National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-25
A SKETCH OF PARK LIFE.
an EyEYIyG's RAMBEE THROUGH
OUR DISTRICT RESmTATIONS.


SEEN BY GAsLIGHT-wHAT SOMETIMES
80 TRANSPORTS - AMUSING DETAILS DE-
20 sCRIBED.
The parks of our city are the pride OF its in
hRbitsnts. Upon almost every avenue and
street their refreshing presence greets the eye
of the passer-by in all their verdant and floral
splendor. They are GASES by commercial way
sides; resting-places of shady GOODNESS in the
very midst of the workshops Of great city.
All are beautifully arranged, scrupulously cared
for, and, withal tempting places through
which to ramble and while away leisure hour.
Five wears ago the most Of these now delight
full spots would but feebly bear the name Of
parks, much less of parks well kept. But re-
GENTLY they have been Transformed into balny
and nleasant shades, meath which the weary
and heat-exhausted population, penned up in
poorly-ventilated homes, seek refuge-reiuge
from the dust, noise and hustle of the busy
streets These spots are Natures sanitary
fields through which her panacea is Waited
by gentle and life-renewing breezes-a garden
spot Of luxuriant growth, which is lree 10 all
and to all alike inyigorsting. In these
MIDSUMMER DAYS
Of heat and physical languishment, thousands
are fastening from the dust and turmoil of the
busy marts of commerce to seek seClusiOn in
the quiet hooks and shady dells of the mos
0uitoless inland places-places where they can
stroll through the maze Of painless woods into
which the oppressive rays Of the zenith sun can
never pierce save here and there in unprotected
corners. They hasten away to climb the noun
tain tops, TO pass through gOrgeS wild and pic
tmesque, adorned with Natures ever-Yaryinc
and attractive scenes; to wander with venturOUs
and blithesOme spirits along the dizzy heights
Ofjagged preCipices, and stand with bcwildered
gaze upon the Drinks of roaring waterfalls and
watch the miik-Thite, fOaming mass as it
dashes on from stone to stone and leaps from
jUtting crag to jutting Crag, in its downward,
broken course to level and far-stretching
plains, adorned with all the luTuTianCe of har-
vests rich and plentiful. But what are all these
magic scencs-the forest shades, the mountain
strollS, the laundering catar2Cls, the charming
landscapes and sylvan nOOks-tO those who are
by fortunes tickle wheel condemned 10 drag
out the weary summer days Of heat and dust
and toll within q busy city's limits' Magic
scenes indeed, but scenes alone for the iahcles
of those who are compelled to pass the season
thus. But here again the clouds with silver
lining appear, snd we find our beautiful parks
Already in.erposeI TO help Gil up the gap aud
make the city summer life full Of Pleasant as
sOciatiOus and enioJments.
From early aft ernOOn until dCeply-shadOwing
twilight these spots are hlicd with young and
old, The happiest feature Of which is the bands
Of little children in all the glow of white tUnics
sports Of childhood, adding to the scenes the
ringing laughter and frOIiCsOme shouts which
are always attendant upon the details OF TIER
respective games. WHO is there 50 OurleEcI
with the cares and responsibilities of everyday
life over whose mind these evening scenes do
not exercise a magic spell! spell which
carries him back to happy days Of childhood;
DAYS VIXEN he wandered through the green
fields Of his native place with their gently
waving trees, where enchanting sOngsters war
bled forth their lays with a sweetness which he
never can hear again; days when the noun
taIus seemed dressed in brighter hUes aud the
air blew frCsher, and the grass caTpetCd fields
looked gTeener than now; days when the dart
ING, fOamiUg streams, with their sparkling
spray. looked clearer and deeper than they
have ever appeared TO him since; streams be-
meath whose refreshing waves lie was wont, at
summer time, TO cast himself with headlODg
plunge and appear on The surface Just In time
10 find the old gentleman impatientiy waiting
on the bank with willow switch in his hand
and some interesting remarks in his mouth,
anxious 70 see him on business. If there be
any who have missed this latter treRt they
would find life we'll worth living again, IL for
nothing more than 10 experience the transport
ing, eevatiEg Joy which this SO literally affords.
