The New York herald., 1874-07-22
THE STOCK BROKERS' PICNIC.


Charity-Lifc and Laug htcr on Raritas
Beach.
The thickly wooded bluffs ana groves Of Raritan
Beach resounded yesterday to the merry laughter
and joyous abandon of hundreds OF happy chill
dren-happy, at least, for one day. Their times Oh
pleasure are not over frequent. This was the oc-
casion OF the first OF the Stock Exchange picnics.
50 called ron the generous benefaction OF those
noble hearted men who haunt the busy turmoil Of
speculative Wall street. The youthful population
OF the First Second and Twenty seventh precincts
were the benefc1aries OF this days bounty. From
the distribution OF tickets on the previous after
noon Mr. Williams half Thought the number Of
young people to come under his cnarge on this
particular expedition would fall very far
short of the usual amount but this idea
was soon dispelled BY the continuous throngs
OF nondescript candidates for q share
in the good time as they nOcked around the Church
street station by eight O'Clock A. M. In honor or
the donors the procession, headed by the band
playing q stirring march, took . detour on their
way to the barge through Broadway. Wall and
Broad streets, making these mercantile regions
ring with mutitudinOus clamOr that not often
disturbs their absorbing calculations OF gold and
shares and weighty matters. Early as was tho
hour several members OF 'Change were On
hand to see for themselves the motley
concourse on their way and not Q
few accompanied the children to the pier. One OF
these remarked that he never was aware 80 many
chill dren lived near Wall street. The sight OF the
long. seemingly never ending line was to MIN Q
complete surprise. Another Instance Of the open
and oears' was disclosed by little bit of inior-
nation given by the same gentleman to Mr.. VIII
hams. the mansger-in fact the life and guiding
star of this most laudable movement. The bundle
of tickets sent BY the Treasurer to the Exchange
had been disposed OF at auction for handsome
subscription to the Children's Fund. Does this
speak vOumesS Panlcs, high prices, dulness OF
@ sn show
shrewd active, energetic men, whom j. s. Mill
characterized-the most unwlse words he ever
uttered-as heartless dOllar-nunters," the way
towards properly directed charity, their purses
are at once open, their sympathies aroused. Tho
tenderly reared families, whom their parental
care has at this season removed from the cityB
cooiness @ Of the county shade ana the breezy IN
vlg0ration OF wave-washed shores, need no urging
word to ten them TO draw the contrast between
s.a Of 3 From S the penuds n
be given q portion to soiace Goods poor"
HE that gives Ives unto :. the poor lends ,Ss
interest certain Outside Of the directly charitable
benefit OF these excursions in bringing little gleam
Of sunshine on the dim, dreary existence Of the
human swarms that swelter in our city slums, one
little mOrse Of pleasure that will be the whole year
q thing OF Joy to them to think Of the great, Inn
vious hate engendered by hardship VIII be
erased by such evidence OF tender sOicitude for
their fortunes and brOtnerly desire to alleviate
their suffering. The poor remember much.
little given them without lowering their t0uchy
pride, and they are grateful forever: Communism
and the surging danger OF social discomfort Will
meet the most e1ectual blow BY the acknOwleog-
ment OF uni versal kindred, which asserts itself
In the regard OF children, especially the poor.
Yesterdays excursion presented no features
different TO the three preceding ones, unless, per-
haps that the boys were sOmew less epresaible,
and, II possible more unfixed in costumes than ON
police, the onicers' exact knowledge OF them and
their daring skin In natatory exploits at the beach
were the only things suggestive OF particular COM
ment They had nearly all, without doubt, "a
prison prisoners and Of the street streety." We're
any beetle-browed youth brought before the
manager one OF the captains, charged
with abstracting the cake or ice cream ticket Of
meanOr like the Spartan boy for biting him,
which" as Dickens makes one OF his characters
say, al hope you'll excuse me for his bringing up.
for OF all the tresOme boys that will go tumbltng
into every sort OF company, that boy Is the tire
soonest"
when the procession had, after its departure
from the station, reached the wharf, Mr. VIII
lamS found it In possession OF q mob OF big boys.
who seemed determined to 60 on the eXcur.
sion whether the manager willed IL or not. With
his usual prOmptitude and decision Mr.. Williams
ordered the police to drive the young r0wdleS
away, and while they were so employed he secured
so anxious to see that first care be taken. TWO
or three times the outsiders made q rush for
the gangway, but they were met by the police,
who, under Captains LOwery and Van Dusen, kept
them of.
The Governors land Band, with Mr. Stlger,
and DR.. Thoms, the inseparabe medical volunteer
OF the excursions, also accompanied the party TO
the grove.