The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-06-21

falls we shall catch the larks."
Metropolitan observation-disclosures OF the
Central Park.
1t is very rarely the case that New Workers.
take any particular interest in their own affairs
distinct from those concerning what they buy
and sell. The great banker has his thoughts
fixed upon the European money market report
which is to come by the next steamer; the mer.
chants eyes are upon Paris, or Lyons, or Man
chester, or South America or China, or anywhere
except Manhattan Island. Now, as money and
trade must rule in commercial metropolis
which has as yet no recognized aristocracy (only
bad imitation OF the foibles of one), almost
everybody follows the example of the leaders of
Wall and Beaver and Broad streets In politi-
cal and municipal affairs generally, we pay and
vote, and vote and pay, and there's an end.
Such being the rule, we are glad to note one
exception, at least in comparative sense, for we
do not believe that even now the people Of this
city are altogether awake to the grand revolu-
ton which the Central Park is quietly but surely
effecting in our social life The fact is, that the
Park is doing in Elk or ten years the work of two
or three centuries in the way Of refining, elevat-
ing and civiliziDg our population, high and low,
rich and poor.
1t is in the light of resort for the overtasked
working man, bis wan wife and pale children,
shut out from heavens free gifts to all-light
This was the strongest argument adduced
in its favor at its inception. 1t was
its popularity, its general good, its universal
philanthropy which recommended the project
The will of Caesar, wherein he gave his grounds
beyond the Tiber as free park to the Roman
people forever, will live longer than the records
of his most splendid victories Who remembers
Fontenoy when among the glories of Versailles?
Who, Wagram or Austerlitz, while lounging in
the leafy alleys, or watching the crystal bril-
liahts of the fountains at st. Cloud? Does the
name of Hyde Park recall the victories of
Marlborough, or the bloody wars of the Low
Countries, where John Churchill won his Dukes
coronet and marshal's baton fighting the bat
ties of the brewers descendant? No, these are
the victories Of peace, and they are more re-
nowned than those of war. The Parisians will
never forget the visit of the allied troops in 1914
because they mutilated the Bots de Boulogne.
And the Central Park is to become the crown
ing glory of New York. Go, if you will, on
any fine Sunday, out upon either of the ave-
nues-the Third, Fifth, Sixth or Eighth-and
you shall find what resort the Park is already
becoming. From all parts of the island the
IN, Nm
avenue cars must have conveyed at least ten
thousand people up town-the Sixth and Eighth
avenues twice as many more. Large num-
bers went on foot, and some in car
risges. The number of the latter class
was necessarily small, the roads not being
yet finished, and only partially opened. A por-
ton Of the park, near the reservoir, and just
south Of the observatory, has been finished, and
is most delicious oasis in what was yesterday
as bleak as Sahara; and which, after the most
patient, faithful and well directed labor is now
only in transition state. Here in the ''Ramble"
are trees, shrubs, flowers, rocks artistically dis
posed, smooth gravelled walks, cool resting
places there should be some rustic seats or
benches), and all manner Of pleasant things. If
you look toward the south, the fair city lies
smiling at your feet; on your right the Hudson
flows with becoming dignity; on the left the ever
turbulent East river pours its floods through
Hellgate to the bosom of the Sound. Far to the
nortbward is the vista of cheerful country seats,
and away in the distance, rise the wooded heights
of Fort Washington, crowned with stately man.
sions and fanked with the ffowning Palisades.
Those who enjoyed these fine views who strolled
through the pleasant walks, breathed the fresh
air and drunk in the combined perfume of flow
ers, foliage, air, earth and water were generally
working men with their families, and young
people above the class that gravitates towards
the enginehouse the grog-shop or the politi-
cal club. Their quiet and decorous behaviour,
their calm enjoyment Of the fair scene before
them, give a sufficient answer to the reproach
that our people are too much given to Vandal-
ism to appreciate, or even to refrain from de-
stroying, any good work done with view to
their refinement. No, the curse of all places of
public resort in this country has been intoxicat-
ing liquor. That can never be the case with the
Central Park and if the rowdies ever 90 there,
they will be sbamed into good behaviour-some
of them, perhaps, reclaimed-by the gentle in
fuences of nature in her most charming moods.
These are among the immediate fruits of the
Central Park, and so long as the railways do not
run excursion trains on Sunday to the country,
they are most important There should be,
however, trains upon all the roads at cheap
fares. The Harlem might have station near
the Central Park, and do great business. In
Paris they take you from the Rue St Lazare to
the Quai de FImperatrice, in the Bots de Bou-
logne, by steam, or you can 90 on to Passy and
enter the wood at the Muette, in quarter of an
hour from the Boulevarts.
The social revolution which has commenced
here at the bottom, is to extend through all
classes. When the drives in the Park are COM
pleted the number Of private equipages Of all
kinds will be doublpd Onr mamie q 70 eYceed-