Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-13
MERRIE MAY.
SCENES IN KRNsIsGToS GARDENS AND
HYDE PARK
Shaking OF Winters chill-rhe Children
sights and shadows-A
Pageant.
fFor the Dispo,chl

This "merrie month Of May sees The
fret signs OF something like life in old
London town. Shaking OF winters chill.
paralyzinG sleep. and the DARK mantle OF
log which has shrouded her since sum
mer last said goodbye, she awakens now
quite young again aud gay in the bright
sunshine oil the English spring. The
parks are ali carpeted with green, and
cenopied with the heavy foliage OF the
noble trees. The oaks, the horse chest
nuts in full bloom, the pink and white
hawthorn seeming the air invite the
wearied from the dusty street with
its monotoDous tread and wilder
ness OF bricks and mortar. 10
enter these bliesfui shades and rest under
the green branches, surrounded by the
loneliness of nature; for here nature
swcctly smiles, though in the heart Of
the world : greatest city. Were there
ever such trees as these IN Kepsngton
Gardens? To what tales they have
listened what secrets have been wins
pered hcre-what VOWS have been
breathed from lovers lips Troops Of
merry children have played around these
knarled trunks. Thousands have come
aid gone. Old trees, where are all now Z
Iou wave your green arms and seem 10
sigh with the gentle breeze. Only
nature is etornally young and beautiful,
for the sunshine still sparkles among
your futtering leaves and Rlancing down
on new faces makes the chiidrens laugh
ter Of TO day ripple as fresh and merry as
on May-day Of long ago. Fifty wears have
passed since in yondcr palace lived a
simple Young maiden, who dreamed her
mrlhOOd's fancies beneath these boughs,
until one morning when breathless mes
eongers hurried through the gates OF this
old domain and took away the gentle
child TO wear an empires crown. lis
now two hundred years since Dutch
William Of Orange and his loving
consort Mary, held here their
court How strange twould be II ghost
stories were true and quaint old ghosts
fitted down the glades on moonlight
nights. Perhaps they do. Who knows b;
Leaving these fancies, let us walk across
into HYDE Park and watch the passing
show and pageant Of our day Here IS
Rotten Row, and though the houris early,
only a little past moo. already eager
riders cauter down the ladies' mile and
loi5nrely return in groups, chatting and
enioving the cool breeze from the
river First ride a Goodly company,
famous in story, immortal IN song.
From castle and hall they come, the
peerless aristocracy Of England. There
rides King Arthur in modern dress.
Proudly Lady Clara We're de We're sweeps
past, and the blushing yeoman, some
simple squres son, whispers earnestly
into her perfect ear. LauncelOt, his
bride reins dropping on the neck OF his
proud stced, eazes dresmily into the
lovely face OF pale Guiuevere, while sad
Elaine signs, riding slowly on the other
SIDE. Here comes Maud with her laugh
ing companions-a rosebud garden
OF girls-with bright hair and bloom
ing cheeks, and voices melOdious as
the ripping of summer brooks. Gaily
they pass, flooding all hearts with sun
shine See there two grave statesmen,
discussing questions OF mOmentous issue,
and here, the famous actor who made
all weep last night over Hamlet's story.
Watch these dear Oldveterans. Their bat
ties over long ago, they now enjoy an
honored peace. but the three have just
met and at once their thoughts are
travelling back, and far away-togethe
again they are fighting side by side
under the scorching Indian sun or
Watching eagerly with ready gun
TOR the stcalthy stop Of the tiger Memo
RES Of good cheer too, cause bursts Of
genial hlarlty. Dear old Colonel New
comes, of London society Heaven
guard and bless you always. In striking
contrast follow four young men, groomcd
t. perfection, Immediately dressed,
spotlcs,ly collared and cuifed, types OF
the idiotc London "masher,' emotion
less, and as cXpressionIess as pokers,
saying nothing, evidently with nothing
to say. And good gracions Now,
what an awful looking woman ! Fat,
and decidedly forty, but very far from
fair Gllded wig, blackened eyes,
wAitened face, and vermIlion- painted
lips. Who is this ? Oh, she's all right,
the wife Of a X. c. B.-but gaze well at
her, for only in London cosmopolitan
and hberalminded could such an APP
partition he considered call right. ="
With herrides an adorable young British
officer an Apollo Belyedere, rs well as
Mars, OF the nineteenth century, but
far handsomer than any Of the stone
ideals. His brow, though, wears an eX-
preston Of dissatisfaction. Perhaps he
Is bored ut having To do duty rs escort
for the unattractive old cbnpe-
ron. while the graceful girl be-
hind rides with that tall, cadayerous
Int MISUNDERSTANDING foreigner
She does not seem contented either.
Evidently the foreigner IS pdrG, and
the dlsconsolate officer has only good
looks and his pay. SO tue chaperon
thus arranges the situation to the
intense disgust of the well-trained and
tractable but unhappy young people.
Hush, this Is royalty-an Il Il. II. and
the reigning belle Triumphant beauty
in a perfect-dtting habit cut by Busyine
is the cynosure OF every eve. II. +. II.
i, in total eclipse. AS they pass every
rider wheeling around follows, and in five
minutes the park empties. bat only to
till again i'll a few hours. With the
afternoon comes back the thronging
crowd. doubled and trebed, driving il
eduipages or promenading on the side
walks. All the world seems here, with
the best it can show. and the worst.
beauty and appalling hid
eousness pass and repass each other
Intellect and idiocy, wealth and
poverty, righteousness and wickedness.
weave and Intervene the vesture Of
society. The lights and shadows Of
London life here gloom and
glow but why this pause as
the mounted guard rides quickly
down TO clear the carriage-way Hats
of the Princess comes Vision Of
oveliness, too swiftly she passes, bright
" smiling, gracefully bowling, our
Princess of Wales, the nations darling.
FOR saxon or Dane or Norman we.
Tuetnn or Celt. or whatever We lie,
We are each all Dane IN our wecome OF thee,
Alexandria"
All the carriages now sweep out, and
Rotton Row is deserted. The clock
points to a quarter past and the sacred
draws near. ;. L. ).
Hiding n SaIioU skin.
- .-s.ort;o, oIOrtaJ ku coo,of,-