Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-12-10
CENTRAL PARK.
Oar Cowboy Friend Looks at tho statues
of the Poets aud Views Cieopatra's
Noodle.


Noodle.
TO the Gazette.
The great Central park has been a
source of IN ch pleasure to your cow
hoy friend since his arrival in Gotham.
will not go into statistics about this
place OF resort, but thinking Il passing
description of some of its leading
points would be of interest to your
readers, | will spend one of my even
ings in the hotel writing about them.
The principal entrance TO the park is
on Filth avenue, atthe extreme south
ern end. There are numerous en-
frances. but it Is here one can see the
.ieromes, Goulds, Nanderbilts and all
the other millionaires and their fami-
lies as they start through the park for
drive.
The entrance is very picturesque.
Just inside is strip OF large trees
with II mechanical road turning to
the lett ST. that the gay and merry
throng Il soon lost sight OF after their
entrance On either side after passing
through the grove is every kind of
shrubbery with walks meandering
like the turns of hundred broolilels
in all directions About Il quarter of
amile from the grove is the prone
made. This is the lovgliest one | ever
saw. You enter ID between marble
basins in which can he seen glittering
gold fish swimming in the waters OF
sparkling fountains. 70 the right Of
the entrance stands magnificent
heroic bronze statue of Shakespeare
II is the most graceful statue in the
park--all the great poets are there
and il is considered marvellous work
Of art. Directly opposite STANDS like
figure of the sicotchman, who sang to
his Mary in Heaven" in tones, wi ich
will vibrate the human heart so long
rs the morning star sends its lessening
rays over civilized world.
scott is here, and standing in the
lengthcning shadow cast by his huge
statue | could almost fancy 1 heard the
Lay Of the List Mi streln in the
music of the rustling dead leaves ut
my feet. A little further on stands the
statue of Filz-Greene Halleck, his
awkward position contrasting pain
fully with the graceful posture of
Shakespeare, and looking more like the
picture of n lawyer or tailor, than that
ola soldier and poet. | have too much |
to notice TO tarry by the other statues. |
The music stands come next and in |
summer thousands of people gather |
here "Wednesday and Saturday after
moons To listen to the music. Leaving |
these rount, open buildings you reach
the end of the promenade, and look |
out upon the lake. 1t il now filled |
with floating leaves, through which |
black and white swans gracefully |
glide. Standing on the elevated drive |
looking OUT over the lake there Is n fine
view. The windings of the water car !
ny II out OF sight numerous times. and f,
Just in front Is the largest fountain in |
the park, with n remarkable looking
female figure with huge, outstretched |
wings, supporting an immense basin.
Following tho road around TO the
lett you cross the lake on bridge and
come to n road, used exclusively by
AS | stood by its side an
elegantly-mounted young lady passed
mt full gallop. stood wondering why
she was alone, and wishing for my
when her groom came
bend in the road about 100 |
yards behind. | have heard that New
York ladies arc poor riders, but this
one was an exception; she rode splen-
didly. i saw the two riders several
times that day, and they always occu-
pied their relative positions.
Passing around lnnumerable curves.
and travelling in northwesterly direc.
ton, you suddenly catch sight of a
huge sharp-pcinted rock, stretching
many feet above you. At first sight Ii
resembles church spire, but its
wedge shape soon becomes noticeable.
The first time ! saw ii I asked NV
companion what II was. She laughed,
aud replied that II was only a wicked
= la lint r,Il
slider II great curiosity.
Al length we came to an oren square
in the center of which stands the sci
cntitlc museum of the park and Mt the
left on an elevation Is "Cleopatra's
Needle" ! will not give statistics
about 1t for they are mile long. APP
II from the east, the cunei.
form Requirement on the surface OF
the needle was very legible and of the
most peculiar looking figures imugin-
thle. The shaft looks anywhere be-
tween seventy-tive aud one hundred
feet high / have forgotten the exact
height but II Il placed upon q mound
md on n pedestal, so that it seems
much taller than 1t really IL. 4 guard
walks az und the railing ut its base to
keep oil the Tavenous relic hunters.
Passing around it, south side. which
5 scarcely as legible as the eastern
me, To tie west face, was astonished ,
% ilud that the figures were almost
'ntifely oblltGrated, and on the north
'ide they were still moro dcihced. The
influence of many centuries of expo
sure TO damp atmosphere floating and
blown from the Mediterranean has
lad It's effect upon the (as l take III
granite obelisk. On these two sides
'nly n few figures remained with in |
outline.
.'rhe Ohelsk,n as II is popularity s
allied, T. the greatest curiosity In this
park. heard number of
,efsons laughing at the sO-called $
OF the American govern '
nent in bringing this Needle from
egypt 90 so great expense, but to me
was wonderful aud in my heart 4