New-York tribune., 1902-08-16
F4RHERS At CITY HALL.
DE WITT CLINTON PARK BOYS AND GIRLS
VISIT ACTING MAYOR FORNEs.

is that Mayor Low inquired bright boy yes
te-5av. gazing with interest at the picture Of The
Marquis De Lafayette in the City Hall.
The boy could be excused for his Ingenious re-
mark for he Of the Young farmers from
De Witt Clinton Park. the upper Vest Side,
and had never been far south As City Hail be
fore
Fifty of the De witt Clinton Park farmers came
down TO visit Acting Mayor Fornes yesterday af-
ternoon The Acting Mayor. when he visited their
gardens last Wednesday. invited them all 10 return
his caIl at City Hall They accepted the invitation
with admirable promptness. descending upon the
Mayors Office fifty strong all in their best suits
OF clothes. and chaperoued BY Mrs Henry Parsons,
OF the local school board. Miss Parsons and Miss
Bennett the teacher A. Acting Mayor Fornes
forgot 10 sign his name in the visitors book when
he was at the gardens Wednesday, they brought
the book along with them TO have the oversight
reredied.
They were vastly Interested in Washfngtons
table. Washington some they had all
heard of. and it interesting 10 find that he
used tables. Just ike common folk. And al
least. OF the girls wss impressed by the pictures
historical worthless. for she said. with sigh.
oh, did Ike those pictures 50 much: they
were antiquity"
IN the council chamber they hunted industrt-
ousy until they found Alderman TOOmeys seat.
Alderman Toomey being their alderman The
Mayor greeted them all heartily. and detailed
policeman 70 take them for a walk the bridge
At the entrance the big newspaper offices were
pointed 20 them. and once fairly on the bridge
they gazed with astonishment at the forest OF
skyscraDers. the arches Of the bridge 10 the
north. and the boats beneath them. one sweet
little maid sdled Up Miss Bennett. and. slip
ping hand in hers. Whispered
NTH Bennett. in New-York now
The girls consider Miss Bennett u The most
interesting persons in the world. They displayed
with pride the rafia hats which they We're wear
ing made by themselves under her direction. and
asserted. in tone OF awestruck admiration. that
the very swell hat which Miss Bennett
likewise made by herself The boys be-
hind their for "Wednesday. when they
crowded around Mr. Fornes the gardens 20 ask
II they might have the gardens next year one Of
them added. insinuatingly, And can We have Miss
Bennett. rOO2
We could not have brought the children on this
trin three weeks ago" said Mrs. Parsons They
wild that would not have dared vent
they are2 II is the "a rdens that have done H."
The Park Department yesterday ordered rakes
and hoes the gardeners, TO their obvious pleas
ure. all the cultivation has been done TitEtTtO
with clam shells. little those who the neat
plots may think When the School Board
wit hdrew its teachers and decided 20 aba1doR the
playground De Witt Clinton Park, Il Of course
refrained from sending implements. This W'th-
drew an exnected Of support rom the
gardens. The Park Department has co-operated in
possible and for those expenses which
fell outside its province. including the salary OF
teacher. Mrs. Parsons has collected the funds.
When farm gardens have been recognized as
one Of the great and progressive Ideas OF modern
education she says laughingly at will be re-
mem Dered as huge Joke that the school children
OF New-York hoed their first one with clamshes.