The New York herald., 1874-07-19
THE CHILDREN.

A Pleasant Day for the Little Ones
Rays OF sunshine in the Homes of the
Po0r-Enective Arrangements for Uni-
versal Comfort.
Yesterday the children of the Fourteenth ward
were the recipients OF the amiable benevolence
which endeavors to console the hard privations Of
the poor in this city by taking out their little
into the sweet, fresh country air. They returned
happy and radiant; their bright young faces, their
hands fuil OF Mowers or bearing waving
green branches. rejected the gladness
of the good time they spent In many Q
squaid home In the poverty stricken district sur
rounding the Mulberry street station relieved
feeling OF kindness and gratitude pervades hearts
to whom pleasure Is rare visitant In listening to
the exuberant accounts Of the days fun-the band,
the bathing and above all the ice cream, lemonade
and cake.
The excursion yesterday was not only the largest
as to numbers up to the present time but 1t pre-
sented some features OF additional qualification.
As this form Of active charity has Tor its object the
endeavor OF affording healthful, open air recrea-
tion to such as OF themselves could never attain
IL. the confident, weiLpleased manner of the
numerous little tatterdemalions, who yesterday
In the summer crisp with shining woods
Like things of the season. gay
Like the bountiiu season, bland,
must make a full recOmpense to the kind
ness which even In these times of pressure
does not disregard the care OF Fortunes out
casts. Throughout the barest homes in the city
now the feeling Is that though they may be poor
and pinched, they know they are not friendless.
On the line OF march TO and from the boat crowds
OF kindly sympathetic faces watched the Joyous
throng OF walls "happy as kings" on their-their
own-day. The boys, apparently, are lett pretty
much to their own devices as tar as costume is
excursionists from the Fourteenth ward where
clothing was perfect were very few and
far between. The great majority were ragged,
peculiar in hats or without them, and
hundreds there were who showed supreme indif-
ference to the supernuous luxury OF shoes. This
latter brought lew casualties IN the shape Of cut
feet to the DOCTORS hands. For, In accordance
with the tme-honored recklessness Of suburban
picknickers. here and there through the grass lay
treachcrous piece OF broken bottle. The acci-
dents from this cause were, however, with the
good fortune that ever seems to smile on these
parties, few, and the injuries OF little consequence.
Two things characterizing yesterdays company
young cnlldren, and their gentle though wholly
unrestraned Lac CONDUCT No No less less than ls72
Williams sna Captain onny oAags 81 these 81 OVER M
1000 were under ten years Of age-some very wee
toddIers indeed. One little dame, OF the advanced
herser in arms. What might this small circnm-
stance suggest Perhaps this was the Little
Dorrit of a motheress home, unable to resist the
overpowering attractions OF the wonderful picnic,
and yet unable to dlssever herself from her help
less charge. The girls were all neatly dressed.
One good result OF this movement Is especially
shown in this quarter. Though regardless IN
most cases how the boys appear, there is q
manifest determination among the mothers that
the girls must show to advantage. And very pretty
and we'll behaved they ali were. The scene as an
example OF many such-the untirlng Governors
Island band playing waltz, sturdy policeman In
acOrner with delicate looking little girl seated on
his knee, good natured DR.. Thoms the children's
especial friend, dancing now with one, now with
another little Terpslcn0rean enthusiast; Mr.. Will
tine most indefatgable man In the world), and
every one, young and old, thoroughly imbued
with the business OF the day-pure. fresh, innO-
cent enjoyment Could 1t be imagined that out OF
the sitting holds Of the vile tenements that shelter
the hapess crowd of Jews, Italians and Irish In
this thicky populated ward, the laughing, merry,
prattling multitude on the Chicago ever could
have come.
In order that the reader may gain some idea Of
the admirable system adopted by Mr.. Williams for
the management OF the children while they are
under his care it may be well to describe the ar
ranGements observed on each excursion. AS soon
as the head Of the column reaches the dock the
order Is issued for the children to march In single
nle, and as they pass over the gangway each child
su[renders It's excursion ticket, and receives In
exchange one emitting IL to breakfast When all
are safely on board the Gordon OF police range
prevent the larger boys who have been rejected
py the manager, from jumping on board. when
uncovers his mix table and the girls,
WeaawhA Kept apart on the lower