The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-26
CENTRAL PARK.
The First Saturday Concert Of the Seasonal
Brilliant Display Of Toilets, Equipages
Pleasure Seekers and Base Ball Players.


its customary summer significance. Yesterday, for
the first time this year, the band stand was ten
anted with musicians and the welcome strains OF
Strauss and Meyerbeer fell upon the ears OF the
crowds of pleasure seekers and idlers who thrOnged
along the Mall towards the familiar scene OF our
Central Park free concerts.
The afternoon was all that could have been
wished. In the morning there were menaccs OF
ran the sky was clouded over and the air had that
peculiar sutriness that commonly precedes q
shower. But these omens OF misfortune were for
once unfulfled, and as the day grew older the sun
again ventured to emerge from behind the sullen
veil Of cloud by which 1t had been obscured, and
ladies' ceased to have any anxiety about their bon
nets. while the gentlemen cursed their stupidity for
having numbered themselves with needless UNI
brelas.
The Park certainly improves year by year. with
pleasing rapldty The trees though still very
young, are palpably greater OF grth and leancr
with foliage than they We're when we last saw
them quitting forth the tender shoots OF spring.
and they already promise to rival, when they shall
have ut length attained the maturity of full growth,
the grand old forest monarchs that adorn
some of the celebrated European parks.
Many other improvements may also be
observed in the landscapes thanks to the skill OF
the architects who are now again carrying on the
good work to completion. Even the meadows seem
clothed with heavier greensward than they were
year ago, and the shrubs and flowers are every
where thriving bravely. The buildings and
bridges, t0o are losing that unpleasant brand new
air that formerly distinguished them, and are as
Stunning sober and mellow tints that harmonixe
perfectly with the hues OF nature. Those OF us who
are still young will yet see the Park the sylvan par
adse which its designers promised us 1t would be-.
In an her hal caut Nav yOrk india WITH o
able to boast the possession of the noblest Park
in the wOrd-one equal to Hyde Park In
London or the Bots de Boulogne, of Paris, or the
Prater, OF Vienna, In the nobleness OF it's groves
and superior to all Of them in the attractions and
variety OF Its natural scenery.
How many people there were yesterday at the
Park it would be hard to estimate, even roughly;
but there must at least have been in all fifteen or
twenty thousand Strolling towards the Mall one
came suddenly upon the swarms Of base
ball players that dotted the immense lawns
to the left, and made the Dir noisy with their
shouts Right In the centre OF the meadow there
was an interesting match In progress, and a vast
ring of spectators gazed admiringly at the game
now and then breaking into burst OF applause ut
some exceptionally lucky hit some unusually
skilful catch." The rest OF the field filed with
hundreds of minor contests and balls flew through
the air IN all directions times, indeed, bound
ing somewhat Unexpectedly upon the path along
which the stream of travel flowed to the Mall, and
causing no little trepidation among the more timid
of the ladies' and the more shortsighted of the
Reaching the Mall however, one emerged upon a
safer promenade. AS special concession on Satur-
days the lawns on each side Of the broad walk are
all availed themselves Of the liberty to ex-
change the hard, hot gravel path for the velvety
been reprinted, or at any rate reuvenated, and its
blue and gold canopy contrasted gayly with the
r 81
that Is to say, Park chairs and benches
covered with awnings, were placed around
and Stripes nuttered CALAMITY in the summer
breeze. The audience was numbered by thousands.
All the seats were occupied, and beyond them men
flung themselves careessly down on the grass, and
pipe or cigar in mouth, listened to the music in o
waking reverie. Strangely, indeed, were the differ
mingled together Here stood a dandy, the
| very pink of neatness and cast in the newest
! with couple of laughing children, guarded by a
| German nursemaid couple OF beauties whose
dress and faces bore that curious but unmistakable
stamp of the dentt-n3O'lde: workman with child
In his arms, and faded careworn wife at his side,
and miscellaneous human hodge-podge OF clerks,
schoolboys, ministers and medical students,
while q couple OF Italians, probably refugees-and,
perhaps, az Garibaldi once was, engaged in the
candle making busness--loed on the grass at his
feet, and discussed something or another in their
native tongue with the earnestness and vivacity OF
couple OF opera singers running through the reci-
tations OF ''Don Giovanni" But everybody young
or old, rich or poor in rags or broadcloth seemed
to heartily ENJOY themselves, and drank In fresh
air ana gOOd music Win CAIN uellpnt. Nothing TOOK
place with any spice Of mischief in 1t, except here
and there little nirtng, and even flirting In broad
daylight Is not generally attended with any very
The programme was well selected and was given
with spirit and effect. 1t comprised the following
HlOrcedur:-
Overture .Ralsr Of the sprits' Won Weber
g. March popular song) "Rocked in the Cradle Of
'"o D''p PART H.
"Reminiscences from operas. .Meyerbcer
Greto &c 70 third symphony. .Mendelssohn
Medley sol Of scotch airs Dodworth
70 Payorits .T song Come, Pretty Birds' G9mbert
H. H'ndo rho naIe-rho Uinjon H. b. Dodworth
On the Lake the boats manned with wherrymen
attired in the blue jackets with hanging naps and
white springbottoned pantaloons, which are only
freights and made constant trips round the islands
and among the swans. The menagere also was
wei patr1aized, ana scnooooys with lmagi'
verified their conceptions OF a tiger fight in the
tangled Jungles Of India or bear hunt In the Far
West by peep at the animals themselves, greatly
to their satisfaction apparently, as they could only
be torn away from the cages by constant expostu-
lations on the part OF their friends and guardians.
Girls, on the other hand, seemed to have a great
peilchdnt for gazing wonderingly at the birds and
monkeys. The tame zebra Also OF course, came in
for his usual Saturday afternoon dose OF sweet bis
cults.
on the road there was fine display of equipages
and cattle, but that IA an everyday story. One
cannot help remarking, however, the growing pop
ularity of horseback exercise and 1t Is pleasing
sign OF our increasing love for athletics and out
ofdoors sports the rising Importance OF aquatics
and skating. few years ago you might have gone
to the Park and failed to see half dozen riders,
and only very rarely indeed would you have met
lady equestrian. But now they are to be seen by
the hundred.
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER'S COLLEGE.
The young gentlemen OF the class of rs held
their annual literary exercises In the College hall