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Show . COD BLESS THE CHILDREN. Seventy-five Thousand Little Ones Parade with Bands anil Flaps. Brooklyn-, X. Y., May 25. The City of Churches is en fete todaj- in honor of Sunday school da-, and seventy-five thousand little ones with brass bands, and flags, and banners ban-ners and bunches of flowers are parading the streets. In no other city in the Union or for that matter in the world, is there such a great celebration every year of Sunday-school Sunday-school scholars. Back in the fifties when Brooklyn was little more than a village all the Sunday school children were wont to parade annually in a vacant lot in what is now the business section of the town. The increase of the city since those days has made it necessary- to have prades in different sections, so that looking from a great height upon Brooklyn today it would seem as though the four quarters of the city were thronged with white robed armies iu marching march-ing array. Business is generally suspended, flags are floatining on all public buildings, and the schools, private and public, are closed. For weeks past mothers have been anxiously anx-iously preparing their little ones so that they might look their very best upon this day above all others, while the little ones, with -throuiiejjnes of (larger growth, have entered en-tered into the spirit of the occasion wiiii enthusiasm en-thusiasm and delight, with the result of an unparalleled spectacle which has made this famous in the history of the city of churches. The parade was formed iu twelve divisions, the largest of which w as that at Prospect park, iu which there were no less than thirteen thir-teen thousand little ones. They gathered at Anniversary hill at noon and participated in open air services, including the singing of hymns and a brief address. Then the division di-vision formed in line and marched past the reviewing stand upon which were Mayor David A. Boody, Hon. James S. Stranahan and other prominent persons. The other divisions met in the respective Sunday schools and participated in indoor services, at the conclusion of which they returned through the streets headed by bands and carrying their school banners. Hon. Charles Peale was grand marshal of the day. This afternoon the children will be regaled with ice cream, cake and other luxuries. |
