The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-26
METROPOLITAN MATTERS.
The Greatest Day of the Year in the
City of Churches.
Some Account of a Notorious Family-HOw
Freddie Suffered for the Liy's Sake
Miscellaneous Topics of the Time.
CORRESPONDENCE of the indianapolis Journal.


persons are taking part or interest in it in
Brooklyn as there did in that city in the
celebration of yesterday. 1t was children's
day in the city of churches. Business was
brought to a standstill, and for the time the
little ones were given full sway of all affairs.
1t was ffty-four years ago that few
churches first joined together and selected
Dne day in the year for grand Sunday
school demonstration. And at first only
lew hundred children took part in the occa-
zion. But the custom took strong hold
apon the public. Every year saw its more
general observance. New features were
added New denominations Joined the as
Iociation. The city authorities legislated
npon the subject. And at last it grew to be
the most important and most generally kept
anniversary of the year.
Yesterday morning at 10 o'clock the city
ball and church bells rang out in joyful
peal, announcing that the weather was pro-
pitious and the parade would take place.
Every place of business was closed and
every street and avenue was aglow with
bunting and with flowers. Then the chill
aren began to gather at their respective
churches whence they went, two, three, or
half dozen schools together into one
church, and sang songs specially written for
the occasion, and listened to speeches by
prominent clergymen. Then they sailed
put to parade. Imagine, if you can, pala-
tial city street, asphalt paved and shaded
with giant elms and naples, every house
and fence and post and tree-trunk flaming
with bunting and fragrant with floral
wreaths Imagine placed thereon a process
sion of children, all dressed in white and
gay with colored ribbons and flowers of
every hue, and bearing banners of lustrous
design. There are fifteen thousand of them
in line from the three-yearold toddlers of
the infant class to the young people of the
higher bible classes. There are thirty
schools here, and with a dozen bands of
music the mighty host comes tramping down
the avenue, between dense throngs of their
parents and other elders 1t takes
the childish army half an hour to march in
proud review past the grand stand. And
rs they march they sing, until the food
of harmony thrills the verdant tree tops, and
the skylarks from the park cease their music
and listen in delight.
There were a dozen such parades in the
city yesterday. One was in Prospect Park,
ON the long meadow; one in Tompkins
Square, and the others on the finest streets
and avenues There were in all fully seventy
thousand children in line. After the march
the schools returned to their own churches
and were feasted on ice-cream and cake and
fruit ad lbitum. 1t was, as it has been for
years past, the great day of the year in
Brooklyn.
Not the least interesting feature of it all is
the harmony that prevails. Presby terians
Methodists, Baptists and every other sect
march side by side. A fashionable school
from the Heights marches by the side of
negro misson-school from Smoky Hollow.
1t is one of the great harmonizing and evan
geliZing influences of the City of Churches
and probably does more each year in a single
day to promote interest in Sunday-school
work and break down narrow sectaran
barriers than all the preaching of all the
pulpits in all the 6fty-two Sundays of the
year.
FAMOUS FAMILY.
Last Sunday afternoon, walking in pleas
ant uptown street, 1 saw as pretty little
family party as one can find. The father
was a tall, handsomely formed man in the
prime of life with face of statuesque beauty
in which intellect, love, benevolence and all
lofty traits were plainly to be read. His wife
was petite, modest little lady, who would
have graced any boudoir. And clinging
fondly to their parents hands were three
sweet children. They all wore such an air of
kindly goodness that felt attracted toward
them at once, and wished they were num-
bered among my friends. Observing my in
terest in them, Montague asked if l knew
who they were
mo. Who are they? Do you know"
why, yes It's The Allen and his fam
ily."
"And who's heP'
1.-The Allen? Why, he's the fellow who
runs that establishment on Blocker street.
you know, that the cops have to pull every
little while; and he's one of the Allen family
you know, that make a living by picking
pockets and cracking banks and all that,
don't you know?'
Yes, did know, but could hardly bring
myself to believe that this fine, notebook
Ing man was THE" Allen But, next dav.
Montague took me to the Rogue's Gallery,
and there l saw his photograph and those of
his brothers, Yves" and Mart" They are
all handsome men,
These men were the sons, Montague says
of pious parents At least, their father was
, good man. and their mother was supposed
TO be a good woman. Their father was a
Well-to-do mechanic in this city, of sterling
New England stock. His family was a
highly respected one wherevee known. His
wife, the mother of the boys, was prefessedly
uoSpiy reliBlOuS WOHldn. one was an
exhorter in the Methodist church, and was
esteemed very model of sanctity. Indeed,
she professed sanctifcation. She used to
hold prayer-meetings at her house, and the
house and the street in front of it for block
would be crowded with devotees. Those
we're the days of Methodistic planness of
dress, and she was particularly fervent in ex-
horting her followers to abjure all the vani-
hes of fashion.
They had six sons, jesse John, Samuel,
Theodore, Wesley and Martin, all bright
handsome boys; though one, Samuel, think
was always lame Well, the boys, when they
we're old enough, were sent out into stores
and Offices. as errand BOYS and clerks and