The record-union., 1897-05-05
TIE GREAT MAY FESTIVAL.
4 Large Turnout at East Park Yes
terday.
All for a Good Cause-How the
Thousands Were Enter
tanned.

A perfect day, perfect management
noble cause-one appealing to the pest
impulses and deepest sympathies OF all
the people; spacious and handsome
grounds with ample room for quiet pic
nicking and a noble field for sports,
games and athletic exercises in plenty;
a host of good substantial prizes; re-
freshment booths presided over by a
large number of the best and biggest
hearted women Of Sacramento; tlreless
working committees and general good
feeling made the May Festival yester-
day at East Park for the benefit of the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Children, organized one year ago, a
splendid social success. How much
of a financial success it will prove, re
mains to be ascertained when all the
committee reports are in.
The expense was very heavy. The
estimates were exceeded by a host of
demands for this and that betterment,
and furtherance of this and that idea,
until the Executive Committee became
alarmed The attendance was very
large but not so large even than as
had been hoped for. The committees
to eight thousand people, whereas about
five thousand came.
Nevertheless the belief is entertained
that some five or six hundred dollars
will be cleared up-not enough to found
at once the home for temporary care of
such children as fall to care of the So
ciety, but still sum that will greatly
further the work of the organiza ton
and "a will civ TO
tinue its splendid work, than which no
better has been prosecuted in Sacra-
mentO.
ENTERTAINMENT AND ENTER
TAINERS.
The grounds were decorated with
flags and bunting of many kinds,
loaned by various citizens; booths were
erected and presided over by unselfsh
and devoted women; the Boys Insti-
tute Band, the Second Infantry and
the Militant Bands furnished music
all day long and charged never a cent
for their work.
Mr.. Hellman, the proprietor of the
park, though by contract not bound to
give up any part of his house of en-
fertainment in the grounds, threw the
contract to one side, caught the spirit
of the occasion, and gave the ladies. the
bicyclists and the committees rooms,
kitchen, halls, anything they wanted on
his premises, and kept asking them if
there was anything more he could do
TO help on the good work.
The Sacramento Bowling Club, an
organization of well-known German
citizens, took charge of the bowling
alleys and ran them under direction of
Mr.. Rave for the benefit of the society.
Merchants sent out devices to be oper-
ated for the same purpose, and fur
nished employees to run them. One
of these, the companion" bicycle, built
for two, was a great favorite with no.
vices in wheel riding. The Capital City
Wheelmen secured free sanctions and
put up their best riders to furnish en-
tertainment. Detective Max Fisher
volunteered to head the guards for the
outer lines of the park, and o. p Dodge
and S G. Smith ran the toboggan all
day and made it the best money -getter
on the grounds.
Geo. H. Smith had a lot of inner
guards under his charge to preserve
order, but really every one was so good
natured, the children generally so we'll
behaved, and hoodlum SO conspicuous
by his absence, that Mr.. Smith and his
men had little to do. Their presence,
however. was Indispensable. Superin-
tendent Dan Healey, acting for the
Executive Committee and having
charge of the gates, also was the bus
Jest man in the park, and with a hun
dred duties TO do and a hundred peo-
pie demanding his services a a hundred
tasks, he never faltered or grew ner-
vous. He was aided by Expressman
Wheeler efficiently as carrier for the
society Secretary Simon handled the
finances and a dozen other things skill
fully. and the attorney for the society,
c. NJ. Beckwith, had not an idle mo-
ment and worked like a Trojan. j.
n. Payne gave his services at the outer
gates and was a valuable assistant
Arthur Miller and Al Moffett left their
places Of business ali day and part Of
the day preceding to help the ladies run
the temperance bar, and the labors of
none were more appreciated by the
good women. Blue Canyon water and
ice We're furnished in plenty. without
money and without price. and many
food goods and essentials for the booths
We're donated.
President Herrick was present part
of the day and worked hard. but was
called away TO attend funeral in his
clerical capacity. J. Q. Coleman of
the Executive Committee. unable to be
present. was invaluable in all predatory
arrangements made. G. A. Neale, by
direction of the music. made himself
creditor to the society by a large score,
especially in securing the bands for
the organization, and in leading.
The Music Committee. Rev Mr. Mel,
Frank Woodson and Al Moffett, carried
out all their programmes to the letter
AS for the ladies. all their arrange
nents were perfect. Not a complaint
was filed. not a single feature engin-
eered by them defadted or went wrong.