The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-06
HAPPY CHILDREN.
Distribution of Tickets for To
MorroW's Free Picnic.
A Lively Scene at the Mulberry
Street Station House.

Some 1000 children OF the Fourteenth ward
were gladdened yesterday by the distribution OF
the tickets for the free picnic excursion to
oriental Grove Long Island, which Is to be given
tomorrow under she management OF Mr.. George
r. Williams. The distri butlon OF these little pieces
Of pasJeboard the possession OF which is so
highly priced by the poor little inmates OF
wretched tenements is always an exciting event,
and is looked forward to with the utmost eager
ness by the children DAYS and days before. They
hear OF the coming picnic, and their hearts
bound at the enticlng prospect OF day in the
pure bracing air OF the country. OF delightful
swim OF the fun aud frolic, and, above all, those
rare luxuries--ice cream and caKes-at the very
thought OF which their mouths water. This
childish eagerness was well illustrated by the
scenes attending the distribution OF tickets yes
terday.
HAPPY EAGER CROWD.
The hour at which the great event was to come
of was three p NJ, bat before TWO the entire
block between Spring and Broome streets in
Mulberry street swarmed with the children of the
poor. They Afforded most interesting sight 10
a student OF physiognomy and character. Their
faces though many were undoubtedly ntpped by
early privation and wan with premature
care ana suffering, had lost nothing OF
the happy innocence and fresh natuete OF child
hood and, strange as 1t may seen, If placed beside
avenue children they would have scarcely lost
anything by the comparison as far as health and
ltveliness were concerned. Many OF these merry
children were sturdy, rosy checked and endowed
with fat legs and arms such as many rich
mother would dearly wish for her own little onA-
A PICTURESQUE ASPECT.
What gave the crowd OF boys and girls a most
picturesque aspect was their dress. Most OF them
were bare-tooted, many Dare-legged, and the Curl
GUS varieties of odds and ends OF all sorts OF rags
that covered their bodies positively defy dcscrlp-
ton. Many OF the boys were trousers reaching
only to their knees (and looking as though they
had descended to the sixth generation) ana
shirts, the wide tears in which showed
their bare chests others sported some REM
nants OF old worn out velvet which mad probably
been thrown away by its wearer years ago.
few wore, even in August, dirty, torn fur caps,
which formed quite laughabe contrast to the
remainder OF their summer costume. The little
girls, most OF whom we're also Dare-footed looked
rather heater, and, with the characteristic ten
dency OF the sex, had taken much greater care
not to soil their costumes in the dirt Many OF the
children evidently belonged to the respectable
poor classes, and their faces showed already
CLEAN parliamentary education
RANGING THE CHILDREN IN SINGLE FILE.
For over an hour these 1000 children raised the
widest hubbuo in anticipation Of he much sought
for tickets. Physicians say that 10 order TO pro-
essential and to judge from the liveltness oil these
little Fourteenth warders they all must nave peen
and hooted, and romped and cut capers without
q moments lntermission. Every passing cart
was assa1ed with every missile that was at HAND,
so that the driver was only 700 glad wnen be had
passed the police station, where The crowd was
thtckest. Captain Allaire, at about three O'Clock,
ordered patoon OF mis- men TO range them In
single hle This difficult task was very quickly
accomplished for WIN al an instructive knowledge 6,
fell into their places and soon the file was per-
feet. IL reached from the police station to Prince
street and then, on the other side. down below
THE DEEPENING HUnRAHi
AND now their eagerness for the tickets had
become feversh, and they strained their eyes to
see II the 'ticket man, - as some OF them called
him, had not come. AT quarter past three Mr..
Williams, with q large parcel OF tickets under his
arm, was seen to approach, and was greeted with
DOOR cnildren Expecting a dsS,s Rlorious spors
know how 10 give. IL literally rent the air and
caused nundreds OF people IN the neighoorlaood.
traordinary jubilation, to rush to the spot
The ostr,bu.io1 then beSan and lasted eract,v
one hour. In this space or time 900 tickets were
given out the children ming by very rapidly ana
fresning TO witness their facial expressions after
they had received the pieces OF paste board. The
ticket TO the royal box at the opera IN London
was never received with more delight tnsn these
ragged children received their tickets some az
more ssdaGe temperament only Quietly nugTed
themselves with Joy, while they all tried TO read
the printed announcements on the tickets. IL
was touching to look upon the repressed delights
with which one or TWO poor crippled urchlns-
humpbacks-looked at the tickets, The girls were
rather more demonstrauve than the boys, ana
some OF them fairly burst into nts OF laughter.
They said but little all their expressions OF salts
faction were pantomimic. few boys exclaimed,
"Aiat this bully P' Oh, lsn't this nice 2" but that
was about all.
THE "RRPRArERsn
"Repeatlng" has not only corrupted our poll
tics, our electons-aasi we see t even in the
a IA n
them 1t must be said that there were but very
lew ''repeaters.n almost all the children running
quickly home after they had secured their pre-
cious prizes The children were aged between
three years and twelve some Of them so small
that they could Just toddle beside their elder sis
ters aud others already full grown boys and girls.
But OF the latter there were few, and the ma
jorlty OF the children were probably between six
ana ten years old. Some OF the girls carried
babies In their arms thus relieving their poor
mothers, who. no doubt, were hard at work ae
homo. A few mothers came themselves with their
little girls TO receive the tickets, and their little
ones' 10y was reflected In their own 6mllng faces.
Very fortunately 1t did not begin TO rain until
the distribution was pretty much over. The chill
dren then continued TO come In dribets, despite
the pouring rain, until Mr.. Williams ordered a
big sign bearing the words "No more tickets
given out until tue morning OF the picnic,o to be
nailed outside the police station. Then che Few
street was again deserted. But spectator could
not easily forget tue troops OF bright and happy
children which filed it minute before.
THE PREPARATIONS
for to- morrow's pIcnlc--tne tnlrd or the season.
are all complete. The children WILL assemble at
eight o'clock IN 'front.' OF the Mulberry street sta
zion house. and thence march to the BOAT at =
North River pier. 1t ls expected that some l. 900
children Will avail themselves Oh the opportunity
given them by the generosity OF the Contributors
10 the Childrens Picnic Fund to enjoy days
wholesome and invlgorating RELIEF rom their
stlning tenements on the water aud ID tho pure
air OF the country.