The New York herald., 1874-09-13
CENTRAL PARK.


the ROad.
OF all the days OF the week in our beautiful Park,
Saturday is the most enjoyable. What with the
delightful music furnished by Dodworth's Band on
the Mall, the unusual number OF carriages on the
drives the croquet and base ball players, and the
myriad points OF interest that meet the eye at
every turn the scene Is one to be remembered.
Owing to the disgraceful condition of the avenues
leading to the Pa X, and there ls not an exception
to be made In favor OF one of them, driving has
become anythng but pleasant in this city. Still,
as 1t is much easier to see and be seen when jog
ging along IN handsome light wagon,
adopted that means OF conveyance yesterday. The
fiery steed, when harnessed and brought forth,
proved to be centennial animal, having. perhaps,
at one period OF his existence. .t onto the Revo-
luton" He was very tall and had q curl Gus habit
OF keeping his nose near the ground, Ike pointer
setter, as If he were trying TO strike trail.
No other animal being available we consented to
show the venerable quadruped the sights around
the Park. The problem OF getting to the PARK
from Union square without breaking ones neck or
wagon Is q serious one. Seventh avenue looks
ike series of rife pits. INFO which, with a cen
tenarian as motive power, 1t was as much as ones
life was worth to venture. Sixth avenue
is little better, and one would imagine that the
CITY Fathers had converted Fifth avenue into
a quarry. We're 1t a country road instead OF q me-
tropoltan thoroughiare tnat was in such d.
lapidated condition the Board OF Freeholders in
that district would be compelled TO take imme-
diate action. After accomplishing the dlticult
teat reaching the PARK without any msnap
once when the centenarIan Disputed the
rl.sht of way with n street car and got the worst
the argument. the pleasure OF the drVe COM
menced. Hundreds OF vehicles OF every KIND were
on the road. rom the uncom ortaoe lookl ng
'.sulHy" to the pOnderous family carriage. Here
was VARIETY IN tle oroa est sense OF tue word.
"a fine ouid lrlsn gentleman" IN MS dust cart,
challenges the SABLE % drNea IN Iral nveTy s6aeo 90
the well-worn hack jogs along beside the
stylish dog cart and the nondescript Park pnleton
was followed BY a handsome landaulet. AT the
ncourse, overlooking the Mall there was an un-
Droksn Inc Of carriages. The centenaran was
here gwen in charge OF coored Jenu. aud went
asleep In date J. Thousands OF slgAt-seers were
around the pagoda, IN when sat The band, ana
winch seems 10 have been built In defiance TO all
laws Oi acoustics. Ii the last concert OF the
season, and many and loud were the complaints
AGAINST rDose respoaslbe e for depriving the public
OF the music they paw Tor right Ia the middle OF the
season. Ihe programme was unusually IN
terestIng, comprising such works as beeti.
ovens overture "Pr0metheus," overture, LA
Poupes de Nuremberg" Adam, an1 selections
from Glnka's opera, ''Llfe lor the Gar" and I'll
CrOciato.r A saXopnone solo and variations Tor
the flute were also introduced Lsck of funds
probably caused the absence Of programmes. AS
The concert proceeded the carriages became more
NUMEROUS on the drive and Dame fasnlOn sent
some OF her most brilliant representatives TO 90
nouOr 20 ne OCCASION.
