New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-22
CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL.
FORTUNATE LITTLE FOLK HELP ON
FARMLAND FAIR FOR CRIPPLES

Many an afternoon and evening have I spent in
this place. said prominent woman suilingly sur
veyIng the decorations of the ballroom the Wal
dOrf-Astoria, where yesterday and to-day the Har-
vest Festival and Sale for the benefit Of the Grip
pied Chdren's Industrial School holds sway, but
never have I seen it when I liked it better than
this moment"
Festoons Of roses and evergreen and fancifuly
fashioned paper blossoms reach from booth 10
booth and about the pillars and arches Christmas
trees full of surprises-danty little ribbon tied par
cels-charming Mother Goose characters. Little Bo
Peep and Peter the Pumpkin Eater, with the little
Oriental gowned water girls fitting everywhere
make fairylike setting for the throngs that
crowd from attraction another
Children much IN evidence, only the little
crippled benefciaries Of it all. many Of whom are
about the booths and playing in the kindergarten
OF the model nursery. but hundreds of little vsi-
tors whose mammas have been interested in the
work The little 30 Peeps, who in gay bonnets and
gowns stand daisy strewn meadow and draw
surprises from haystacks with their glded crooks,
never ending source Of delight to the little
people, and dimes and nickeIs are forever passing
the rustic fence that separates this little cor
ner OF Arcadia from the everyday world. Peter the
Pumpkin Eater, with bit Of yellow rind and
green stem for hat, and very manly and business
Ike way OF calling out This way TO the magic
pumpkin; only 10 cents a chance is always the
centre Of an admiriRg circle, and his small wife,
developed IN a huge pumpkin with mammoth seeds
dangling about her green and yellow hat. is kept
busy handing out mysterious parcels from the
pumpkins spacious centre.
Little CheIah Iugels is one Of the 30 Peeps and
little Alice Dickson another Lille Stevens, Doro-
thy Quimby and Margaret Turke in wives
Of the cruel Peter, who kept his wife in pumpkin.
MANY THINGS "oN CHANCE"
The eight-nonths-old Irish terrier Magnify,
who won q blue ribbon at the last dog show, and is
now ION chance 81 each. made friends with
everybody, and tried TO get out Of his basket to
greet a number Of visitors he seemed to regard as
old friends. There were chances for chances
galore, on turf favorites reproduced in tin and
mounted d revolving wheel IN lieu of track;
hric-a-brac and statuettes, and. most thrill
ing Of all. a real live steam launch" as one
small boy described it, and an Up 10 date auto
mobile
But the corner Of the show that draws most peo-
pie and where they stay longest and respond per-
maps quickly. is the booth filed with wares
6andkerehief glove and card boxes. scrap baskets
screens pillows and picture frames toilet SETS dain
everything, in fact, that busy brains and fingers
could devise and fashion. The most ambitious single
piece OF work, perhaps, Is the bedroom set In
burnt wood made by hfteen-year-old boy.
The great message Of this corner Of the festival
dustral School lis thar We have demonstrated
me possibility or making the school practically SELF
supporting. The boy who made this bedroom set
has earned 81 in the last few months; OF course
proportion OF all earnings IS retained by the emil
aren The rest goes toward the support Of the
gundi booth. and enc OF the attractive Every
lnlng, from cut glass ware TO bedroom slippers.
Esau the educated ape who sits in an armchair
and eats with a knife and fork is a source of
unenong delight the children, who crowd in TO
see him. Then there are the homemade cakes and
leibes a. Mrs PenfeId's table, the tempting bon
eons al Mrs BIood's. and indeed, an array of at
fractions lavish 70 allow mention of. The spirit
pervadng the whole is Of generous goodwill even
70 the point Of paying 81 50 for tiny punches of
1olets and 50 cents for single carnation bou-
But really can't help it, explained
appealed to him You are all SO generous and good
hhs5ured here. Why it's in the air; it makes a
oocy feel Christrnaslike." There were numerous
beautiful costumes in the throng. that added the
gaia appearance Of the festival.