The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-11
A PICNIC FOR THE CHILDREN.
A Day Spent at Bethany Park by Twelve
Carloads of Children.
Third Annual Excursion Under the Auspices
of the Charity Organization Society
How the Little Ones Behaved.

How the Little Ones Behaved.
In the first place, yesterday was delightful
day. 1t is extremely doubtful if even Italy her
self, in her palmiest days, with new and IN
broken assortmentof skies, and zephyrs and sun
shine could have done better. Besides every
thing was in tune for pier. .,a tho most can
''O"' '''@' -.nseryative prophet would not ha'se
nesitated for a moment to predict that the Union
picnic, given under the auspices OF the Indian
apols Charity Organization. would be an amaz-
ing success. This was the third annual picnic,
and they are certainly growing in popularity.
Even alleged gigantic and grasping monopolies are
beginning to pay tribute; at least, the Indian
apois & Vincennes road furnished this train for
nothing-a train of twelve coaches and a bag
gage car, to take the picnickers to Bethany
Park, twenty-one miles away, and return-a do
nation of at least $500. There were
all sorts of children-some with faces
pinched by sickness and twisted by
suffering a few with crooked backs
and others that went upon crutches, some MIN
bly, enough. some slowly and painfully. 1t was
an outpouring of the people, and all the lines of
caste and color were expunged. Some were
white, some black, others represented varying
shades from seal brown to light salmon. Every
body was encouraged to feel just as good as
everybody else and everybody did. One man
failed to catch on and the picnic went on with
out him. Standing on the platform at the
Union Depot, as the cars were filing with the
children, he shook his head as he saw the sue
cessors to the colored troops and refused to
allow the bright-eyed little girl he held by the
hand to 90. The only loser was the small girl
who has fool for father.
1t seemed superfuous to have music-each
boy and each girl was complete music box
but there was a band of twenty pieces, and
when the train started "Beizzy' gave the signal
and there was a crash of brass as the grimy
depot was left behind and the green fields and
shady places came
Last year there were 876 persons on the excur
sion train to the Union picnic. Yesterday there
were J, POS, and they were taken and returned
without The least accident to any one Bethany
Park contains thirty-seven and one-half acres.
On arrival there boys and girls were all over
the place in a moment, like bees in clover
nicking, with plenty of sun and plenty of shade,
and having hills and valleys. In fact right here
are the nearest hills to indianapolis, aud yester-
day many Of the children saw hills for
the first time 1t is now being improved,
and in few months brook that now trickles
through will serve as the fountain head of lake
covering eight or ten acres. The South-side
Free Kindergarten conducted by Mrs. Fleming,
had at least $50 representatives in the thrOng, all
under six years old, and even the smallest Of
them seemed to enjoy the day. great number
of presents were distributed among the children
soon after they arrived upon the ground con-
sisting Of tin horns, french harps, rubber balls,
skipping ropes tea sets, and rattles for the
babies. Every little thing served to add
to the enthusiasm of the youngsters
attacked the band and they played
everything, from the Nantasket March to Pima
fore and back again. as if they really took pleas
ure in doing it, all of which was paid for with
the most astonishing applause. There was the
most admirable order, probably for the reason
that there was not a policeman on the grounds
A number of Brooklyn people took part in the
festivities and furnished part of the supplies
for dinner.
The dinner was served in large building
called the Assembly Hall, which afforded seats
for everybody and when the feast was actually
under way and the cries of 'John--nie"
and ooh, Jimmie" had subsidized the
small boys afforded a very superior collar and
elbow exercise, IN which the SandWlch got de-
cidedly the worst of it. There some fear
among the boys that there might not be ice
cream enough to GO round but the fear happily
proved to be unfounded. There were sixty
gallons of the frozen delicacy, six tubs and one
barrel of lemonade and mountain of cake, so
that went away unsatisfed. A
watchful eye had to DO kept on the
ice-cream course however, as somo
wanted more than just allowance.
After all, they were we'll behaved, even the wild
est of the youngsters and there much less
piggshness than has full many time been known
to accompany more pretentous feeds, denomi
mated "banquets." Assisting the ladies as walters
were John B. Elan, w. II. Hobbs, Albert Yohn,
DR.. Combs, j. ". Tyndall. Edgar Brown, David
SWAIN j. W. Hess, and Henry D. Stevens,
while Rev. 0. c. McCulloch was head waiter and
everything else.
After dinner there were games of various
kinds and number of exciting races. In a race
small girl who dared, took off her shoes and
stockings and came in an easy winner. Mayor
McMaster umpired jumping match with strict
impartiality, but was not as successful in his
attempt to keep the boys in line as the host was
marshaled for distribution Of candy
1t was great day, and everyone who was
there was the better for it. Nearly everything
was donated so that the entire expense outside
of the provisions, was only 1925 The ladies and
gentlemen who took part in yesterdays picnic,
contributing their time and money, as they put
their heads upon their pillows last night doubt
less experienced some of the feeling of the old
clerk, told by Mr. Oliver Wendell Holiness after
day in the woods, barring the cold 1yjs5
It'll stated with rapture
He steals to his bed
a