy W
"Yes,n answered the Captain, with smile; "tne
mothers have been here every day TO De saNsneu
ia 90 myself have undertaken Inc RESPONSE
bil1ty 1t would be tough worR TO lace Shose
mammas IL anything happened their young ones"
AT eight O'Clock the procession started ior the
hoat. shortly after nine O'Clock all who could be
rece,ved were on board-the boys on the upper
deck the girls on the lower. With great Judgment
MIR Williams and captain Kennedy ea ea out
from the number oil those presenting @ .che.s .s wy
big rough-looking boys. Occasionally one Oh theSe
would manage TO inslnuate himself INSIDE out 10
moment the managers lnevltaOle eye was uPoh
i'm
Three OF the trustees OF thls aanlraole charily
were on the pier Messrs. q. II. Marshall Edward
King and Theodore Roosevelt, bat none were
able to accompany the excurslonlsts WIN pro,
longed ana hearty cneer from tue nappy M FolTeS on
board for those gentlemen the parry proceedea Oh
'"T The day. was perfectly charming, cloudess and
clear the heat tempered by cool refreshing
breeze. The exquisite scenery OF the kll Won huA,
the wooded, villa dotted shores ana , grea1
green meadows OF Staten Island ana New Jersey
never looked TO better advantage. The children on
board numbered 1870 about one-thrd oi Whon , were
girls. These latter as a rule neatly uressech
Some very prettily The majority OF the boys were
fairly clothed, yet there appeared lew whose
however whether well or ll.dressed looked
happy ana bright and orimuL % OF Joyous eapecIa-
tions. Mr. G. +. Williams, the manager,
was ubiquitous seeing TO every ones
comfort leading and promoting the iun
in every possible way. The stern guardians OF the
law that occasion entirely dlvested themselves
OF their usual severity and were hail leHuW WIN
their irrestrainabie charges. Every imaslnaoie
precaution was taken TO prevent the omission
or any necessary comfort Three medical
Rentlemel-Dr. W. +. Inons, Dr. CHAMPION ana
1r Peters-were on board having volunteered
their services and were OF valuable assistance 10
the manager ana the ponce. IL would be, indeed,
quite cure Ior mlsanthropy 10 see now these
gentlemen wholly and unseihshy devoted them
selves TO the amusement and care Oh thelf nuiner-
Gus charges and TO them all 1t must oe matter OF
gratdcatlon that not u single conteteHtpS, not the
slightest accident occurred from beginning 70 close
oil the excursion. 80 excellent were tue arrange
ments that all were amply supplied without the
slightest disturbance or conluson- noeIat ra-
ton Of buttered.roils anu fresh milk was given TO
each OF the young people after leaving the wharf
and reaching Raritan Bay each was fortified
with large sandwich previous TO going on shore.
Dancing sngns% % s shouting or na hao was Tns Es
rOmping OF the boys was little rough now ana
then, but on the whole the conduct was good;
every one was happy and iuil OF Iun. The Cover
nors Island band, under Mr.. Suegier, was untring
in its exertions-'The Mulilgan Guards being the
especial lavorlte-but little more tAa u tue sound
OF the great drum could be distinguished
amid the joyous din. Two youthful mem
bers OF the defunct Grand Duke Alexis Theatre
gave some eXciung acrobatlc performances; Out
30 enthusiastically eager were the admlrlng crowd,
that want OF room soon put an END to this portion
OF the entertainment.
Hardly had they landed a moment on the pic
turesaue beach ut Raritan Wuen the boys had
their clothes Of and were Ia the water, splashing,
dashlng and swimming aOOut Here some little
things broughI forth, IN more iorcbly touching
hgnt, the great good o. this DelevOence. Though
most OF the lads were strong and muscular, yet
no; unirequently were TO be seen little ones who
were crippled or weak. Tie sturdlness with which
one poor boy nOpped out TOR his bath one leg,
the other beng cut OF from almost TIE MP, was
The grl portion OF the crowd streamed up into
the woods where they were soon alter joined by
the batlers, gathering Wild MOWERS, plucklng
branches, swinging III the soups, recalled occa-
eionally to witness the absorbing drama i'm
mortal Punch ana Judy. But all the water OF the
rude, rough sea will not wash OF tile habitudes o
the sixth ward boy. Some youths, beyond beng
moved by childish gauds, set out on adventures
An innocent New Jersey Ducolic was driving his
wagon down the powered shade, unconscious that
three young imps were on the tree overhead
until his faculties were suddenly aroused by being
caught round the neck by the legs or one urchin
rose, out all his blows struck the empty air.
Three hours enjoyment on shore, wuen the
whistle summoned all on board Tor the return, ant
at three O'Clock 2. M. the PROV was turned
towards home. The young people were then re
galed with plenty OF ice cream, lemonade ant
cake. The band played almost without cessation
the whole way back. The aancing vigorous
nearly catapultc IN velocity; the romps mos
lively, but not an accident, even TO the extent Q
q cut finger occurred.
The pier at the loot OF Franklin street wa
reached az halfpast SIX p. M and Captain Ken
nedy lew minutes after was able, with clea
conscience, TO face the mothers OF the Sixth, an
restore them their offspring safe and sound. Tn
street before the station was tnronged Wit
three ringing cheers for Mr.. Williams, the Captai
and the trustees, the well-satlsded young iolk
separated for their homes.
The following were the expenses incurred fC
the day
BeIge anu
Stationery and printing ...,..'.. :, ~ 81 ,
Lemons ~
hope tubs and pals .......................... 26
Banners.
stewards
Labor. ......,............
Steward walters.
Sandwiches and cake. l95
Ice cream, milk and ice ce.-.................... lgg
Band and Punch and Judy....................... t5
Extra fittings "a