handsome carriage drawn by span OF black
horses, contained the wlie and daughter OF one OF
our most prominent bankers. Both ladies' were
arurea slight mourning, the elder in black silk
with "vIvienn oversEirt; deep, pointed apron
4 OF black crepe, heavily embroidered with Jet and
edged with s, lIngs ia seeve,ess 81 JACKET Of
sklrt, ' and having silk sleeves, ana I9r . wrap q
magnificent olack cashmere shawl, fnass of silk
Tae e bonnet was Of six crepe and JET the ewery
OF onyx and pearls and the rather larger parasOl
Of silk, neaviy embroidered, like the rest OF the
toilet, and edged with fringe The daughter wore
black velvet dress under an extremely long
..Lotellau Overskirt and sleeveless cuirass basque
OF black silk, SO elaDorately embroidered In the
open English style as to appear almost 81 thin as
lace. Very fine jet beads were thickly, but not too
proiusely, strewn over thls, and Jet fringe G aen
ished the edges Of the basque and overskIrt. Tne
sleeves we're OF black velvet hat OF white English
straw, trimmed with black velvet and 0OatnR
white ostrich plume, the brim turned up directly
in front, faced with black velvet and retained in
white tule arranged a scarf and vail black
SILK p3rasol with white lace cover; light lavender
gloves jewery OF solitaire diamonds.
! A very handsome costume was IN two shades Of
blue; one very dark, even darker than navy"
blue, and the other very light, almost turquoise,
the latter being used lor plplngs only. Inc SKIRT
was an ''Ophelia" deml-traiD the overskrt iorm-
| ing part OF the skirt proper and not extending
! across The front. Inc apron and front cores were
nounced but the back edges were cut In deep points,
underneath which was arranged box plating, so
| arranged that the plaits we're exactly between
the piats. The points and paitngs were plped
with the light shade, and in eacn point was light
blue button ACCOMPANIED MED By simulated h ed button
]
deep, pointed nOunce, over narrower box:
plated one, and very long, full overskirt, joined
gracefully loopcd and finished with new style OF
SILK ball fringe, IN which both of the shades were
combined. The "HOnOra" basque which has Q
"curass" effect in front and lorms two broad
! loops In the back was trimmed with pipings or
hRht blue IN the back ana irinees on the 'front.' 10
match the oversKlrt. The charming "Corday'
bonnet was of silk, the two shades OF the dress,
trimmed win dark blue velvet and blush roses.
Jewelry Of faint pink coral.
charming osume was of silk and an exquisite
quality of camel's hair goods, IN one OF the new
shades OF straw color-oark, with u blush tint.
The demI-traln skirt was OF SIX, trimmed with
knlle-edge plating. The "Adrienne"-a very
long basque polonnaise-was Of camels hair,
very heavily EMBROIDERED with worsted OF the
same shade and one a little darker the petals Ol
the flowers, and veins or the sleeves emDroldered
In SILK OF the same shade and small "Dlue' steel
beads. The bottom Of this garment and the long
tabs at the sides OF the basque were finished with
''buen steel beads Belt and aumOniere en-
broidered with ''Dlue" steel, "Mercution hat OF
gray let with long plume the color OF the dress.
and otherwise trimmed with velvet " match, ana
ornaments OF 'Dluer steel.
black SILK toilet had q demi-train bOrdered
with nounce scalloped and embroidered with q
narrow box plating underneath the scallops.
This nounce was quite narrow in front but very
OF deep pointed apron OF Irish" lace, worked
with fine jet beads. sleeveless jacket OF the
same lace was also beaded. The points ol color In
the costume were contributed by the neckue,
chateaine and ornaments on the nat, which were
OF a deep, rlcD wine color.
Leaving the Mall and its varied attractions. the
centenarian and his driver logged along towards
st. Nicholas avenue. red nag In the hands OF
red shIrted son or toll at q turn OF the road IN
dcated blast, the conclusion OF which woke up
the centennial hero from short doze in which ne
was ndulglng. On one side was the beautiful lake
with its CLASSY surface covered with boats, and
from 1t came ripple OF laughter, minglinR with
the voices OF Joyous children on Its grassy banks
Groups might be seen 10 every direction through
the ramble, enjoying the bracing air and charm
Ing surroundings. On the avenues beyond TIM
Park one would suppose that all New YORK was OF
wheels. The DAY was all that could be desired
and every one who can steal o lew hours from tn
2 cares OF business can meet With ample enjOymen
| In this beautiful garden Of the METROPOLIS.