The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-11
mo THOROUGHBRED
The Guarded Common" of
the Central Park.
REMOVE THE BARRIERS.
A Few Facts for the Park
Com nisSioners.

the subject time especially when every DAY orlnss
20 the need OF recreation That spring has
come no who has been in Central Park within the
past fow days VIII Jailed to have noticed and felt
oil the pleasure that presence there inspires The
buds Of week ago have flushed into rich green leaves
and blown INTO bright many colored blossoms. Per-
fumes fill the air enhancing the charm of picture
pleasing the eye. splendid carpet OF grass
ail the lawns and stretches OF ground that and
fall from the edges OF the iabyrinthian walks
and drives Tho lambs frisk on the green sward and
chase each other about tho rocks like rabbits in
ovcrcrowdcd The birds sing as the poets OF
this season OF ethereal mildnoss' would have
know they sang in the old spring time when Maying
was one the chief among rural delights At
Of tho year Is tho Central Park attractive than II
Is now, matter what hour of the day tho visitor
may chance to find himself wandering through It's
charming pathways, riding driving over It's SPLEEN
didly kept and well watered roads loungng in tho
shade that thus carly grateful at high noon.
'.KgEr GRASS
But amid all the general delight there 10 one great
obstacle the full enjoyment Of all its beautesihc
obstacles against which HERALD has steadily con-
tended The grass guarded with peculiar and unnc
ccssary strctness Tho people who pay prevented
from enjoying what would be unquesonablc relief
10 them and an undoubed benefit 10 the lawns No
Ono who is acquainted with the proper keeping OF such
a. certain and under proper restrictions is posi-
tive benefit The Central Park contains IN all within
Its boundaries SIS acres all preserved public
pleasure ground and in that whole space green
spot which tho tired citizen may fling his weary
bones for hours rest in the genial sunshine. or
hours study IN the shade Of the clustering boughs
when the is at It's highest To DO sure, when the
has well advanced each year portion OF the
park is allowed TO be used as common one day IN each
week other times The rule IS strngenty enforced
the people obey tho rules, reluctantly, however
One from abroad who may have conceived evil things Of
the New York could IN other way well
dsabusc himself OF any notion Of their ficied law
iessnes than by stroliing hot day through tho
OF visitors streaming through its pathways
and overlooking into shaded arbors aud the other rest
ing spots degree greatly lacking the relef that
should be afforded them, not one IN thousand violates
The rule orbiddng them TO go on the grass, although
believing IL needless and obnoxious rs TO merit
general condemnation. on week days In 1ne weather
Il is estimated that the visitors 10 tho Central Park
number between 25 600 and 30 600 of all Sorts
iizes and conditions On SUNDAYS the figures run up
In the ne.ghborhood OF so COO These figures indicate
the popularity OF the Park public resort. By
tending permission to the multitude to stray over the
yielding carpet OF soft 10 play croquet on the
lawns to lounge in the shaded spots this large
number Of visitors would be greatly increased and the
pleasures OF visit vastly enhanced
This proposition OF allowing the public to wander
the grass has moral element IN II that at hrs sight
may be evident To obtain the privilege which tho
HERALD is asking for them thousands OF weary
toilers go every Sunday 20 New Jersey and West
chester their bucolic enjoyment added tho
temptation Of drinking This Objectionable feature
could not obtain In the Park, where only pure m'k Is
vended.
