The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-03

" NAO AlNLC VhO AlOSh w tho vi AIMING
the older people orderly conduct can be en-
forced, but that is about all that is expected.
With the children influence can be excrted in a
number of ways, and the demand for soap and
combs has increased in the noighborhood since
the pier was opened. Tho children insist upon
calling tho mRtrons Teachers and are as
proud as fan.tailed pigeons of any mark of IA
vor from them. Some of the boys scorn to
make concessions, and glory in their dirt and
tatters. but a little diplomacy brings about GASES
Of cleanliness In their faces and cratic at
tempts at parts in their hair.
The day the pier opened this year q chubby
little fellow stopped beside one of the matrons.
He was so thickly overlaid with dirt that one
could hardly guess at his original color; but
the tangled mop of curly hair only needed soap
and water to make 1t adorable; and even
through tho fresco his dimplsd cheeks glowed
like the sun-warmed side of q ripo peach. The
matron looked down at him:
You're tho only little colored boy here,
aren't youl You must bring some others
The big black eyes stared at her in amaze
ment.
II amt a darky boy" he replied.
The matron's surprise was well done.
why, surely you can't BIO q white boyl' she
said.
YES, l am. Deed 1 am"
And 10 all that black dirti"
"Yes'm."
"wel. 1 really can't believe that. know it
won't come off,"
you jes' Await, jes' await. III show you."
and he started for the steps as fast as his chubby
legs would carry him.
Late that afternoon an old italian woman
came along the pier leading a cherub. His hair
was a fluff of silky curls. His face had been
polished until it shone. His bare feet had been
r
were big with excitement. His white teeth
CLEANED between his red lips. Every one turned
to look at him but he dragged his old grand
mother along at a breakneck pace until he
found the matron who had talked to the little
colored boy. Then he stopped in front of her,
hind his back and looked defantly at her.
"EGco," and he tossed his mop OF curls
proudly.
The matron didn't understand,
\ darcy boy now, he exclaimed triumph;
S Was sufficiently asponishSd 10 SATISFY HIM him. lie
has been one OF the ornaments Of the pier since
then; and they do say that the old grandmother's
life has become a burden to her and that she
grumbles increasingly about the way the pier
has upset the grimy peace and tranquility of
The transformations arc not often 80 sudden
as that, and cleanliness isn't yet the conspicuous
feature of the Third street crowd. but there is u
gradual improvement, and the attendants insist
that the children down there are much more re-
s~pectful and moro easily managed than the
cleaner crowd on the uptown pier. Tho Twenty
fourth street pier. which was not opened until
last September. il more than twice the size Of
that at Third street, and Is the pride OF the Dock
Department. If the width of the river had per-
mitted, it would have been wiser to reverse the
comparative sizes Of tho piers, for more room
is needed downtown; but though the Twenty
fourth street neiEhborhood may not need the
space 90 much, it fllS, Il, and seems TO appre-
Up there the hair is blond and straight in
stead Of dark, and curly, and eyes are blue in
stead OF black. There isn't so much beauty
among the children, but there isn't SO much dirt
either, and the older crowd that comes in the
evening is, for the most part, sober and COM
~fortabiy dressed. The same is true of the new
Christopher street pier, which was opened only
save in exceptional cases. and on al the piers
there Is a noticeable lack OF the loafers usually
to be found wherever there is a seat and a
shady spot. Probably the cleanliness and order
of the places disturb the nerves of the hobo,
and the close proximity of quantities OF water
holds painful suggestions for him,
1t Is really to the children that the recreation
pier means most. 1t Is a clean. cool playground
is "a high railing around the pier, and the at
tendants watch closely to prevent any climbing
and see that there is no ~roughness In which
there might be danger;
A mother who is obliged to be away from
home during tho day can take her little ones TO
the pier and leave them there, knowing that
they will be contented and can run into no
ing q tide q children sets toward It. as though
the Pied Piper of Hamelin were leading them
on. Sometimes the mothers take them. More
often they are in charge Of an older sister or
brother, who may stay with them or may leave
the tots there. Often the children who stay all
day do not have any luncheon, but there is q
stand on each pier. where cool, sterillZed milk
is sold for u cent a glass; and most Of the little
ones have that, If nothing elso. There are
stands, too. where popcorn and CAKES. fruit and
soda water arc on sale. but those luxuries ere
the late afternoon that the proprietOrs of the
the school children throng in and spend any
pennies they may have on gIngerbreSd or ba4.
nSRSs Or that delicious vaTEhie o Of cHnay known
suit OF unfair discrimination against The girls in
the bosom of the family, or 1t may BIO 40.
and lt goes to the hearts OF the small girls to SEQ
the boys limo up in front Of the soda fountain.
pier in the evening they will be drinking tho
soda and the boys will still be paying for It;
5Mr I'M tnat prospect Is 6So remote emo od 70 b act Gs balm u
would be insane enough to spend money ON a
girl; 80 the poor little maids resort TO the water
Faucets and declare stOutly that boys are horrid
The boys don't like the piers as much as the
games and they can't sec any fun IN tag Il
you can't knock q fellow down and II you have
not long ago a crowd Of Il boys swooped down upon
the Twenty-fourth street pier and turned cart
wheels al around tho place before the attend
phere is too tranquil for tho average boy and
be takes to the street. Women who have sew
the pier with 1t. and work there more com,
tortably than in their, stuffy rooms. The, hrst
carriages, and tho babies sleep there in the fresl
salt air and the shade all through the afternoon,
In the evening the scene IL moro lively. There
Is music then, and tho older girls and boys turr
out, and tho crowd in front OF the soda foun
tain ID partly feminine. The children are still
In evidence. but their parents are with them
and there's no room for tag. No one of thu
piers has half enough seats, and in the evening
II one wants to enjoy the music comfortably
one must borrow a baby, unless one own sucf
an article. The seRtB are saved for women with
babies. though occasionally q tired man with
child In his arms win be allowed to sit down
Very few OF the women seem TO have any neeC
of borrowing 4 baby. They are rather in u posi-
tiOn 10 lend, and the seats do not begin TO accom-