The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-07

sSaiwart IOrmS Oh nappY Iatners anu
manly lovers at the windows and doors
of the elegant mansions on either side of
the street. Or, If you 20 to Prospect
Park. you shall see the children moving
in geometricilines over the ten1er sward,
and roundabout ON the drives over
looking the pagan. hundreds of equip
ages filled with enthusiastic spectators.
1t is surprising that Brooklyn never
tires OF the sight, though this year
marked the tfty-first anniversary of the
founding of the Brooklyn Sanday-school
Union. But there is another phase Of
the celebration which does not appear on
the surface, but which has attracted un-
usual attention this year, and has called
forth some rather harsh criticisms from
certain quarters. And that is the harm
that is often done to health by subject
ing children to physical strains to which
their tender ages render them unequal.
10 be sure, mniversary-day was this
year Unexpectedly hot much hotter than
usual, and such trying weather may not
occur again for two or three years.
But parents are beginning to rebel at
arrangements that drag children from
four to fifteen years of age and upward
through a swclteriny sun at l p. M, and
then after devotional exercises in hot
churches drive them out once more into
the streets or commons when the solar
rays are in their intensest effulgence to
parade them for an hour with manv a
painful halt, and then send them back
to their churches to gorge themselves
with cake. cream, ETC., followed an hour
later by efforts at home to make amends
for hastily swallowed dinners by attacks
upon the viands of the supper tables.
Mothers can not understand why it is
necessary for schools to assemble at |
o'clock, compelling them to dress their
children at noon, thus adding to the
cares of the day, while fathers and
brothers whose places of business are in
New York City are vexed at being una
BILE without the sacrifice often of import
ant interests to hurry home at an early
hour, or else forego the pleasure of see
ing their little ones parade.
And so it has been suggested that all
interests would he better served and
more general satisfaction given by hav-
ing the festivities begin at least two
hours later than has hitherto been Gus
tomary, and it looks very much as
though public sentiment would produce
the desired effect, unless conservatism
can advance better arguments in favor of
the present ordertof things.
But / verify believe such is Brooklyn's
infatuation that if the parade were Or
dered to begin at 10 a. m., and last until
4 p. H., there would be found plenty of
parents, who, however great their reluc-
tance, would accept the sitution and
allow their children to participate in the
celebration, even with the certainty be-
tore them of having to call in the fami-
ly physician before the next morning,
There was some truth as we'll as wit in
the sinister remark of a spectator at last
Wednesdays parade: "What a hue and
cry would be raised if llerod should
order all the Sunday-school children of
Brooklyn to parade in the sun on such a
day as thisW
But this anniversary celebration is a
beautiful thing, pleasing to the eye, en-
to Sunday school workers,
to the children, and inspir-
ing to those who see in the rising genera
tions the future of our country. All it's
harmful features can be eliminated by
simply making the time for assembling
later, so as to avoid the heat of the day,
and doubtless the wisdom of the Sunday
school Union will be equal to the neces-
sity. CRAs. |