Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-07
nav FESTIVITIES.
Little Folks Party on the Steamer
Gaf-Unconstrained Felicity
and Brilliant Sports.

NeA eOAotAoAao CaACltl
and Brilliant Sports.
A thousand and sixteen children
not one under, by the rOod-attendet
the fifth annual May party, given b,
Captain r. w. Wise, on board of tn,
steamer Jas. w. Gaf yesterday after
noon. But for the overcast skies anC
drizzly forenoon the number would
have been more than doubled. As i
was the Pinafores were attended b,
their sisters, their cousins and theil
aunts, to the number of at least six.
teen hundred more.
1t was a jolly frolic, a perfect ova.
ton to the little ones, and exceedingly
enjoyable to the older and more sedate
The clouds overhead broke and lei
through a few streaks of sunshine soor
after midday, though a few shower
sprinkles dripped down after that and
the breeze blew a ! little chilly from the
northeast. Yet the children began to
gather on the boat about | o'clock
in the afternoon. The sloppy slope
Of the landing near the boats
stage planks had been covered
with fresh, clean straw, the long cabin
had been stripped of surplus furniture
to make room for the gay throng, and
an hour after the boat was as thor
oughly packed with bright cherubs OF
all sizes, from the wee fodder, unable
to tell its name, to the willowy miss in
her teens, and the more staid matron,
the whole being garnished with an oc-
casional saddle-colored nurse or a but
ton hole- bouquet-decOrate beaux
from among the fashionables. No
such a gathering of registering juven-
lies ever collected hereabouts. The
was so complete that spring
dresses were soon crushed iato limpy
folds. A thousand little toes were
tread on, and all efforts at dancing
failed in toto, except an occasional
quadrille on the boiler deck. The
crowd enjoyed it, however, and the
whole affair was pronounced a bril-
liant success. A noticeable feature
was the fact that over a hundred car
were collected in front Of the
boat at one time. The little ones ran
one end of the vessel
to the other, climbed ropes, derricks
and hog chains, skipped, jumped and
gambolled about, gazed at floating
objects in the wide, swift flowing
and had a most joyous time.
Robert Wise, aided by his
older brother, Captain James Wise,
and Mr.. Thompson, the boats clerk,
had their hands full, were happy
features, and seemed to appreciate the
fact that their May day festival was a
decided success.
Several dozen floral offerings carried
by the children to Uncle Bob set upon
a table in the boats hall. They rep-
resented every fragrant flower now in
from the tiny violet to the
grand magnolia, and their arrange
ment was as various and unique as
their number. Another episode vas
the presentation by the children of a
lifeboat of unique design, and
artistic as we'll as elaborate finish.
The little folks put in from twenty
five to fifty cents each to buy the silver
boat. This testimonial was totally
unexpected, while it is most highly
appreciated by Captain Wise. The
party broke up, and the youthful
guests all scattered to their homes
toward sunset, everybody being full of
good feeling over the delightful fasci-
nations and enjoyments afforded by
the steamboat May festival.