The Jersey City news., 1901-05-07

| silence. The old engine only waited to
take a deep breath and then again came
the three deafening shrieks. Cheer
Mrs.-Benson'' was probably what it said,
only there was no Rudyard Kipling round
| to interpret
Ladies' and gentlemen again began
| Mrs. Benson, her white hair shining in
the sun, "this is the happiest day in my
| life."
She then told about her first visit to
| the italian quarter. How she became in
terested in the children in the Free
kindergarten and visited them in their
homes, how she discovered they had no
place to play, no shade trees in summer,
nothing but dump heaps to give them so
much as a cool shadow. She told of how
one day she carried flowers to these little
ones and of how glad they were to re-
| ceive even one. Then she conceived the
idea of a park, to be made of the very
dumps where they played, and now it
had all been accomplished.
These people," continued she, speaking
| of the Italians, come here to help make
this great city. Where can you find
such workers as the Italians? We build
churches worth millions of dollars. we
build City Hall and Free Public Lii
brary, but we do nothing for these people
to me the dearest people in the world
How is it possible for them to grow up
good and sweet and moral in such sur
roundings? Now we have the park and
with the Woman's Club to back it, we
mean to make it a garden of flowers, to
bloom like rose. / am an old woman
past the allotted age of woman-but
hope to live to see this beautiful park
We intend to begin from the tiny baby
to make this great people and a great
city,
She then thanked the whole assemblage
the Street and Water Board, who had
bought the lots; the Mayor, who, as she
put 1t, had signed something-she didn't
know just what-but something necessary
that had to be signed by him." and con-
| cluded with thanks to everyone, from Mr.
Davis, who had done so much to the
elevator boy in City Hail.
| ''Who," said she, must be tired taking
me up and down SO many times to insist
| on our club being recognized"
| ASK for three cheers for Mrs. BEN
son." whispered one of the women who
! stood near Mr.. Hauck. but just then the
band struck UP. However, when the
| serenade was over, Mr.. Hauck did not
forget and the cheers were given with
! hearty good will
Mr.. Hauck then introduced Mr. Merino,
who spoke in behalf of the Italians, his
own people. He was not speaker, he
| explained in his broken English, but it
was with the greatest pleasure that he
was there. He brought the thanks of the
Italian colony to the city officials, thanks
to the Woman's Club and especial thanks
| to Mrs. Benson. He also wanted to thank
| the Mayor and City Collector Robert
Davis, of whom the Italians could never
| think too much.
The programme concluded with the
singing of Star Spangled Banner every
body rising to the occasion, the gentle
men with barred heads
| After the exercises began it was noised
about that the park had been named
MT Pleasant" The effect was anything
but pleasant. When the exercises were
over it was the womens turn and the men
got out Of their way as soon as they
could.
| Only Mr.. Hauck, who acted as master
of ceremonies remained, and when the
retreat of Principal Brensinger's
Cadets, prepared especially in favor of
His Honor, the Mayor, came, that per-
sonage was not there. He had to be
| sent for and he was found on the out
skirts of the crowd just in the act of
| getting into his overcoat They called
him back again and he came, but not to
the grand stand. He reviewed the cadets
from the ground after giving just one
glance upward at the array of femininity.
Mr.. Hauck looked as though he felt sorry
for himself, and leaned against the slim
rail for support. All round him were
crops of women holding indignant meet
| ings.
Aren't they going to announce the
name?" asked two or three feminine
voices all at once.
They don't dare-not in public" came
from another county.
you can just say remarked Mrs
john L. Scudder, turning to News .
reporther, that madder set of women
never lived.''
| Il wish 1 were a mani" came from one
member.
by the way remarked another,
! where are all the men?"
| During these remarks and others of a
like nature, Mr., Hauck, the one remain
| ing man had managed to slip away un-
| observed.
| Mr.. William Midlige, however, happen
| cd to see someone he knew and came up
to be friendly. He heartily wished he
hadn't. In an instant he was surrounded
and piled with all sorts of questions
What was the name? Was it Mount
| Pleasant Park? Where did they get such
a name? Why didn't they announce 1t?
What was the matter with the Board,
anyway" and a dozen more of like ma
| ture all in a breath, till, figuratively
speaking, Mr.. Midlige staggered. La
dies! Ladiesr' he explained; Il am not a
member of the Street and Water Board.
am only an Alderman I had nothing
| whatever to do with the naming of the
park 1 don't know that any resolution
naming the park has even been passed.
Didn't they name it Mount Pleasant
Park?" asked an anxious member
81 believe I have heard so, returned
Mr.. Midlige.
well, why on earth did they give a
hole like this at the very foot of hill such
a name?"
Mr. Midlige saw his only chance and
forced a joke.
"well.' said he, years and years ago
+t,oxo 1.ra ,,lo .ss oxyay ta,.a <a11o7