The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-09-04
The Joyous Science i'm
Prospect Park.
PERFECT FREEDOM TO THE STRONGER SEX
Merry Maidens and Mature
Maidens Aroused.
Will the Stony-Hearted Commits
siOners ReIent?

The question Of sex IN croquet is the all pervad.
ing topic Of the day. Our fair readers have deter
mined 10 agitate in the matter until something Is
done to bring ladies and gentlemen together In
the Central Park croquet grounds. rumor has
gained some credence that the exclusion Of the
male sex from the Park is caused by the fear that
some persons, who cannot AFFORD nne clothing,
might perhaps gain admission II the doors were
opened to all persons alike.
PROSPECT PARKS PRETTINEss.
The writer paid quite a heightened visit to Pros
pect Park, in Brooklyn. yesterday, and the visit
was made for the purpose OF witnessing how the
game of croquet prospered among the more decent
citizens Of the City Of Churches. No pen
can fully describe the landscape charms of this
beautiful park. Compared with Central Park
1t Is sylvan grove where lawns and dryads might
dlsport themselves, SO secluded are some of the
forky dels and delicious bangles OF the Park.
Those who are quite familiar with Central Park
are well aware OF the fact that there are places in
our New York public gardens that are as arid and
devoid Of shade as the Great Sahara. This is not
the case in any place IN Prospect Park, tins public
tmbered IN nearly all Of ITS area. There are
about $50 acres Of upland hill hollow,
dale and elevated sward in Prospect
Park that are held in common and
free to the public to walk over, lounge on and
play croquet. There IS no tyrannical exclusion OF
either sex here, and consequently it Is not unu-
sual to see as many as a thousand persons play.
Ing croquet On the different chosen spots in this
area.
AN EARTHLY PARADISE.
Here and there, scattered IN picturesque con.
fuslon were family groups Of four six, eight. ten,
sixteen and twenty playing croquet and enjoying
themselves in truly homeiike way. No ramrod
Stiffness no policeman In uniform to count each
particular blade OF grass trodden under foot
and to notice II there be any I'M
ruy boys who may come there to have
little boyish fun. In every game OF croquet
played yesterday at Prospect Park married
man might be found. Ii not engaged with mallet
and bali, be was carefully employed in switching
the provision basket, sorting the edibes and
decanting the Wine, milk or cold tea bottles. For
It is a noteworthy TACT that, unlike Central Park
where the presence Of cold lunch seems to be q
proof that the pockets of Mr. Columbus Ryan are
to be depleted Of the profits OF meal which
should be taken at the Casino or Mount st. Vim
cent, there are jolly picnic and croquet parties at
Prospect Park everywhere.
The fashion Is to make up party OF twelve or
eight persons, half Of whom shall be ladies
and the other half are to be gentlemen
There may be some children along and they
are Knocked outside OF the boundaries While
the writer sat at the loot OF the tree, on a little
shaded knoll in the centre OF the magnificent cons
mon that resembled, more than anything else,
gentieman's demesne IT. Devonshire, picnic ana
croquet party came along and TOOK possession Of
the little smooth tuted sward beneath. 1t was
merry party lull OF life and oyousness. There was
one matron, three blooming girls, three young
gentlemen. two children and the solid
nf no
Of the matron, portly and dignifed dame,
who did not disdain to take hand In the
croquet.. After some laughter and good
deal OF Irritation and attention on the part OF the
three young men the wckets were placed and an
elghthanded game was commenced The portly
matron was the first to lead of, and her bowling
was beautiful-that s If the term bowling maj
be permitted IN the scientific game OF croquet
the invgoratng breeze swept through the boughs
o! the trees overhead the merry babbe OF the
voices belonging to the croquet players came up
delicious to the senses. From the discourse OF
the young ladies me writer gathered that
Mr. Beecner. Dr. storrs ' and cA Parsos
Tamaee. One wore white iress another a gray
sailor-like costume-ali buttons-and having a
naval collar. Their talk was a mixture Of theol.
ogy, fall fashions and croquet with strong bias
in favor OF fully discussing the theme started by
the HERALD in taking the part OF the unfortunate
men men VINO 'v are not allowed to play croquet with
Park.
WHAT rHH BROOKLYN GIRLS THINK OF IT.
The matrOn and pdteY JdnltlfdS soon bowled
themselves out, and there we're lett but the three
young ladies and their three admirers. The mar
ried couple began TO stir themselves abou; pre-
pairing lunch. and the conversation between the
three couples playing was something like the fol-
BLUE DREss-l see. Charley that the HERALD
is endeavOrlng to make the Central PARK Com
mssioners open the game of croquet to gentle
men. lhope that 1t Will succeed.
GRAY TUNIC-1 think that New York Is a real
mean place to live in. l am sure 1t Is when they
MALE ApMIRER OF Blue DREss-New York isnlt
such bad place to live In after all. lived there
WHITE DRESS TO her sSev
told me this morning, and he knows ali about IT.
for he's lawyer. you know, that al! the gentle.
there with their lady irien1s and that II an at.
tempt was made TO- prevent them from playing
that they might bring the commissioners into
Court and do lots OF things II 1t suited them. What
90 you think. Harry
HAIRY tpuffing away ut a cigar II think the old
gentleman Is right dear. But the HERALD Is
better than twenty courts. 1t will annoy the life
out of the Commissioners wonder when lunch
will be ready got my breakfast at seven O'clock
this morning, and here II Is hali-past twelve. |
would resist the commissioners until death
PATER FAMrLIAs tin the distance, from under D
tree) Are you taking about lunch? You are
always hungry. How would some sardpes 60. or
little lobster salad and a mug OF cold claiet9
We have some claret here Of lS4S. What will you
havey
HARRY with decided yawu) III think am OUT
I'm always out when lunch comes. What will
have Let me see. Claret OF lS4S ! don't care
Il IL was i14S, I'm 30 dreadiully Dry IN take one
sardlne with four bones, and mug OF clare'.
WHITE DREss-Wny, Harry, you are perfectly
Dreadful You know that we purchased the sar.
dimes boned and how could they have claret Of
174ss You know Mr. Tamage says that was be.
fore George Washington, and there was no caret
ApaIRER or GRAY Tuxrc I think Mr.. Talmage
Is little OF his history this week. Poor old
George What would he say II he were TO see
modern game OF croquet, he that was SO precious
fond OF hard work and walking in the snow with
his bare eetf
ADMIRER OF THE RED DREss-Why, Ned, DO you
stpulale with bare feet You would not want
man TO walk on his bare head, would you
YOUNG LADY IN GRAY ruNIC-I am out: have
won. (Laughter.) think 1t Is horrid to talk that
way about George Washington. Mr. Talmage
would not like 1t very well
HARRY I'm careless way with q leg OF q chicken
In his nngers)-rhere you go again, Kate, about
MIR. TalmaQe, You never can talk enough about