The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-20
FRESH AIR FOR THE POOR.
A Day with the Babies on
the Floating Hospital.
NEWSBOYS ON A FROLIC.
Picncking Under the Palisades and
Sailing Up the River

mothers, afforded a view of Coney Island
yesterday from the Floating Hospital of st. Johns
Guild, which made its NTH excursion. At n quarter
past eight o'clock the barge left the White Star pier
No. 50 North River. with about two hundred babies
and their mothers. 1t then proceeded to the foot of
Fifth street. East River where the dock crowded
with children clinging to maternal skirts or squal-
ing in their mothers arms. 1t took some time to
get them safely on board. DR.. David Phillips. who
had medical charge of the passengers. and party
of young ladies. were on board ready to direct the
steps of the little ones. and each mother as she
stepped on board handed to the Doctor card
which carefully scrutinized before she was
allowed the deck with her infantile charge.
There only instance in which the holder of
q card was turned back and not allowed to join the
merry and noisy throng. mother. with her three
children handed in the requisite document properly
Endorsed. but it bore the statement that the
youngest child afflicted with whooping cough.
That being contagious disease. OF course tho
family sent back, much to the discomfort
and disappointment of parent and children.
When the gangplank had been withdrawn, and the
vessel was on its way down the bay. it was found,
despite all the care that had been taken. that
there was yet case of whooping cough on board.
The little sufferer promptly removed to a cot in
of the wards of the lower deck. and given over
to the of the nurse to prevent the possibility of
infection. The barge. which built for hospital
purposes has ar excellent kitchen. with storerooms.
pantres and larders on the lower deck. and accom-
modations for dining about six hundred children.
On the middle deck above were the children in per-
ambulators who were either too young or too sick
to be carried in arms; the visitors rooms and the
officers quarters also there. On the upper
deck were the children and their mothers. filing
every bench and chair. inhaling the healthful
breezes at every breath.
SICKNESS AND SORROW.
Pallid, weary. sick and joyless were the faces of
nearly all the children They of all ages. from
six months to six years. The youngest cared
for by women who. for the most part. seemed to
have lived restless nights and laborious days. The
mothers love clearly there but it was the rough
side that was shown. Poverty had botted out much
or the grace and charm OF motherhood, and III some
cases hunger had left it's indeibe mark on the ma
ternal countenance. rhe larger children gambolled
at the knees of their parents turned involuntary
somersaults on the deck There were all the usual
mishaps attendant upon taking children out on q
were many sad instances illustr i've of the iron
grip of poverty. In some instances the father
had either died or deserted his family. and the
mother with her brood little was left to fight
the battle of lite alone "Cheap as trip to Coney
Island is. said one of these II am too poor to take
it, This was the complaint OF nearly every other
mother ON tho boat. 1t can readily, therefore, be
perceived what red-etter day it is in such families
when they get card from physician that gives
them free excursion under the auspices OF the
Guild The dinner, however, is the browning JOY OF
the day. Beef soup, with chunks Of beef and a
plentiful supply of bread, furnished in the
dining room on the lower deck, and there sur
rounded by her children, the mother sat. enjoying
dealt out with no niggardiy hand. and if the chill
dren desired to take an extra slice OF bread with
them to munch as they proceeded their voyage
they were cheerfully allowed to do
EFFECT OF THE VOYAGE.
1t was calculated to soften the hearts OF the most
obdurate to see these parents and children after the
midday meal had been disposed Of They looked
like new creatures. The hstless indifference of
expression had given place TO genial glow, and the
little ones gamboed and played either in the laps
of their mothers or at their feet as II they had inn
bibed n new life. When the band of the Union
Home School for Boys. led by Mr.. Johnson, struck
up some "Pinafore" music IL clear that these
popular melodies had penetrated even the lower
strata of our city population for the children and
mothers Joined in the chorus. and the latter danced
their babies to the tune of "When Was Lad rs
knew Among the women was sweet little but
tercup." She admitted that she pursued baby farm
ing profession. and though she did not plead
guilty to mixing any babies up she said that she &C.
companied different babies ON each OF the trips OF
the barge, and that two OF these had become so
troublesome on her hands that she had decided to
return them to their mothers.
The excursionists were safely landed about five
trips is about $3.50 They are taken on Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays, and are largely dependent
voluntary contributions for their Continuance
BOYS ON AND IN THE wATER-How HALF 4
THOUSAND OF THEM AMUSED THEMSELVES
UP THE HUDSON.
Between five aud six hundred of the street urchins
of New York were yesterday treated to day on the
water, with short picnic under the Palisades. the
occasion being the third annual newsboys aud boot
blacks excursion, given by harbor transportation
firm. barge which provided for the occasion
started at eight A. NJ. thereafter ~ it is
in the Of excursion boats to start. but long
before the hour it beseged and well nigh carried
by storm Not only those who were fortunate
enough to procure tickets from Superintendent