The sun., 1910-05-22
LAWN and WATER FESTIVAL
DOWNPOCR FALLS ON FETE
FOR HOSPITAL BENEFIT.

RIrhmand BoFSaEh DNeIleFS Make the
Hest % = Damp ArternOon and DoR'I
ChaFge q 10 the COinet-llNing
Bridge Whist GaEle PIAyed IndsoFu.
A press agent sat in a booth beneath
the grand stand az the Richmond county
fair grounds. DonEAn Hills, Staten Island.
A reporter who wished 10 lam about the
fete champAtre which has been In progress
there for the last threo days for the bsns-
flt of tho 3. r. Smith lnhFmAry disOOv-
cred him yesterday afternoon.
YES said the young man. -An report
eTs arc supposed 10 come here for infor-
nation. but you're the first one. Now
You'll find all you want 10 know about
this most novel and diverting form Of
entertainment ever devised for the pub
lic's pleasure. and incidentally 90 aaaist
worthy philanthropy. In an article
have written for this local paper And
he graciously handed a copy 10 tho re-
porter. directing him 10 visit the pike. ;
the grand stand and the buildings.
The pike vas novel and diverting.
One could hardly make headway. Staten
Island sWains. dressed a. Waitresses and
from Mrs. Lewis NiKOn's tsaroom. would
surround you and insist that you drink
some tea. Little indiana bumped into
you and begged that you come and gab
a prize from their campfire. Mrs. VIII
iam q. Wilcox. wife Of the president
of the board Of trustees of the inhEmaFy,
had built herself a little windmill. frOm
which shs and Others cried that you
buy their wares. Candy girls and flower
girls were almost impertinent.
One young woman who had dreased
hersalf in a frock made from the family
newHpaper II Staten Island sAuntSred
about asking you to buy one. A man
who spied his picture On the newspaper
dress approached her and gently pOking
the hall tone cut that odn'ered q section
In a tent was Fila Wheeler Wilcox.
who Tor a small sum told fortunes. One
little girl came out Of the tent and pro-
tested that the seer had said she was
married The idea!- she painted. I'm
young Staten Island girl One
who had slipped Oh her engAgoment
ring was cnnVulsed when she learned
In the tent that abe was frivolous and
sloppy and would never land q man.
In the buildings were tables and tables,
But back % the grandstAnd. HurTying
along the pike the reporter bumped
into DR. and Mrs. AlvAh II. Doty, Borough
President Cromwell and OtherA, Who
by the carriage and bearing appeared 20
be well known sOmehodies In the borough.
Once in the grAndstand you we're safe.
"a. HNtla g,.s.s.nry, k,ry vnst r,ustld aaaEa
away with a frown.
There YOU watched the Richmond
County Hunt Club folk doing N sorts
81 stunts on their horses. Suddsnly the
hand stopped playing raGume music
and across the lawn tripped a Willowy
wispy draping with Ruth 81. Denis within.
Aud right there on the lawn she skipped
about. much % the delight of all.
Between encoras horses Wedgsd into
q pair Of wheels raced around the track
with black fedora halted and Hideboard
whiskered men driving them.
Then Il began % sprinkle and shortly
20 rain. The horses disappeared and the
track became Shiny. bridge whist
game which was 70 have been played
with staten Islanders dressed az cards
was postponed, The human cards clue-
tered IN the centre of the stand. as did
the spectators. A youth In tights, dressed
a. the ace 81 hearts. was mistaken ioE
Ruth st. Denis in the eEciteInent thai
followed the first peal oi thunder
AZ a.3O O'Clock the track vas . small
river and the judges were marOOned
One started IN sing hut a fare n lightning
silenced him The hand stand. on which
= chosen lot of matrons we're huddled
gave up trying to shelter them.
Al O'Clock a board was ripped out ~
the fence and PLACED acrOaE the track ~
that the Judges could reach the stand
hut large Judge led and the board parted
IN its middle
Then the rain began to Abate and folks
we're carried from the stand n the entrancs
building in a barouChe. The hvtnG
bridge whist game was played there.
When the spectators started home they
found that part of Dungan Hills, which
overlook the grounds. had taken a slide
and covered the trolley tracks ~ that NJ
cars could run.
Fortunately there h a steam railroad
station near by. This was besieged and
finally a three car train, already hiled
arrived A. the fairEoers insisted upon
getting aboard the conductors zet 70 and
systematically packed each car
Despite the doW npour a considerable
sum Was added 10 the amounts realized
on tho preceding DAYS.