New-York tribune., 1879-05-24
THESE MAY AFTERNOONS.
LETTER FROM WALT WHITMAN.


FENCE OF ACTORS.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Perhaps no quarters Of the city make more
brilliant. animated, crowded, spectacular human
presentations these fine May afternoons than tho
two am now going to describe from personal oD-
servstion. FIRST: That area comprising FOUR
teenth-st Especially the short range between
Broadway and Fifth-ayel with UDion-square, us
adiocencles. and so retrostretchng down Broad
way for half mile All the walks here are wide'
and the spaces ample and free-nOw Hooded with
LIQUID gold from the last two hours OF
powerful sunshine. The whole area at
o'clock, the days of my observations, must
have contained from thirty to forty thousand
iiney-dressed people, all in motion. some OF them
young and good-loOking. many beautfui women
often youths aud children. the latter IN groups
with tboir purses-the trottoirs everywhere close
spread, thck-tangled tyet no collision, no troupie,
with masses Of sunny color action. and tasty toll
cts: tsurely the women dress better than ever be-
fore. and the men do tool As if New-York would
show these afternoons what it can do IN Its human
ity its choicest physique and physiognomy, and Its
countless prodigalty of locomotion, dry goods'
glitter magnetism. and happiness.
Second: Also from to z p. m. the stretch OF
Fftbave all the way from the Park exits at Fifty
ninth-st down to Fourteonth-especially along the
high grade by Fortieth-st-, and down the hill. "A
Mississippi chaos of horses and rich vehicles, not
by dozens and scores, bat hundreds and thousands
the broad avenue filed and crammed with them
one moving sparkling, huTrying crush, for
more than two miles. Il wonder they don't get
blocked, but believe they never doD Altogether
it is to me the marvel sight of New-YOrk L like
TO get IN one of the Fifth Avenue Stages of the later
afternoon and ride up stemming the swIft-movlng
panorama. doubt if London or Paris or any city
in the world can show such a Carnage Carnival as
have seen here five OF six times these beautiful
May afternoons.
CENTRAL PARK WALKS AND TALKS.
Nay 16 to 22.-I visit Central Park now almost
every day-off and on, indeed for the last three or
four weeks-sitting, slowly rambling. or riding
around. The whole place presents Its very best APP
pearance the month, especially these latter
days of it. The full flush of the trees, the
plentiful white and pink of the Towering shrubs-
the emerald green of the grass spreading every
where. yellow dotted still with dandelons-the
speciality of gray rocks, peculiar TO these grounds
cropping out, miles and miles-and over all the
beauty and purity three days out of four, OF our
Summer skies
As Sit placidly, early afternoon, OIL against
Ninetoth-st. the policeman, C.. c., well-lormed
sandy-complexioned young fellow. dressed in ciu-
zen's clothes, comes over aud stands near me. We
grow quite friendly and chatty forthwith. lie Is a
New Yorker born and raised, and III answer TO my
questions tells me about the life Of the Park Police
while he talks keeping MS eyes and ears Yigianty
open. occasionally pausing and moving where he
can get full views OF she ysta5 OF the road, up and
down, and the spaces aroundl
The Force are all 10 hayc-Or already have-new
suits this summer; the Department supplies the
rig. The pay 81 40 a day seven days to "A week.
the men como or and work eight hours straight
aIead which is all that is required of them ont of
the twenty-four. The position has more risks than
one might suppose; FOR instance, If a team or horse
runs away (which happens daily each man is ex-
pected not only TO be prompt, but TO waive safety
and stop widest nag or nags do IT, and don't be
thinking of your bones or facel-give the alarm
whistle too, so that other guards may repeat and
the vehicles up and down the tracks be warned.
Injuries to the men are continually happen
ing - there is mnch alertness and quiet
strength. Few know, l have often thought.
the Ulyssean capacity, derring-do, quick readiness
in emergencies practIcaty, unwttin devotion
and herOsm among our American young men and
working people-the iiremen, the railroad employees,
the steamer men, the police, the conductors and
drivers-the whole splendid average of Mechanics,
of native stock, city and country. II is good work,
though and upon the whole, the Park Force MEN,
bers like it. They see life. and the excitement
keeps them up. There Is not much difficulty
might be supposed from tramps, roughs, or in keep
ing people off the grass" eto The worst Irouble
of the regular Park employ6 from malauaI fever,
chills, and the like.
THE CARRIAGE-RDING CLASSES.
A fine afternoon, 4 TO 6.-Ten thousand vehicles
careering through the Park this perfect afternoon
lo,rc Ill IoI
rowly and at my leisure. Private barouches, ca BIS
and coup6s, some fine horse6esh-lapdogs footmen
fashions, foreigners. cockades on hats, crests on
panels-the full oceanic tide of New-York's
wealth and "gentility." 1t was an impress
siye, rich, interminable Circus on a grand
scale, fun of action aud color IN the
beauty of the day. under the clear aud moderate
breeze. Family groups, couples, single drivers
Of course dresses generally elcgant-much "style,"
yet nothing, in that direction, that fully justi-
fed ITSELF. Through the windows of two or
three Of the richest carriages | saw faces
almost corpse-lile, ashy and lstess. Indeed the
whole affair, must cay, exhibited less of sterling
America. either in promise, spirit countenance.
than | had counted on from such select
L suppose, proof Of
limtless wealth leisure, and the aforesaid
" gentility,' it was tremendous. Yet what
saw those hOurS IL TOOK TWO OtheT OCCASIONS TWO
other afternoons To watch the same scenel adds
strength TO thought that haunts me every addi-
tiona glimpse i get of our top-oftical general
or rather exceptional phases of wealth and fashion
in this country-namely, that they ill at ease,
and far from happy-that there is nothing
in them which we who are poor and plain need at
all envy, and that instead OF the perennial smell of
the grass and woods and shores, their typical redo
lence bat of soaps and essences, very may be-
M hlThPT SHnn-snmatHInU
turns stale and musty in a few hours anyhow.
THE HORSEBACK ROAD.
Perhaps the show on the Horseback Road was
prettiest. Many groups tthrees were a favorto
number, some couples, some singly-many ladies'
freonently horses or parties dashing along on full