The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-06

shortly after $50 o'clock and made
a quick run to the park. And when
it was reached the boys and girls
cheered Justify. jumped from the cars
and scattered through the park like
bevy of scared partridges. None Of
the attractions were running at that
hour of the morning, but this did not
deter the children from boarding
them. All Of the boys made rush
first for the miniature railway and
the cars on the midget train we're
filed to overlooking in a minute. It
was soon seen that steam was not UP
and the cars were quickly deserted.
Then there was a rush for the merry
go-round, which was not in motion.
and all the wonderful animals which
came over with Noah IN the ark were
quickly mounted and affectionate1y
patted. There was q number of small
disputes among the boys as to which
should secure the services of certain
Of the gallant steeds and ferocious
beasts. but none of them were serious
and the strong boys won out from
their weaker rivals.
After the merry go-round had been
filed the children were told that it
would not be started until later in the
day and it was deserted quickly. Then
the boys in the party were corralIed and
impressed into service to carry the
boxes and baskets Of eatables from the
near the theater. They lent a willing
hand and the stuff was transported in
a jifIy. A hundred or more boxes were
piled on one of the tables, when
barefooted lad jumped up on the mid
die OF it and proceeded to do some ac-
robatic stunts of the springboard vari-
ETY.. On about his second jump, the
boxes which were piled on the ends of
the table, tumbled on the ground. It
was lucky that they were Sill securely
tied. Had they not been g good por-
ton of the food would have been Gov
cred with dirt. The way this lad
skidoOed, when he realized what he had
done, would have put to shame the
champion short distance runner of the
world. But there was not a word Of
censure for him. the army workers
laughing merely at what might have
been catastrophe and piling up the
boxes again.
While the lemonade was being made
and the tables spread by the young
women of the army, the children wan
dered around the park, gazing with
rapture at everything in the place. a
half dozen boys stopped alongside of
the lagoon for q minute and one said:
Say, fellers, amt It too bad we did
not bring our tights. We could GO
swimming IL we had"
What's the matter, Gully. with 90
ing anyway" suggested another and
they hied to a shaded place and began
to peel off their clothes preparatory to
a plunge in the none too attractive
pool They were discovered before they
had stripped and warned against try
ing such a thing again.
When the tables were ready a couple
of toOts on cornet brought the chill
dren to the feast, and It certainly was
feast for them and one which they
thoroughly enjoyed. There were sand
wiches doughnuts, cakes. oranges, ban
annas, boiled eggs and all the lemonade
and sweet milk that the children could
dispose OF. And they ate and drank
their I'LL. A little ways away from the
| table was a mammoth freezer of ice
cream at which many an enviOus eye
was cast but this was for the supper
which was provided about 3 o'clock
IN the afternoon when there was just
as much to eat. and of as great a vari-
ETY. as there was at the first meal.
Between meals the attractions were
patronized and keenly enjoyed by the
youngsters. the Salvation Army peo-
pie paying for their use by the chill
dren at reduced rates. Every child was
given the privilege of going on three
/ Of the attractions and most Of them
/ took their allOtments out on the merry
ridden with an enthusiasm that they
/ had never experienced before.
Ensign Ernest F. Omann. the lead
er of the army corps here. arranged
Tor the picnic. and he paid the chill
/ dren's way to everything from funds
+ which were collected in mite boxes
which have been scattered around the
/ stores OF the town for the last three or
four weeks. Mr.. Matthews, who con-
trolls most Of the attractions at the
! park, put in q half rate for the occa-
/ sion and also gave the youngsters a
number Of free rides on the merry-zo-
round. The Street Railway company
/ furnished the two cars for the trip to
the park and back for So. There was
I really nothing donated for the occasion
except the money dropped in the mite
boxes and the amount collected IN this
way has not been determined as vet.
/ Every member of the corps was on
j duty and they labored hard and pa
I tiently to see that the children had a
i good time and We're well cared for. and
their labors were most successful for
/ the youngsters had time they VIII
/ not forget in a long while and It was
with reluctance, tired as they were that
they boarded the cars for a return trip