New-York tribune., 1903-07-18
CHILDREN'S BRIEF SAIL.
Mothers 90 Along, Too-One
Father of Fifteen on Boat.

Those who happened to be in the neighborhood
OF Dock-st. Brooklyn, yesterday morning. found
the little thOroughfare unusually animated. The
reason lay in the fact that three large excursions
were preparing to leave the dock shortly after
o'clock One of these was the Brooklyn Children's
Aid Society excursion to Excelsior Grove. under
the management of The Tribune Fresh Air Fund.
1t was a stream of flying ribbons and faces,
bright with picnic smiles that poured out onto the
dock in the morning sunlight. The Tribune party
was made up entirely of mothers and children
under twelve. OF course large number of fathers
and husbands in line to see their families off.
One OF these excluded guardians bent on
going with the rest. He dressed for the Occa-
sion and managed to get aboard and into Sc
cluded corner with his wife and large assortment
OF children Here the policeman OF the day dis
covered him. and led him sheepishly grnning to
one OF the managers
Now, speak your piece" said the officer fore
ing an appearance of dignity unnatural to his
widespreading countenance
I've got fifteen children and have got to so and
LOOK after my WIFE" explained the culprit
Humphi' retorted he of the helmet. don't
you think 1 can look after your woman for one
years"
Getting wink Of consent from the manager,
the oicer asked the dispenser of milk if he didn't
want good man to crack ice. and the happy
father Joined his family
ms was the day, too. when the small boy over
twelve didn't swell bit with Importance. Rather
= -
pFazenness or stealth was used and a large num-
the, gangplank or marched off the boat BY the
collar at the hands OF the portly officer.
.+j was d great day for the tired mothers and
Innen n Htlle ones. They were a neatly dressed,
| clean company, and were good natured and bent
on making Jolly trip of it, The tickets had been
specially printed and distributed beforehand by the
society. and the excursion started in methodical
style There was a doctor board to provide for
| any emergency, and, with the police and other
! attendants accidents are rare with these excur-
| sions.
There are few happier parties than that was
swung into the stream. the band playing rousing
! hats and bandkerchiefs to friends on shore
! II was an amusing sight to the milk dealt
out TO the thirsty party. The placed
| The passengers came provided with small pals
and presented their tickets be punched as they
This process was gone through once in the fore
| noon and once in the afternoon. Many of the
was given them. judging from the eagerness with
which they pushed forward in The line for their
| Another pleasant feature of the trip was the
danclng. The outer margin Of the upper deck made
$500 6Oou @ ucllIs nGor. ana tne chlldren ana younger
women were not slow to make the most of the band
| music. This amusement continued at the
dance hall In the grove after arrival
| Three or four hours through the middle of the
day were spent at Excelsior Grove and the return
trip was made so as to get the party back at sun
This was the third excursion directed by The
/ Tribune Fresh Air Fund this season. Each one
has been favored with delightful weather and has
/ passed off pleasantly. In this way many get a
day of genuine outing and real pleasure who would
| otherwise be unable to afford it. They are ALL
too, guests for the day of the kind man who fur
| niShed the money. and not made to feel that
/ they accepting charity.
! In the other department of the work of the fund
that of sending parties out for two weeks into the
| country, yesterday and to-day have given a res
occasionally in a to be made up for after
ward by an increased pressure of business.