The New York herald., 1874-08-11
THE BABIES ON THE BAY.

Food, Raiment and Fresh Air for the
Weak and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to
the Little Ones.
Tue main idea which actuates the great prac-
tical charity of these excursions for the relief of
sick children, having for It's object the recreation
OF the denizens OF crowded tenement houses in the
city, who cannot from their own scanty resources
procure fresh air and good food, was yesterday
eminentiy successful In providing happy, health
restoring time to O number Of mothers and alllng
little ones Rev. Alvah Wiswal accompanied by
his STAFF OF einclent volunteers, went round with
the Floating Hospital in the morning, making calls
at West Tenth street, Market street ana Twenty
third street piers, receiving at each point great
numbers anxious to avail themselves OF
the benefit wnicn this thoughtful Kindness en-
deavors to afford. Very nearly 750 mothers and
infants were on board. At first not much hilarity
was displayed. The women looked weary, wan.
work worn. Put alter while, when the good
roast beef, the coffee, the fresh Orange county
milk, and, more than all, the breeze from the Bay
worked its due effect the languid paor by degrees
departed from the grOwn-up iaces and the appar
emily Theoretically sealed waxen lids Of the almost
inanimate babes were raised occasionally to gain
a look at the unusual brightness OF life about
them, and the little lips were parted to eaten Q
happiness rne tim0r0us doubtful women who
presented themselves yesterday at every land
ing with their precious burdens huddled
to their bOsOms displayed far different aspect on
their return. proudly showing to DR.. Thoms or
Mr.. Wiswall, or Mrs. Courtney rallman, the baby
that was on the point Ol DEATH as they thought
when it was brought on board. The long line OF
RIBS OF roast bee which looked like provision for
q full regiment, miracul0usly disappeared, and no
good food ever went better way. From in
quires amongst the people, 1t was easily discover
able that the occasions to them OF square
meal" were very rare and strange. But
though improvement ID manifest IN many
instances the vast amount OF cholera infan.
tum, cOnvalescent wh00plng cough and dlphtheria
cases IS simply painfulIt1e little beings lying
still and mOtiOnless, rolled up IN shawls on the
deck at the mothers feet, or held up IN arms, that
the dropping. wasted form, might gain some In
made the wavelets dance and laugh in the summer
sunlight. There were number OF very interest,"
ing cases-pteous little objects suffering from
SPINE diseases. Instances OF the charity OF the
members OF the guild were everywhere apparent.
A baby that day or TWO ago was touching
with tiny fingers the portal OF the ivory gate,
let hood ana comfortable clothes. Its father, who
has been invalided lOr o long time and Is just now
engaged as a servant on board to carve and dis
tribute the vands. The expenses or the excursiO n
amounted to slss Co. Again & vas large chest Of
& Co.. Mr.. simmons prepared the food without
charge; Mr.. Wall, Of Sixth avenue, gave the bread
seven Sc cents; the washington Ice Company gave
400 pounds OF ice; the milk was sold at reduced
rate, as was also the beef MT. Ridley
sent in the delightful contribution Of fifty pounds
OF candy. Not altogether was this excursion for
wee ones. A lew grown up persona. one re-.
duced merchant, ana ioTmeriy an e empioye OF
weakly women, who had lost their babies and
were plaintlve and sOrr0wing, had avalled them
selves o, tne The noa kept on tho
all the time. At half-past five O'Clock p. M. she
made her first return landing at Twenty third
street. thence going 10 Market street and con-
Guiding the days search ior health at the pier foot
Of west Tenth street.