The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-02
OUTING FOR 1.7O0 PERSONS
Grand Success Of st. Luke's Annual
Free Excursion.
FOR CHILDREN AND MOTHERS
Twelve Cars Required to Garry Thsm and
an Exact Count Was Impossible.
story Of One Of ssranton's
Most Practical Charities.

II would have done good to the heart
of one charitably Inclined to have wit
messed yesterday the departure or the
return OF St. Luke's annual free excur-
sJon for the poor. Twelve cars so
h,nvily laden that the usual custom Of
counting heads had to be dispensed
with will give an idea Of the extent Of
this. one OF the clty's most practical
and most successful charities.
The excursion was to beautiful Lake
Ariel and II speaks well for the man
agement and the object that C,f the $50
babes in arms, 1850 children and 500
weary mothers not one slight accident
or case Of temporary sicloness occurred.
The figures are estimated because each
car was 20 closely packed that an exact
count was for the first time In the his
tory Of these excursions an impossible
ity. But to a greater extent than ever
before. evidence was given anew that
st. Luke's free excursion IL to Scran-
ton what similar objects are to New
York. Philadelphia and other large
cities.
ThrOng at the Depot.
Long before the hour OF departure
from the city, $40 o'clock, and up to the
moment the final "all aboard" was
shouted. swarms OF boys and girls,
mothers wan-faced from the care Of
children or from SICKNESS and broods of
pale-skinned little toddlers poured onto
the station platform and ABOARD the
train.
1lr,n n1Nsyer yA1 a..
folk, though poor, showed the result Of
an attempt at n'aatncss ard clea nj aness
In keepir.g with what is to them the
gala event OF the heated season. It
might also have been noticed when the
train rolled into the station In the cool
or me evening that the gown OF many
a child was sotled or torn or that the
hair OF the mothers, was not go neatly
plastered as earlier In the day, but
there were brighter eyes. more rosy
cheeks and other Indications Of day in
the open air and good milk and lunch.
Maybe In some cases new leases of life
were given, at all events the tired
crowd, which was equal I'm numbers to
the population of many thriving town,
was benefited by the outing, which
was the best return for the care and
trouble of the score or more of commit
teemen and committeewomen who re-
turned as agreeaIbly weary as were
their charges.
The Day at the Lake.
Limited space does not suffice to tell
in detail how the day was spent. Ev-
eryone, women and children, was al
lowed to do about as he or she pleased,
care being taken to guard against acci-
dents. Fresh sweet milk was furnished
for sickly babies i'm al quantity that sur
prised and gladdened the mothers who
are obliged to count the pennies before
purchasing the article when at home.
For the children and older persons,
tea. coffee and substantial sandwiches
were distributed in unstinted fashion.
The weather outlook was not pleasing
on arrival at the lake, but later the
chflliness disappeared and the day was
ide'li for the purpose
Tne excursion was under the auspices
OF the Mems guild Of st. Lukes and un-
der the immediate direction of the fol-
lowing free excursion committee: Chair
man c. e. Derman. Mr.. Hazard, 6. H.
Stevens. ]. c. Highriter, George Merrt-
man, Thomas jackson and Brother
Francis. They were assisted by the fol-
lowing auxiliary committee Of ladies
Mrs Hazard. Mrs. r. j. Foster, Mrs.
Osland. Mrs. A. f.. Pettigrew, Miss
Josie Lees. Miss Annie Duval, Miss
Williams. Miss Weaver, Miss Sherer.
Mis- Hazard and Mrs. ]. H. Besseu.