Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-01
FREE EXCURSIONS FOR THE POOR.
An Interesting Account OF the Balti.
more society and the Boys Excur.
sion.
Correspondence Of THE EVENING SrAR.

Correspondence Of THE EVENING STAR.
BALTIMORE, Nd, August 25th 1888.
The Free Summer Excursion Society on Thurs
DAY gave an excursion for the newsbOys, boot
blacks and other working boys Of this city,
which had many novel features, especially to
one who had seen nothing of that kind before
ChesterWood, the name OF the beautiful grounds
belonging to this association, is situated on an
arm OF the PatapscO river twelve or fifteen miles
from baltimore. 1t contains sixteen acres of
ground, upon which the society have erected
several buildings, among them the SAY cottage,
the French gentleman whose name it bears Civ
Ing the money TO build it. The grounds were
presented to the society by merchant of Bal
tImore. with two conditions: first that his name
as the donor should be withheld from the pub
lie; second, that it should be used for the pur-
poses and objects of the society only The Free
summer excursion society of Baltimore was es-
taDiished IN the spring of 1878 the first excur-
sion being given on June 2Sth of that year.
Since then one excursion q week has been given
during the warm weather. The object is to
give the sick and worthy poor of the CITY q
breath oil pure country air,
DAY IN THE WOODS.
where provisions, medical attendance and kind
attention from the members Of the various COM
mittees are furnished them. The city is divided
into fOrty-fOur DISTRICTS each district is in charge
OF member of the committee, who must visit
and select those most deserving and distribute
tickets as they think best. This branch OF the
work, as well as the making and packing of
sandwiches, is done mostly by the lady members
OF the committees. Eight physicians from the
medical committee may be found at the medical
booth. where attendance and medicine are fur
nished free of cost to the benefciaries who may
need 1t. At least one excursion season is given
TO the cOlOred people and one for working bows,
the others principally for mothers with sick
children, the aged and infirm. It's
ENTIRELY NoN-SECTARIAN,
the members of every faith reaping it's benefits
and uniting in its management It is supported
by voluntary contributions, and it is q worthy
object of charity. Fifteen thousand persons an
nuay reap its benefits, many Of whose lives
are prolonged. and their last days made brighter
by the kindness of the members of the various
committees. brass and string band always
accompanies the excursions. and aInusements
are provided on the grounds for those able to
participate in them. The ice boat F. G. Latrobe,
owned and equipped by the city, is furnished
tree OF expense for these excursions This boat
is powerfully built, with an excursion capacity
of ], 200.
THE BOYS EXCURSION.
Thirteen hundred boys roamed her decks on
As early as 73O a. m they COM
menced to come aboard. and until 9 o'clock.
from every avenue, street and alley in the vi
clnlty, they could be seen coming on q dOg-trOt
to the boat hailing and cheering each other as
they CHANGED to meet.
THE DUDES ARRIVES.
In the meantime a barouche drove up in style,
occupied by eight boys, with flags and button
hole bouquets card, which each wore in his
hat gave evidence of a happy thought of their
employer that might eventually accrue to his
benefit. As they alighted from the barouche
the boys on board gave them three cheers. with
Make way for the funkeys." ''Hurrah for our
dudes. Come up in the gallery we want you
for the choir" The answer was: '.Shut up. Skin
ny. VINO you talking to; we belong to the COM
mittee."
The whistle screeched. GAN aboard" shouted
the captain. and We slowly moved from the
dock. Then the band played a lively air. and
the Boys became enthusiastic, keeping time with
hands and feet, and cheering Justify Not yes-
sell from the size OF sailboat to an ocean steamer
but received vOciferOus recognition. which, in
most cases. was returned by the waving of hats
and handkerchefs. Dancing and singing were
INDUCED in.
Ten policemen had been detailed by the city
lOr TINS special OCCASION and they had about as
much as they could do to keep the boys out of
for they 'nOsed' about in every hole
aud corner. Some were 'rOosting'' on the
while others seemed to have a
longing desire to ride upon any projection ex-
tending from the boat.
OVERHEARD. CLOTHES AND ALL
AS the boat neared the wharf at Chesterwood
many OF them jumped overheard, and before the
boat had been fastened at least SO had jumped
into the water and swan ashore, distance of
100 yards. One little fellow, nine years Old
called Ducks" gained the championship by
nil -h,r, n
swimming to land. They were soon scattered
about the grounds waiting rather impatiently
Tor lunch to be served. The bread-cutting ma
chimes were soon put in motion, and in half an
hour about 1000 sandwiches were made The
boys were called together by the ringing of the
bell. tickets for lunch and dinner were distrjb-
uted. and then the fun began. Going down to
one of the booths for the distribution OF food
one could not help being amused by the actions
OF these very Independent chaps 1t is custom
airy TO tear OIL one end of the ticket when the
holder has been served. One of the little urchins
was heard to remark:
Say. they didn't tear my ticket? I'm going to
get another grub on that
FUN AFTER DINNER
Dinner being served, which consisted of ham
gingerbread, tea and coffee. the
boys sauntered to the pavilion. and there, under
the charge of Mr.. Lynch, went through many
and various antics in the comical line. Later in
the afternoon there was duck race the yictors
securing the ducks and bringing them to the
city on their return. Still later on tub race
between three very small boys. the winner re-
eeiving prize. At half-past the whistle
blew, the band struck up 'Good Bye" and to
its sad ana suggestive strains the boat moved
OFF. During the trip up several well-known airs
were played by the band the boys singing heart
lily. their fayorite tunes being whoa. Emma"
"Over the Garden WALL" and ''Put John on the
Island"
HOME AGAIN.
On landing the boys marched up South street
singing familiar songs. led by the band. and, ar
irwin" at Baltimore street, they scattered in diff
ferent directions, some of the more enterprising
making dart for the newspaper offices. and were
soon engaged in their usual occupation The CUES
ten suggests ITSELF is there not a grand oppor-
tunity for benevolent citizens of Washington to
lnaugurate just such noble charity in the ma
tional capital? Surely, there is room tor it.
A. K.
The First Cotton Bale.
This is the way the thirst bale" is made: A
number of cotton planters residing within a "a
dius OF from five to ten miles meet and agree on
one of their number who shall father the s.6rst