The principal amusement in these packs to
ali except the loVe-sICk swain and fOppish tiirt
are the pleasant and innocent games of the
knots of little men and women, who are always
10 be found gaInboling and romping about in
the enthusiasm Of their childish sports. GO
away, now, Charley, you mustn't do that"
rings out, now and then, from the rudy lips
OF sCme little lady who has dropped the hand
kerchef at the heels Of the little 6ib-and-
thicker cent, whom "she loves best, and in
her not OVer-anxiOus efforts TO get Ggay from
him, has been caught, and is pretending to re-
sist his attempt TO reward himself, like little
man, in the shape Of a irst-clRss smack. Pc
~ 81, lyv,er note
hnger to watch The @ 81 The pleasant scenes;
Le t5 tLS Z man who has witnessed these
ssGning plays in all their merriment and
healthful tendencies cannot but feel that the
eity's population owes an eternal gratitude to
those who have thus beautiied and at the
same time secured, 10 q great degree, health
and comfort for those who are unable 10 spend
their summer seasons in popular places of re-
sort or in the quietgde Of country bones.
- Servants apa rTirsts Who are hot allowed to
enttftatR their followers in the basement, |
secure leisure hour or so 10 "wheel the baby
through the park, - and meet their sweethearts |
on the next corner by well-BnOwn plan already |
laid, when they resort TO a quiet nook and let
the baby wheel itself, while they with tender
passion, enliVened by a limited time, sit re-
markedly close to each other by way Of en-
couragement and congratulatiOn. These co.,
CALCULATIONS are occasionally Of such an enthu-
siastic nature as to attract attention, partiCu-
larly among the tops and Iovesick SWANS
Poor sentimental specimens Of deficit hU-
manity They are the true types of wha:
boy can make himself by persistent application
70 practical treatise on girls, cigars and gel
lOw-covered literature. While wandering leis-
urely about these pleasant walks our attention
was attracted by the gentle voices of pair
who, tired Of the noisy, crowded street, had
slowed themselves away in a secluded corner
of the park, and were making the very best Of
the leeting evening hours. WcwOuld not stop
TO catch a word, not we; but while passing
we noticed well that the girls chances Of fall
ing of the bench were very slim. Possession
is nine tenths of the law. he had possession,
and ciiIehed the other tenth by becoming
violently at1ectiOnate, and stealing from
the fair object Of his regards a kiss, TO
which she shouted, 'Have done, now, Pete,
you naughty boy; you know you hadn't
ought to-" And then We broke the spell in
passing by, and Peter would feign make
us believe that all was right by whistling
in a nervous way the tune of yankee DOODLE"
and so all was right, not etiquette, perhaps,
but right by immemOTial usage. But 1t grows
dark, and now the brilliant gas Jets scattered
through the park are lighted, and the little
folks are gradually hurried home by nurses,
who wish the sun just down so they could do
the whole play over; for "Johns so nice, YOU
know, 90 fond and attractive" The lights, |
which east their rays through the open gates, |
disclose now and then human figures passing |
in and out. The noise Of mirthtul children is !
changed TO the hali-suppressed voices Of par
ties who are reclining on the benches, perhaps: |
but, then, who cares: it's dark, you know, and |
thcse things are but the same Old Stories |
which have been sung and said from the time |
whereof the memory of man runs not TO the |
contrary. The spot which half an hour ago |
was ringing with mirth, and the musical
laughter Of happy children, is calm and
quiet now, save the noise of whispers, !
of ripping fountains, Of rustling leaves
We thought how the weary laborer, the active
business man, the oyertasked official, all love
to linCer on the son green sward, which feels
60 pleasant to the feet that beat tine same dull
round from day to day in the hard and noisy
streets Of the busy town, and they, too, feel
proud TO think, as they survey the pleasant
evening scene before them, that they are men,
bers of community which has selected and
beautifed such spots as these for the comfort
and blessing Of its inhabitants during the
weary summer season. We arose 70 90, and
passing through the dimly-lighted walk we
overheard two parties who were nesting in the |
lap olive will say nature, for fun. They
were talking in tones which showed an unmis |
taxable dc sire TO be entertaining. Said he. in |
whining tones, "HOw's your ma7'i "sbe's |
well, y said she "Haint It delightful ycatbsrI5