New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-06
Children and Old Folk Crowd
Sale for Christodora House.
5000 PLANTS DISPERSED
Small Boy Proves Aptitude for
Keeping Order at Guilds
Tompkins Square Market.

MS llCtntT Is SICK d. BOOu ub6l anu MS
father doesn't earn any too much money.
But never before yesterday did Louis
have the job OF keeping three thousand
romping East Side children in order-three
thousand children perfectly wild and crazy
TO gain possession OF fascinating collec-
ton Of pinks and peones and blooming
geraniums right before their eyes. And the
way Louis had the job was this:
Early in the morning Miss MacColl, work
or at Christodora House, near which Louis
lives and where he is fond Of going, said
10 him
Louis, the National Plant. Flower and
Fruit Guild is going to hold flower mar
ket In Tompkins Square to-day. Tell all
the mothers and children you know TO
bring their pennies. and thew can get nice
plant for Just few cents"
Louis told everybody he saw. AND the
minute school was out he "kited" over TO
Tompkns Square himself And when he
saw the swarnns of children in the play
ground, where the market was held, ana
the women Of the guild and their volunteer
HELPERS from Christodora House simply
distracted trying to keep obstreperous ooys
from overrunning the plants and to make
some Of the children understand that the
flowers couldn't be given away. but must
be paid for. and others with only penny
that the big geraniums cost cents put
there were smaller plants that went for
a penny-well. when Louis saw THIS, ne
did what 2 philosophical boy would nat
urally do--he stationed himself at the very
heart Of the connection and proceeded 10
make those kids behave
EAGER for the Flowers
Mt that thew acted badly, really, only
they were so very eager for the mowers
Never. said Mrs. Alice PAUL. secretary OF
the guild, has that organization held such
big and exciting flower market-snd II has
been holding them now for six years. But
ALWAYS before the markets have been IN
doors. IN the settlement house-sometimes
one sometimes snother-for whose beneft
they were held
Yesterday Christadora House got the re-
celpts, but as some repairs are going on
there, Park Commissioner Slower gave the
guild the use Of Tompkins Square play
ground and also sent some flowers TO help
along
Before $50 o'clock in the morning plants
and cut flowers began to arrive.
peonies and another one Of pinks from
Enersley, her home at Br!arclif-on-the
Hudson. Mrs. William Floyd came herself,
lin an automobile heaped with flowers
Others who sent plants or blossoms were
". T. Sloane, Theodore 4. Havemeyer,
Samuel Cnternyer. Mrs. Sidney Z. Borg
and Herman Merkle. Of Tho Bronx Botan-
zeal Gardens And as early as half-past =
Mrs. PAUL. Miss Alice Walsh and other
members Of the guild were there. sorting
and arranging the flowers. though the mar
ket didn't open until in the afternoon.
When II did open-whewl The walks lead
ing 10 the playground were like what Rob-
ert Browning describes I'm The Pied Piper
Of Hamolin" Little children. big children
All headed for the flower market. all talk
ing excitedly
Teacher says you kin get roses an CELIA
NUNS
Able. you run homo an asst ma for
penny, cause 7 only got a nickel, an
Teacher says tn. big gelaniums cost Six
cents
"oh. hurry UP! hurry M! the plants II
all be gone"
Several stout park attendants barricaded
the gate TO the playground and LET tho chill
dren in in relays
Old Folks Among the Buyers.
But II wasn't all children-oh. dear. no.
Old women came, clutching coins In their
wrInkled hands. and made careful choice
Of a plant or two for mcin window gar
ten" one bent old man spent II cents and
4 whole hour.
1T makes not fno enough" he said OF
various plants that were offered him, but
at last he was suited. and went away
beaming.
"Ah, I likes dem. likes dem said
Yiddish mother. as she carefully put three
geraniums and wee begonia In her apron.
and hurried home. leading n small girl by
the hand.
An understood man with the sweatshop
pallor on his face scooped up few hand
fuls Of earth from box Of plants that had
come I'm. and carried 1t away as II 1t had
been gold dust.
ct nut dis I'm a tomato can. so II hass
room 10 grow and make fine" he said.
looking proudly down on the tiny plant in
a timer pot which he had just bought for
the sum of two cents.
The guild and Chrstodora House believe
in the honor system, 30 mum fHJ
when they received their plants. but were
given a check calling for one cent or Sin
cents or whatever it was. and paid as they
went out at the gate. One gate was USED
for entrance, another for egress, and as
the afternoon wore on the former was the
scene Of many small riot
II took three attendants to keep the
scores of men, women and children massed
outside from breaking In faster than the
guild people could attend to them.
The boys were lucky. They could climb
over the spiked fence when the guards
weren't looking-yes. and there were girl
euffra gettes there who climbed over, too.
4 wall OF disappointment went up when.
6 o'clock arriving. the sale was stopped.
Those outside the railing stretched grimy
hands through. and displayed their coins,
heyp,ng TO be allowed TO buy.
"Missis," said one small boy TO Mrs.
PauII. "Ill give you free cents for
eovper what amt on'y two cents" And his
h,sck Jewish eyes widened In wonder when
Che refused this magnificent offer
Five thousand plants and many cut flow
ers were sold. Those left over were sent to
the Vanderbilt Clinic.