Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-08-27

NiN~f oIOJSo dhN 'oiNS ss's
ed land, which are not to be interfered
with by the work on the park but en-
HANGED rather. The highest natural
ground in the park is Summit rock west
of the old reservoir one hundred and
| thirty-six feet above tide. The lowest
point is at lO6th st. near 9Th Avenue
and is jrst two feet below low water
mark. The police force consists of up
wards of one hundred officers, keeping
the gates and patroling the walks and
| drives. Their uniform is similar to the
metropolitan police, but of gray instead
of blue.
Of the many very beautiful works of art
with which Central Park abounds, are
the gifts of persons and corporations
from all the parts of the world. | can
only speak in detail Of few of the most
prominent, and indeed now fear have
been too d;ffuse already in my descrip-
ton for an article which should be com
prised in a single letter. In order how
ever for person never having seen this
triumph Of human skill to comprehend
in measure only its yastness and
grandeur it has seemed necessary to
touch upon all the points already named
and | have done SO only cursoriv, with
these following descriptions Of few of
the more prominent attractions which
meet the eye andsastonish and and rivet
the gaze at almost every turn in the
park. | will close this little, necessarily
iaving the visit to the BONNER stable for
the next communication.
"The Vuitures Banquet" This bronze
group placed just to the west of the en-
trance to the mall was the gift of G. w.
BURNHAH, Esq, in 1868. The subject
represents two vultures greedily tearing
to pieces the carcase of goat which
they have conveyed to rock. The fig.
ures are life size and executed with great
care and naturalness. One can almost
imagine he can see the fire cleaning in
the eyes of the greedy vultures as they
tear the flesh with their powerful beaks.
The Music Pavilion is highly orna.
mental structure Of wood, six sided and
beautifully decorated in the Florentine
Mosaic style, deliberately finished with
GILT ornaments. 1t is situated at the
northern extremity of the mall, facing
broad lawn on which the muItitudes as
semble every Saturday afternoon 10 sum-
mer to listen to music from the famous
Dodworth Band"
The vine covered track is fancful ed
! ifics of wooden cross beams supported
on posts, the base being of massive gran
ito, situate on the rocky ledge to the
right of the mall. and overlooking the
music pavilion. Its top of wooden net
work and the side posts, are covered with
running vines which make it very pictur-
esque and beautiful. To the right is the
casino, a substantial and ornamental
building of stone and brick where the
visitors to the park refresh themselves
with the solids and liquids, necessary and
comfortable to life. From the vine COW
cred walk we look ont upon the zoologi-
cal department in summer quarters which
consists of an enclosure of about FIVE
acres in extent and surrounded by a
strong wire fence. Hero Eaay be seen
the national bird of America, several
choice varieties of deer, antelope, foxes,
monkeys and numerous other creatures
which have from time to time been pre-
sented 10 the park. Then winter quar-
ters are in the old arsenal which l shall
describe directly.
The +" Cave' is one of the especial at
fractions, and is situate at the north. invest
corner of the lake. Through an irregu
lar opening the visitor is introduced iuto
a cold damp chamber dimly lighted from
the entrance opening, and perhaps TWEEN
ty feet each way or Whereabouts in. dimen-
tons. 1t is approached from the boat
landing, or from the ramble above, by
passing down long winding stairway
1t is work Of nature, not art as many
suppose. Near the cave is the bronze
bust of the German poet "Schiller'
placed upon high stone pedestal.
Passing from the ramble homeward Oh
towards the 9TH avenue entrance we cross
the flower bridge connecting the ramble
with the south shore of the lake, passing
up the ground staircase to the NAL
again, aud just before reaching the gat,
to the east little is the "old arsecal'
now the property of the city and within
the park enclosure. 1t is s, battlementeC
building of brick, four stories high, will
eight towers, about two hundred feet il
length by fifty in width. The basemen
is used as the winter quarters of most o
the animals, birds, reptiles and fishes 0
the geological department, and some are
kept here the year round. IF you sue
coed in squeezing in through the denst
crowd of children always to be founC
here, you may see specimens of living
creatures. from al parts of the world
from an " elephant to smelt " as Mrs
BARRY WILLIAMS the actress once fell
citously remarked. The ground or frs
floor of the building is devoted to plas
ter architecture of oil descriptions-nsx
floor, minerals, coins, sea shells, war tro
pixies, and perfect museum Of wonders
and eari sites. The upper stories arr
used for storage Of garden implement:
etc. Thus ends our description of tht
park, which after all, is but the .smalles
morsel possible Of itself, and its wonders
and curosities.
Gen Roche, Spanish negro and al
agent of the Haylian government, acting
| under orders from, prasident Raez vester-