The reasons given for excluding the public from this
rovcied enjoyment will not be conceded by many to be
vcry well grounded by the majority OF those VINO take
The trouble 10 think on the matter at all
OBJECTIONS GRANTING PRIVILEGE
IL claimed that the Park would be In great
robbed OF beauty, that the turf would be rod
den brown and bare and that trespasses would be com
mltcd that now unknown II the green spots
thrown open To the public A circumstance heretofore
alluded TO, however is In itself sufficient contra
dction OF those assumptions. The people now obey
stringent rules and it is not at all probable that
the extending OF such permission would the least
demoaze The visitors who are now so well conducted
Possibly the greatest tear rs entertained of
the working masses. This rs, however, misdirccted
apprehension. Remove the gray coated lrcnarchs
from the Park for three hours on any fine week day
Afternoon permit tho girls Of the Normal College
10 their way unmolcsted, and II they happen TO
discover they unwaiched-which is not at al, i'm
probable-morc mischief will be done TO the flower
beds than the working would be likely 20 effect
In weeks under similar conditions. As Il is, their
petty pilierings noticeable feature OF each days
walk homeward AFTER school hours Choice flowers
readily sped out by these quickcyed spry young
girls whose movements almost too quick for the
ordinary conservator of order in the Park
II has been truly SAID OF the Central Park that It has
been and is effective educator of the people Any
has lived New York for the past
years so Will readily recall the destruction that fol
owed ncursions into the pleasant country places
within distance CT the city. The and
pushes suffered no little by such visits. Now u Is
lvs<e different Familiarity with the Park has shown
lhtm the advantage of avoiding such vandalism. ard
the fortunate owner OF choice garden IN the suburbs
now has little 10 fear from the Sunday visitors who
pass by his premises. The multitude have learned also
that they are but preserving their own by avoiding
damage at the Park.
LIBERTY TO WANDER GRASS.
prominent citizen with whom The writer
versci on the subject Of removing the obnoxious
slriction keep OF the grass" sad-
Experience has shown that the privilege OF going
the grass whenever extended at the PARK has
been abused heretofore The misfortune for the poor
has been that this privilege seldom extended how
ever and mostly on days when the masses Of the
working people could not avail themselves OF It. The
strict tp thn ri
Central Park in sort toy rather than the prac-
teal pleasure ground Il should 10 II Is no doubt
than that Visitors should be permitted 10
feel themselves really in the country, and
this could be enectuary accomplished only by
permitting them TO stray over the lawns and inviting
green spots This is the custom In all parks elsewhere
the grass Is reality benefited The experiment
Is certainly worth trying here In he smaller breath.
ing spots scattered through the city u rs well enough
10 circle about the swards anG guard from steady Iravc
the little green places, that the eye. when tired oil the
monolonous lines OF buildings, may end some relief in
gazing them. To man OF thoughtful habit New
York affords really quiet nook where TOR few
hours he may keep the company OF a avortc author
One naturally looks TO the Central Park for such spot
bat IL Is not there to be found | have often como
10 the Park with the intention OF seeking out
Iequestered where, free from annoyance and in
crrupticu, might read for an hour or so when for
lunatc enough TO find vacant, shady seat was not
long permitted TO remain in quiet Others ANXIOUS
Tor shade myself but OF more precocous habit have
cntred there and interrupted with their conversation.
Their claims valid my own. but the park is
arge enough accommodate all and all should be
tOmmOdatcu lhfr Caitn OF nine. " IN
nenncant In comparison with the broader claIfn which
ME HERALD sets up for the masses ~
IL would be very easy matter 10 regulate the con-
rcsson sought for so that positive injury could pos
sbly Visitors could be restrained TO the rcgu
lar walks until they had penetrated distance, and
then they could easily be given to understand that
permission to wander the grass lid include
The right TO destroy the shrubbery iramplc tho
Hower beds The grass this spring has forth with
unusual vigor and alter II shall have been cut few
lines tho managers Of the Park cannot fail that
they will be acting only justice dictates by allowing
he
lights OF the beautiful pleasure ground they are
all ready 10 praise and support. When per
mission shall have been granted and trial gwen the
needed restrictions readily he devised 10 Pros
pcct Park brooklyn, croguet parties dot tho unduat-
ing lawn every the afternoon from this time until the
russct leaves Of the late autumn all the sward
When a spot becomes trampled guarded Tor n time
and play goes elsewhere The permission greatly
enjoye and Is OF the chief attractions OF that
beautiful park among the young people OF the City OF