The New York herald., 1879-09-29
FIFTH AVENUE AND THE PARK.

A BRILLIANT sCENE-THRoNGs OF PEOPLE
ABROAD ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE IN
DIAN SUMMER SPLENDID DISPLAY OF DRESS.
Fifth avenue in the afternoon OF yesterday. the
first Sunday of the fall season. its old time
look of fashionable life and brilliancy. The blue
sky and balmy air attracted thousands out of doors.
and, the leading watering places have given back
nearly all their patrons. the throng Of stylishly
dressed people was uncommonly large. About one
O'Clock the numerous churches along the street
emptied themselves of their crowded congregations,
ana for two hours afterward the west side of the
avenue covered with u slowly moving mass
of expensively apparelled humanity. The display
Of fall toilets bewilderng and in the matter of
hats and bonnets Oriental aiuence Of color pre-
vailed. Ruby and gold were the prominent tints in
head dresses. and the designs of the most ar
tstic and captivating kind. There were bonnets of
jet embroidered satin. ornamented with jetted
feather butterflies huttering flowers and skele
ton leaves of cut jet and others of light wine satin
with long graceful loops of silver satin ribbon fas
tened with cut steel and gilt leaf ornaments and SHE'LL
others Of mink color with high set square crown,
the front of shirred satin garnished with ostrich
plumes and roses. The prevailing textute of dress
black. silk, trimmed with velvet, and all velvet
dresses in black. royal purple and deep green were
not nfrequent. The crowds that sailed slowly down
the avenue must have impressed foreigner greatly
with the degree of wealth. taste and beauty in this
metropolis of the New World. Not an i'll or poorly
attired person was to be with on this thorough
fare of fashion, and if the foreigner to takc his
impressions of New York alone from stroll on the
avenue in the afternoon of yesterday he would con-
Ha%b 'na1 sns as' pG Guy oy
from healthful soJourn at the watering places.
made ravshing display of rosy cheeks and spark
ling eyes. The seaside and country air had told to
advantage on their charms. A constant interchange
of greetings went on from end to end OF the avenue
between persons seeing each other for the first
time since the summer began. that the scene par
took of the appearance of great al fresc0 social
reunion Merry talk and laughter were to be
heard every hand and bows and smiles
punctuated the stroll of the lounging multitude.
good many foreign faces were observed. and these
appeared ntently absorbed in admiration of the I'M
posing display OF American beauty. between three
and four o'clock the whole length of the on
the west side was black with people moving up and
down. affordng picture such as. perhaps, no capi
tai in the world can produce for the extent and
quality Of the display.
To the Park thousands of people hied themselves,
and all the paths and avenues fairly swarmed with
men, women and children. The mall was alive from
end to end, and hardly single bench was unoccu-
pied. The main tendency of the multitude was in
the direction Of the menagerie. which was
boats on the lake were in active requisition
and made an ,,a1 animated & feature in the scene
waters. The appearance of the Park at this point
singulary attractive. The trees just begin
ming TO assume tnelr ial cOmpeAlou anu the ming
ling OF gold and green and russet foliage had
happy effect in contrast with the vivid emerald of
the smoothly shaven lawns. The visitors pene-
trated into every nook and corner and whispering
lovers monopolized the seats IN the shady and Sc
cluded arbors. On Of the wide stretches of
green sward number Of children were permitted
to play. and their merry laughter made the
welkin ring. The merry-go-round was well patron
lied and the donkeys and goat carriages were kept
busy. The delightful weather and the beauti-
full appearance Of the Park conspred to induce
cheerful and grateful expression in every face and
hnu do bV a 70 nj led II
the twilight hour. Few failed to notice the
evidences Of neglect that meet the eye in
almost every section of the Park-walks out of
repairs, benches broken down, bowers and arbors
falling into decay bridges unpanted, and general
air of seediness that spoke of bad management but
despite the gross and garing traces of neelect the
beauty OF tho peoples pleasure ground shone out
undmmed and the grand old trees and green
peted lawns lost of their charms for the multi
tude,