The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-06
OCTOBER IN CENTRAL PARK.

IMMENSE CROWDS ENJOYING THE PLEASANT
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES CONDITIONS OF
WALKS AND LAWNS.
One of the policemen on duty at the entrance to
Central Park yesterday grew bewildered when the
HERALD reporter asked him how many people there
had been in the Park during the day. 81 don't
know" said he. 1--WE been duty at this gate tthe
Sixth avenue entrance) since two o'clock. and not
less than nine thousand persons have been by in
the four hours. There will be people
going i'll at the Fifth entrance. and
more at Eighth. avenue than here. l shoud
say that 10000 was an underestimate
rather than an overestimate. There will be
visitors on pleasant evening than during the day.
There is one thing have noticed" he continued.
warming up to his subject. (Which have noticed
to-day for the first time. and have been here for
fifteen years. For the most of the afternoon there
were only one or two carriages opposite this en-
trance. Generally there will be twenty five or thirty
here. You know down the hack drivers
and don't allow them the Park side of the street,
but they're always the other side. As 1 said.
though there have been very few there all day today
They've been busy Once twice half all hour ut
a time there hasn't been any carriage there at ALL"
Whether the policeman reliable in his estimate
of numbers or not it is certain that the Park
full. The Mall. the Ramble. the lake the drives and
the walks in every direction black with people,
who were tempted out for a ramble by the glorious
beauty of the autumn day. The Park itself was in u
disgracefu condition The walks. where the concrete
was not broken and scanned with gaps, lined
with dust and dead leaves enough to indicate that
the appropriation for the ment OF sweepers has
been exhausted" So far as nature could do 1t the
scene was wonderfully beautiful and had it not
for the air of neglect that made the place look
like forsaken garden. there could have been
delightful place to spend the afternoon. As it
was the delight Of stroll was sadly married by tho
dusti in he first " he n AM
of lawn and shrubbery as well. No clearer in
dcation of the lack of the part of the proper
authorities could be found in all the park than in
the condition OF the bridge across the lake. Tho
bridge is itself . triumph of builders art Its
arch is combination OF the most beautiful lines
that can be found. But the heavy iron ratings are
disfigured by the vandalism Of visitors, and tho
paint is worn and shabby.
Still, there was much to enjoy, and there
many to enjoy it. The graceful boats that ply
the lake SO frequently that even the swans pay
attention to them were loaded with passengers and
the rowers were busy from morning till night The
park carriages carried full loads and the children
kept the goat carriages on the Mall constantly in
motion.
There were old and young-mostly young-among
the visitors, aud by far the larger portion OF the
younger people seemed though they would
hardly be hurt if they called lovers. In con-
in the Ramble were filed. and hardly .
solitary place could be found in all thu
maze OF f1otp ;,d snas .. are SO exceently
Ramble is cave. The casual visitor aforesaid il ha
sets to look for the cave will almost assurodly
not find it, but il he stroll careless whittier he is
going he will be pretty certain to find himself at the
opening before he realizes it. Being at the
he cannot do better than to explore it. when he will
become aware OF certain interesting phenomena.
The cave, being cave, is naturally dark Being
dark il il the chosen resort of sundry owls who,
being driven from the outer by the glare OF day.
retire to this dismal place. where they sit
aud think. The casual visitor. stepping in. will
find it difficult to step around with confidence,
and naturally will scratch match to see where
he is going. Then the phenomena will ensue. Ho
will see, perched in various crannes the owls
aforesaid, who will turn their countenances full
upon him and wink porteniouslv with almost
much reproach in their expression will be notice
able on the faces OF the young couples who
also retired to the to sit down and think. Very
little will probably be said. 1t is offence against
law etiquette to scratch match however
pleasant it may prove il done suddenly. But the
casual visitor, unless very malicious in disposition
will probably retire hastily At least, that is what
the HERALD reporter did.
In the bride paths the Park there very few
equestrians. No amount of temptation in the way
of good roads and picturesque scenery seems SUN.
cent to make horseback riding really popular, aud
the walking and driving sufficient for the most
of New Workers. On the drives there a constant
stream Of all sorts and conditions of carriages and
horses going northward carly in the afternoon, and
an ebb OF tide later Not until late at night
xl,a DurH Mat