National Republican., 1878-07-16
THE RAGMENs PICNIC.
The Procession andJubllee Mt Gales W

The Procession and Jubilee Mt Gales Woods.
rags, ra.ags r.a.a.gs, bones, paper, and old
iron" is a cry which has become familiar 10
the ears of all city people. The little push.
carts, bcaped up with q miscellaneous litter,
and the odds and ends Of many garret, pro.
PEELED through tho streets by dusty.looking
colored men. who seem to know no other words
than rags, old bones, paper, and iron" are rs
familiar to the oyc ss policemen aud yellow
dogs. But yesterday the cry was hushcd; the
little carts did not make their usual rounds,
and tho children and servant girls who ex-
pected TO realize few pennies upon the sale
Of some collection Of old clothes OF carpet rags
could not find market for their goods, and
were compelled to go without their rag.money.
Tho rsgmen took holiday. The occasion
was the first picnic Of the Ragmon's Associa-
tion of the District at Gales Woods. The
celebration began with procession. which was
Termed at Eleventh aud . streets In the fol-
lowing order:
Marshal OF the day.
Ofnccrs OF tho association in a hack.
omnibus containing the First National Brass and
string band. and covered with plscnrds calling
upon the public to remember tho ragrnen's picnic
at Gales Woods.
There never was seen such gorgeous marshal
as the fragments marshal. He was gaily attircd
in bright red cambric suit, male in tho Turk.
ish Zouave fashion, with baggy knee brceches
and short jacket. The trimmings werc of blue.
Around his waist was gathered white sash,
trimmed with rel, and an immense tin oyster
horn was suspended at his back. Low quar-.
tered shoes and white hose finished of his legs,
aud on his head was pcrchod q Prussian bel.
met, from which loated in tho breeze large
yellow tasscl.
As tho procession moved the air was filled
with music blown from the horns of the First
National Band, which protrudcd from the win
dows Of the omnibus. This imposing process.
sion, with Marshal Smallwood blazing like n
famingo, at Its head, passed under the hot sun
through nearly every section OF the city, at
tracting much attention, and finally arrived at
tho picnic grounds ut Gales Woods. Here
there was an immense throng. Scores Of rag.
men. in nappy black coats, black fnccs, shin.
ing eyes, and plug hats, were there with
their friends aud scores Of women, look
ing as IL they might be sisters, wives, or
sweethcarts to the ragmon. and appearing de-
liciously cool and ETHEREAL In gsuzy garments
Of mosquito net material. Our society reporter
being absent at a watering place, a complete
description Of the many novel costumes worn
cannot he given.
Gales Woods never contained a happier
crowd. There was what is Usually described
to lie ~ general good time" No one would
have imagined that the solemn and InOaoto'
| nous raglncn who infest the streets Of the city
had such an enormous capacity for enjoying
| themselves.
Orations were delivered by Nathan Frank
Of Baltimorr, and T. T. Green, sr., of this city
Thcy were proud, they said, to be ragmen
| [Applau-e.l They hoped agmcn would never
forget their duty; they hoped ragwomeu and
ngboys would never forget their duty
| tChccrs.l Some folks complained that they
didn't hnvo rag to their back, hui
they could proudly boast that they had
whole army of rags at their back
| ["IIear" "Hear"'l The question bcfor!
| tho Ragmcns Association was whether
the ragmau is the father Of the ragbaby. IA
woman's voice, who says sor'l When rag.
babies grow up they become ragmcn. We
rlgmcn arc most indispensable members o
the society. Ii il wern't for US nobody would
ever sell their old clos, and consequently they
would never buy any new ones, and every
body would look like tramp. Hurny.I Th'
time will come when the people will sec wha
they owe 10 tho abused ra men. A voice
"Bil Jones owes me sixty cents Until thei
We eau truly say that on all occasions We will
take the rag from the bush. liurray anC
prolonged cheers