The Washington times., 1911-07-14
RAIN FAILS TO MAR
NAVY YARD PICNIC,
SIX HUNDRED THERE
Happy Youngsters Laugh
At |. Pluvius' Efforts to
Spoil Outing.

The Navy Yard employees today gave
TIE tenth of the wonderful outings
thar have taken almost the first rank
among the charities of the District
Tkey carried more than 600 persons, al
most all of them women and childr al
to River View, to spend the day.
1t began to rain about the time the
steamer St. Johns was scheduled to
leave her docks. at o'clock. To a
land-lubber the st. Johns looked full
long before o'clock; but her officers
and the committee, every minute or
two. when the special cars carrying tho
guests arrived, discovered hooks and
coves where others could be "stowel.
The rain, once POLITICALLY and now popu-
larly described as the weeping of tho
heavens, haG no accompaniment from
the gallant 600 on the St. Johns. They
watched and laughed and listened 10
the whistle and wondered how many
more delectable ete-rities each minute
would evolve-quite as If Time himself
were the center of a Chinese egg, with
a hundred battling Hrappings to hide
himself in.
The gallant 500 had quite while
to wait because a certain kinsman
of Chronos, to-wit, Jupiter Pluvius
speak, dallied on the first base. afraid
to get away from the bag. The COM
mittee in charge of the excursion
related that they had been at work
since o'clock this morning; but 1t
could not combat the weather.
There was plenty of entertainment
for the crowd and the delay didn't
matter much to anybody except the
erosity felt personally responsible for
everything.
Took 1t Seriously.
The committee from the Navy Yard
employees took their business serious
ly. yet with a smiling pleasure. One
Of them, ]. Walter Edelin,, the secre-
tary. was on the first committee ten
years ago. Several others have serv-
ed during two or more years; and
the novitiates-
"The new ones are working their
heads off," Mr.. Edelin, said with
laugh. I'm afraid they really do all
the work"
But the old members knew how and
were willing workers with the new
ones. They had as usual submitted
to the Associated Charities the lists
of the persons that the Navy Yard
employees had nominated to go on the
outing; and the Associated Charities,
headed by Secretary Walter s. Ufford, |
and Miss Elizabeth Brown, the as |
sistant secretary, and their division |
chiefs. had gathered together those |
elect Tor the outing. OF course Hugh |
part of the show even II the COM
mittee from the Navy Yard employees
had no direct concern with it.
The crowds gathered at the wharf at
Seventh streetefrom special street cars
that had been operated from all parts |
of the District. Each division chief for
the Associated Charities had taken care
that each crowd caught Its car and in
mat way the fortunate were assem-
bled
How they assembled was easy 10 un- |
derstand. But most interesting of all l
was the grouping Of the assemblers
Only few men are placed among the |
elect by the Associated Charities. They |
are working. But mothers and their |
children, brothers and sisters with their
parents children. and quite A few per
sons who had no other connection than II
the primcrdial with children. brought
little tot and babes in their arms.
Much Ceremony.
They gave in their tickets, under the
supervision of their leaders. with as
much ceremony as II they were attend
ing the coronation Of somebody like Mr..
George over in England. After they
got in they fairly chartered in their
happiness. The optimists were in a vast
and voCiferous majority. and nobody
would listen to any prophecy that the
rain would last all day.
Before them there was a mass of pea
nuts. to be eaten on the way to River
View, and great boxes of lunch and
fruits and melons to be eaten after they
quench the thirst withal. And they
knew the rain could not be so thick
that they couldn't see each other and
the river. They were very we'll con-
he skies.
There are eight divisions" marked
by the Associated Charities. and each
of f them EN- sent t Its 81 little crowd One of
from Friendship House, which is near
the Navy Yard, and the friend of the
people there, because II Is one Of their
clubs where the children play and the
-ead and talk. The Friendship House
party comprised about fifty.
No kindness can be altogether accI-
lental, and yet the Navy Yard en-
oloyes' outing is fortuitous-or was
g EMPLOYEES" is not spelled with cap
tai. There is no formal organization.
How 1t Used to Be.
"Once upon a time" said Secretary
:. Walter Edelin,, "a relief association
It the Nay Yard had about 800 to give
way to its subscribers. II would have
meant a penny or two for each men,
,er of the association. The members
hartered a boat, and let an orphan
sylum use it. They did the same thing
nxgf hof hoI
rphan asylums. After a while we
ouldn't handle it and asked the Asso-
lated Charities to select the children.
hey dove do the rest"
The outing for the guests of the Navy II
yard employees costs about 81 for each
'uest. The Navy Yard employees con-
. .A1Z.Ah