The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-02
4 DAY AMONG GREEN YIELDS.
i Host of Children Feast and Frolic
Under the Trees at Bethany Park.
Complete Success of the Fourth Annual Picnic
for the Little Ones of the Poor-Demo-
cratic Character Of the Gathering.


ment of the originators of the fresh air fund was
given yesterday, thirteen crowded passenger
coaches going to the beautiful grounds at
Bethany Park. on the Vincennes road, the prop
erty Of the Christian churches OF this city, and
used by them for camp meeting purposes. At
o'clock in the morning the long train Of elegant
coaches, supplied free of cost By the Panhandle
company, which also furnished the motive
power free of all charge, ran very slowly into
the Union Depot between two lines of police, SO
dense was the crowd that there seemed great
danger that some of the many hundreds of
eager children would be crushed. 1t was like
thrustine stick into closely-packed swarm of
bees but it was accomplished without harm 10
any of them.
By half-past the freiehted train was ready
to move, and in few minutes it did move, to the
intense satisfaction of the urchins, who laughed
and shouted as only children can when in the
best of spirits and animated by the expectation
of glorious time. The swarm Of human bees
had taken fight, and was on the wing for the
country, and the buzzing was worth going miles
to enjoy.
As the different contingents fled into the
depot, 1t reminded one little of some Of the
scenes of the late war. only the volunteers in
this instance were all of the infantry branch OF
the service. But the hurra and enthusiasm
were all there and it was sight not soon to be
forgotten. Kndergartens from the North Side
and from the South Side, battalions
from ''Bucktown" and reliefs from all
quarters of the city hurried to the meet
gplace, intent on not being left when the
order to march should be given. There were
blondes and brunettes, straight haired and knky,
the black hair of the South and the white of the
Scandinavian peninsula There were tots and
some that were quite removed from tothood
There were children there with sunhonnets.
some with hats and some, possibly with no head
gear at all. There were toddlers without shoes,
but not one among them all but was happy in
the prospect of the promised treat. There was
a murmur. of laughs and giggles, and acres of
smiles suggestive of juvenile JOY that could not
be told in words. Then there was the magnif-
cent When band Of eighteen pieces. furnishing
the finest music to be had, just rs though the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES grown-up people. And the
fine coaches, the best that the road had in it's
possession, and the stateiest lady in the land
could not have asked for better Did ever any
children have finer prospect in view2
How they ''piled" to the train, all in the
best Of humor, and all seemingly anxious that
none Of their companions should be left behind
Never were cars filled more speedily and more
completely. Passing through them after they
had got into motion, it presented sight
worth the full price of admission without going
any further with them on their merry-mad
comes fitting smile in this instance and with
out exageraton. The car-seats, originally in
tended for two, furnished accommodations for
as many as the tailor killed at a blow on GER
tain time well known to the reading portion of
the merry crew. And there were seven
on she stove, too. Think of it-seven
on a seat in some of the cars, and as
many on the stoves But among them all there
was not one that gave the slightest idea of be-
ing imposed on or at all Inconvenience. Scores
Of the youngest recruits foil asleep before the
train had proceeded far the early start having
been two much for their young eyes. White and
black, alien and native, all in the most complex
democratic mixture ever seen in this ollapodrida
country of ours. White and black In the same
seat. and raven hair and fiaxen blended, all bent
on enjoyment and willing that the others should
have the same with them.
Out of the cavernous depot into the sweet sun
light of the first day of july the long train
speeded, spilling the blacks and the unelect
generally, all the way to the White. river bridge,
much to the amusement Of those who were more
fortunate, and who realized that those left had
but themselves to blame. Then came the green
fields and the golden, the latter showing whore
the wheat had been cut. And there, on either
side of the road, were the belated reapers busy
cutting and binding the yellow wheat. Soon the
landscape began to change, and the level land
broke into hills, cudding the sweetest valleys in
their embrace, and affording the tired eyes of
the citys poor little folks panoramic delight
they mad never dreamed Of, many of them.
And here were the villages, with the forest
coming right up to the doors in many instances,
and filling many with the wonder if fairies
did not cut up their pranks in these enchanted
regions, so rustic and honest they seemed. The
little girls of these towns came to their doors to
peer at the strange sight of SO many children
taking possession of so large train, and the
boys, bent on clinging on to follow where they
were bound, like so many bees, attracted by the
smell of good things.
Then the great hurra all along the line ind-
dating that the rendezvous had been reached at
last Then the raw recruits became veterans
and like veterans patiently submitte4 to being
formed into line in the hot sun. preparatory TO
marching in such fashion that the preliminary
distribution OF rations could be attended to-
And all this was done so well and so promptly
withal that there was not deserrer from the
ranks. The band strikes up lively tune, and
the line of march is taken up, with just 236 in
the ranks-a glorious sight indeed. At the lit
tie bridge inside the grounds the commissary
stores had been placed, and there the distribu-
ton was accomplished each of the more than
l250 children receiving a paper bag containing
sandwiches with which to ward off the danger Of
a famine till such time as the dinner should be
prepared.
Much more quickly than it can be told the
whole merry troop was scampering over
the grounds. from one end to the other
A sally was made TO capture the boats
the beautiful little lake that lies like
jewel there among the verdant hills
This was speedily effected, and in a moment
more the surface of the water broke into well
coming dimples as the little guests sped over the
waves. Others few to the various hooks and
corners to spy out the land and to lay ont the
campaign that did not take more than a moment
to be set in motion. From that moment on till
the signal for dinner given. by ringing the