Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-08-07
SITTING IN THE PARK.
Evening Scenes Under the Shade Of the
Trees.
THE NURSES AND THE BABEs-FoLKs WHO
FREQUENT THE PARASITIC CHANGE THAT
OCCURS AT DEwFALI-THE LOVERS AND HOW
THEY ACT.

The Washington parks are a great summer
resort. On warm evenings they are all crowded,
and 1t is interesting to watch the people as
sembied there. Lafayette and Franklin parks
are particularly popular. Franklin is proba-
biy the most popular in the city. There Is a
prevalent idea that parks are given up to chill
dren in the day time and to tramps at night.
1t is doubtful that one Of these latter gentry is
ever seen in Franklin square. In the evening
early Is the best time to go there. Just about
the time the sun is going down the most peo-
pie are there. As long as it is light enough to
read gentlemen sit with THE STAR and their
after-dinner cigar, while nurses and baby car
riages abound. Some times the nurse has
beau, as pretty nurse girls are apt to have. In
this case she is very fond of the baby-and
baby, giving to it the caresses it would not do to
oestow on each other in such a public place by
aayLgnt. But they both understand. and
when the beau wants to kiss the baby the pref
W nurse-g1rl bushes, as II the kisses had really
reached the lips they We're intended for. Some
Of the babies that live in the parks at this hour
are very sOciable, making friends with any BODY
who will notice them. Then there's the baby
tnat iuliy appreciates the terrible wrong in
nlcted upon IL when 1t was brought into exfs-
tence, and gives vent to its feelings in loud
screams that may not be Modified. Then there's
t the litlie fodder that has tendency toward
the fountain. 1t breaks away from its nurse at
every chance and makes Tor the sparkling
splashing water. He is always very much
amused at the anxiety OF the nurse, and laughs
heartily 10 see her coming after him on the
clip, cross lots. By the time he has made twen-
ty-nve breaks for the fountain the dew has be-
gun TO fall and the babies have to retire. With
them goes the old maid with the sharp nose
and close set jaw, who has been sitting near the
iounsal tar knitting 10 many colored worsteds.
and departs. Under lilac bush an elderly
romantic person has been reading q love
STORY Out loud 10 herself She, too, shrinks be-
tore the gathering shadows.
On seat in q shady path are two little
maidens just from school, all dressed in white
W nink sir =
talk little nonsense in an UNDERGONE until
good looking fellow goes by. Then they
and say, ''Oh, you silly thing" very loud II
the handsome young man looks around, they
are as demure as kittens at COW time They
don't leave as soon as the sun goes down. Nor
does the young man with high collar, who
sits sucking the silver head of his cane and
casting a, ootIageons Sleeps eyes" from under
The couples begin TO drop in at shutdown and
set k secluded seats in the shade, Soon every de-
srable seat is taken, and the less fortunate low
ers who come late wander about with no place
10 rest 1t is curious TO watch their growing dis
appointment as they go from one welLkaown
seat 10 another, finding them all taken up by
sQuatters. 1t is then the young man begins 10
talk about the Iepeal of the presumption law.
and the young girl says "AinI it horrid!'. The
strolling slowly along the gravel walks AT
a certain point where there was a sharD
turn and the shadow of a spreading lilac bush
lay across the narrow path, they stopped with
little exclamation OF disappointment and
rapidly walked away. Another couple came
slowly along, their hands close together and
their voices low. AT the same point they
stopped and turned back. Another and
another couple came and went in the same
way with various expressions of disappoint-
ment. Presently THE STAR man went over to
see what Was in the bush. II was the cosiest
seat In the park, just in the middle OF u big
shadow, and ON 1t was a big, bad colored man.
smoking.
IL Is only as last resort that young couples
will sit in tine circle around the fountain.
Inc seats are too close together. 1t is re-
served for old men and married couples and
occasionally much worn out young man who
looks very tired and sits with his arms over
the back OF the seat. Another is the red-iaced.
iat OLD man, who carries a big yellow hand
kerchief and a palm-leaf fan. Walking all
about through the paths are people who can't
nnd seats any where, but waiting for a va
cdncy. but everybody Is well behaved and 1t
IS wrong impression If any one thinks there
Is anything improper In sitting In the park.