The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-23
POOR cHILDREN's PICNIC.

There IL always full outgoing sympathy for
every effort made to help the children OF the
poor. These little waits. whose homes may be
said to be In the streets during these summer
months, scarcely know what IL Is to have few
hours enjoyment. such as children onght to have
Their pleasant surprises and merriest excitement
come to them only rom sights which children
should never see. Green fields blue SKIES river
scenery delightful views OF COUNTRY places they
know not Of Their eyes are strangers TO every
pleasant sight, as their ears are TO Instructive
pleasant words.
IN SUCH HEATED WEATHER
as this we now have these children become ex|
hausted In the filthy streets in which they are
compelled to live andwhere they exc out an ex-!
istencs in q way scarcely conceivable. In the
midst OF most noxious atmospheres, with every
thing around, In house and streets influencing
tue child to the lowest level OF mind and body
anything that helps to cheer the little dropping
spirit, or that creates new and fresh feeling, or
that tends to restore childhood to the prematureY
advanced boy or girl is itself an object, 20 Attain
which ID worth far moro trouble tnan IL required
In securing 1t. The thousands or youngsters,
in all the downtown wards OF the city
more especially, oner ample opportunity for
effort in a benevolent undertaking, which, while
anording enjoyment would also add lasting
benefit to the children in many ways. The plan
years OF giving the poor children of the different
wards
DAYS SAIL ON THE RIVER,
with all the necessary equipments for mental ana
bodily nourishment, IS about TO be revived, and,
under the same auspices. During the past two
summers thousands OF children were enabled to-
experience pleasures never before understood BY
them, by means OF these excursions and for few
times In their brief hves to experience little
- NuvhI had
hitherto deprived them. There Is not
ward in the city In which the summer excursions
OF last year are not pIeasurably remembered BY
the poor children who were made happy in hav~l
ing participated in them, and eagerly have they
watched and waited this sum ner for the welcome
announcement that these picnlcs were to be re-
sumed. 1t may seem trinng thing to some that
several hundred children should get sail DOWN
the bay or up the river on hot day in July, but
to fully appreciate the extent of the value OF one
fthese excursions IL would Ds only necessary to-
see the children In the
UNBoUNDED ENTHUSIASM OF EXPECTANCY
as they present themselves for tickets for places
on board the excursion boat. For several days ig
had been known In the sixth ward that there was
some day during the week. This news set all the
little boys and girls 10 conjurlng up mighty ex-ss
pectatlons or uay's grand enjoyment and the
were rehearSed and disputed with great serious
ness and considerable variety OF sentiment The
Sixth ward station house, in Franklin street, re-"
ceIvec several Populations OF Juveniles anxious to-
learn all about the picnic-when II was to come
on, where it was to be held, who was getting ie,
up, where the tickets were TO be distributed ana
at what hour precisely the children should appear
admission. Captain Lowery received the little
visitors with all due seriousness and proper,
patience, and Ipformei his nterrogators that
there undoubtedly was TO be picnic for the sixth
ward children; tnat the day fixed for 1t was Sasur-
ThE SCENE OF THE JUBILArIoN
was Excelsior Grove, opposite Yenkers; that the
tickets would be distributed onInursday afternoon
at three O'Clock, IN Franklin street, opposite tue
station house, and that Mr.. George F. Williams,
who was the originator and organizer OF similar
picnics during the last TWO summers. was again
TO take command OF the juvenile army OF health
seekers, and that everything promised TO be on a
scale OF astonishing variety. Each deputatlon,i
alter being dismissed by tae captain, was itself
the receiver, in It's street, OF several others
from the pureus OF the famous locality and as
doubts were not intrequent as 10 the veractty OF
some OF the previous interviewers Captain Lows
cry soon discovered that the station house was
beginning TO become almost
A SORT OF INTELLIGENCE OFFICE
IN the matter of the children's picnic Franklin
the news had travelled with no inconsiderable'
surety all over the ward, and as early as pine
O'Clock the Sidewalks con- aimed several battaonSs
OF she picnic army, male and female, ranged along
the curbstoDes. The object OF attack on the occa-'
sion was 10 see MIR. George f. Williams, VINO, how
ever was safe until three in the afternoon, at
which hour the assault upon him was TO com.
mence. Hour after hour went by each bringing.
with 1t strong reinfOrcements Tor the ASSAULT,
those youngsters who at times retired TO their
homes in the neighborhood invariably returned
with goodlY addition OF recruits, more anxious
aud determined than even the early corners. Al
ons O'Clock the sidewalks were flied from Centre
to Baxter street. and the streets in front Of the
station house was solid phaanx There must
have been at least
ONE THOUSAND CHILDREN IN THE STREET
from one 10 TWO O'Clock. and the sight was In it
self novelty to look at. Most OF them were bare
headed and bare-iooteu; the boys wore garments
which had the advantage OF giving the WIND easy
access to the skin, and the dresses OF the little
girls were seldom without rent. Unkempt and
luxury Of O wash seemed NOS TO have been ex-
perlenced by most OF them since Sunday last. No
as as this had been wen unGerstood lew Of them
were present But
were slender little girls and boys Of tender years,
who were, 70 all appearances, wasting away.
Dirty.faced cherubs, with Laughing eyes and good
exception, and there were not q few hardy listed
young wretches who could not keep still. and
VINO persisted In digging holes and knocking
heads with their clenched fists. Locomotion was
almost Impossible in the crowd the result being
the exercise became delightful Source OF smuse-
ment to the urchins who were suffering neither
pain nor ache and only wanted fun. But the ma
jority OF the children were quiet and orderly ana
stood or sat patiently awaiting the long expected
ticket AS the hour OF three approached all eyes
the police officers, some eight or ten OF whom
were present 30 preserve order, were beginning
O'Clock, however, Mr.. Williams turned The corner
OF the street, and the thousand little throttles at
once set up such
A scREBcH OF CHEER
as was never heard since similar occasion last
summer. The youngsters who had mats waved
them In tne air. ~Gthe girls put up
their little skeleton arms in token Of
rejoicing, and rush ana frightu crush.
Immediately was made TO get near the
station house stoop. The hurrah was so loud that
number OF mothers poured In from the vicinity,
having tiny little children by the hand, these,
doubtless being too feeble to be left alone TO the
mercy Of the crowd. This excited and enthugias-
vic gathering stood silent for moment, and Mr..
Williams, standing on the stoop, blew fow magic
notes on whistle, whereupon the of1cera'
plunged into the crowd aud In less than minute
the girls were separated from the boys and the,
former were coming on In single fle looking the.
picture OF earnestness, but with q shade OF.
troubled doubt upon their faces. There were now
TWO PICTURES,
one the besegers and the other those who had
trlumphantly borne OF the trophy OF victory. IL
was curious to watch the faces OF the two parties,
The child, coming along In line, kept hxed ere
on the ticket distributor as upon an enemy; out