The New York herald., 1879-08-30
BABIES AFLOAT.

OVER THOUSAND POOR CHILDREN ENJOY
DAYS SAIL DOWN THE BAY.
great host OF children from the tenement houses
Of the city. accompanied by their mothers and
guardians. started yesterday morning ON an excur-
sion down the bay and up the East River on board
the barge John Nelson. towed by the tugbost Black
bird. The treat was given by Mr.. H. L. Powers. Of
the Grand Central Hotel. and OF the most
delightful and satisfactory of tho kind that has
CURED during tho season. The weather
had much to do in making 1t success,
the being deliciously balmy. without oppressive
heat The boat started from the foot OF East
Twenty-t third street. where It took $50 persons.
1t then proceeded to the foot Of East Fifth street.
and received additional contingent OF 40. and at
West Tenth street. the Anal stopping place. $50
taken aboard. making In NIL l160. the populs-
ton OF IN ordinary village. The barge Aoated the
flags OF all nations, and had German band board,
which. with an accompaniment Of several hundred
babies. filled tho air with sweet discord Tho excur-
sion was entirely free. and there was an abund-
ance Of provisions for all There were barrels Of
biscuits barrels OF ginger snaps barrels OF crullers
barrels sandwiches barrels of sponge cake and nu.
merous cans OF milk and ice cream. The boat throw
of its ropes. and. to the music OF "Babes on Our
Block" moved into the stream The crowd on tho
pier checrcd and waved handkerchieis passing pro-
pelers footed their steam horns while the host Of
infantie humanity crowded the guard rail and hal
looed and whoopel in ecstasy.
THE ExCuRsroNIsrs q .
Though tho excursion professodly for sick
children the little guests were by no means all
sickiy in tact. the ailing were - one out Of
ton. Nor were the mothers. judging from appear.
nnces, by any means destitute In truth. though all
undoubtedly of the working class. few ex-
hbted either In garb or features any marks OF dis
tress The children q rule were decontly. and In
instances tastefuliy clad They were OF every
age, from the infant to the youth OF sixteen years.
Babies. however. predominatcd, and made their
presence marked from end to end OF the boat. Tho
attendance of tho medical profession was ample
charge, assisted by DIR. II. 8. Warner. Mr.. Clark
Traphagen, Dr. Il. 4. Cornwall and DIR. A. W. War
den. MIR. George II. Kretz acted as superintendent.
and made tho women and children happy at the
lunch counter. On the upper deck every inch OF
tho room occupied by the mothers and their In
fants. Some OF the latter were rosy checked. lus-
trous eycd little darings. visited lightly by the Ills
OF childhood; othcrs had tho pale tenement house
look, speaking OF poorly ventilated rooms. With
tho motion Of the boat and the circulation OF tho
cool breezes the wan and languid httie ones
Jumped to their feet aud danced joyously around
tho deck. P
When lunch time arriyM the walters made them-
selves busy decorating the counters with sand
wiches, sweetmeats and plates Of fce cream, and
when thousand or 80 or the sandwichee and other
edilles placed in position the signal was given
60 allow tho children and their mothers TO descend
from the upper deck. When finally they came TO the
counters it was like the locusts OF Egypt nnd every
thing eatable In twnkling The salt air
had whctted their appetites. and they sailed In with
q vengeance. The eating and drinking (of milk
went on for several hours. and the boat meantrnc
turned back and up the East River The children.
from timo to time danced informally or crowded to
the vessels side 70 look and shout at passing craft
sengers tho foot Of Tenth street. after an uncon-
scionable time had been spent In bringing her to her
moorinqs. The barge aftcrwsrd proceeded TO the
foot OF Twenty-third street. East River, and dis.
missed the rest Of her human freight In the best pos
sible spirits.