Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

Although heavy rain this morning
caused the outdoor events connected
with the picnic of the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit employees at Willow
Grove to be postponed, it failed t"
dampen their spirits.
Hundreds of the men in blue. with
their wives and children. arrived carly
today TO make the first annual picnic
and athletic carnival a success. and
they were not to be dauntrd by few
drops of rain.
At II o'clock. the time set for the
running OF the girls fifty yard event.
scores of youngsters in pretty ribbons
and frocks toed the line. when-down
came a torrent of rain,
II wasn't decided just who the win
ner of the impromptu race for shelter
was; there were a number of close
6nishers.
But the kiddics and the mothers and
the wives and swPethearts found ample
entertainment in the shelter building
provided for that purpose and presided
over by Mrs. NJ r. Norrell.
This afternoon the kiddies and
grown ups were treated to movie.
which was given under the supervision
of Mrs. Laura NJ. Roadfrr, the erst.
while Miss Safety First.
Oldest Employees There
While the downpour was heaviest
quartet led by Joseph Fitzgerald.
committeeman. sCurried from shelter to
shelter where the crowds were huddlcd
and gave imprOmptu concerts. Their
efforts won much applause.
There were two inseparablc pals
among the carmen who went from one
amusement feature to another. helping
the kiddies and as gleeful as though it
were their first picnic. They were
George Bond and Marty Dcpoos. the
oldest conductor and motorman. re-
spectively, in point of service. employed
by the Rapid Transit Company.
Take it from Joe Rogers. the smiling.
red haired youth who presided over a
. soft drink booth, the rain didn't blunt
the thirst of the hundreds of happy
children in the park.
"The wetter they got outside the
drier they were inside" chirped Joe.
Il never saw so much sasparela go in
so short a time
And oh. those committeeman Each
member of the committee was supplied
with halfprice tickets for the. amuse
ments. The tickets We're for the kids
only. Every committeeman was the
hub of n childish wheel clamoring for
pasteboards to fairyland.
Trolley Fares Aid Men
Not a cent Of the fares collected on
the cars will be turned over to the
trolley cOmpany's treasury. The money
will be donated to the cooperative
Welfare Association. The trolley com
pany also donated the cars to their en-
ployes for the occasion. while the mo
: toTmer and conductors volunteered
their services for the day.
The motormen and conductors, in
order that they might enjoy some part
Of the day with their families at the
park, arranged long and short trips.
The cars that carried the big crowd to
the picnic grounds were parked at the
Grove and return trips to the city will
be made at short intervals during the
K early part of the evening.
The committee IN charge of the two
days outing prepared an elaborate
program of music. fireworks. aquatic
events and sports. The field events
include Junior races for boys and girls
and track events for women. TIL
aquatic races promise to thrill tn.
onlookers. For this event an unusually
large list of well known men and women
swimmers from this and other cities
have entered.
Gold, silver and bronze medals will
be awarded to the winners in this class.
Winners in the women track events will
be presented with gold and silver bar
pins, umbrellas and parasols.
Get Together Meetings
One of the main features of the out =
ings will be the get together meet =
ings, which will be held each evening at
5:30 O'Clock. Speeches will be made
by trolley officials. followed by a mo
tion picture exhibition. "What Takes
the Rapid Out of Transit" will be the
title Of one of the pictures. An added
feature will be community sing in
the main pavilion, accompanied by
Sousa and his band.
Tomorrow, the Stotesbury cups vii
he awarded in the music pavilion
by Mr.. and Mrs. f. T. Stotesbury.
These cups are to be competed for an
nually for awards as first and second
Pfizes to the department having the
greatest percentage of all eligible EN-
ployes enrolled as members of the Co
operative Welfare Association. -. BE-. D.
The Welfare Association is composed
OF the majority of the 10000 employees
Of the traction company. Death, sick
. and pension benefits are paid by the
organizatior.
The officials of the outing follow:
President, George w. jacket; general
X picnic committee, II. G. Tulley, NJ. r.
Kline. Charles w. Harvey, G. |. Zel
hrs, Joseph Fitzgerald, DR.. A. A. Nit
ten, Mrs. NJ. r. Norrell; sports com =
nittee. Mr.. Harvey. Edith NJ. Brett,
DR.. Mitten, Mr.. Fitzgerald, +. w.
johnson, Capt X. r. Bennett director
81 athletic carnival. Herman Meyer /;
marshal of boys. Charles w. Balm
A - II 6 -. fg