The morning call., 1890-05-11
ON A SUNDAY
IN THE PARK.
An Exhibition of Nature, Human
and Otherwise.
Rushing for Seats on the Cars-An Admixture
Of Emotions-What the People Do
and How They Do It.

At that time the Golden Gate Park existed, 1t
Is true. but in comparatively embryotic condl-
tion. Nor was the primitive state OF It's attrac-
tioh Its greatest drawback. Lack of transporta-
ton facilities stood as an insuperable barrier
between it ana people OF quiet habits and ordi'
nary means.
Apart from horses and vehicles which were
altogether beyond the resources OF more than
two-Ihirds OF the wage-earning classes-the only
route 10 the park was by The old Central line OF
streetcars to Cemetery avenue and from thence
by Il line OF buses, which ran at irregular inter-
walls and on holidays only. Subsequently the
buses were displaced by tile steam dummy line,
which Is now operated In connection with the
Geary-street road.
Woodward's Gardens, private resort OF
mixed character, existed then, as 1t does now,
but II hardly met the requirements OF healthy
outdoor recreation, and besides, two-bit charge
for admission somewhat marred its utility.
Warmers monkeys, at North Beach, 10urished In
those days.
On Sunday and other holidays after the COM
pletion OF the first section OF the sea-wall, a
steady stream OF humanity c0ule be found prom
enadlng up and down it from Warmers. Tele-
graph Hill, too was an attraction to those who
were
STOUT OF LIMB AND SOUND OF WIND,
And on days when labors hand was stayed its
crest was generally covered by multitude Of
tuooO VIM app CSldlCu lush oil anu q piS"o"He
view.
But all this Is changed now. The number OF
outlets from The ceaseless hurly-burly of the
business center OF the city has Increased to quite
respectable proportions. The Union-street line
has, SO to speak, brought the Preside Reserva-
ton TO Montgomery street, and 1t can also be
reached by both the California street and The
SItter-street lines.
Then there are no less than six competing
lines TO the park-the Hayes-street the McAllis-
ter-street, and the Haight-street lines are the
continuation of the Marketstreet system; then
there also The 0ward- street, the Powell street,
the Geary-slreet. and by transfer with the Pow
ell-street, the California street. OF these the
Gearystreet Is the Oldest
Tie Incidents OF trip over II, and the scenes
at the park. are repete with exhibitions OF ma
ture, human and otherwise, and of the curious
angles at which the side-gnts fall athwart the
pathway Of life The day is bright and clear
one Of several which have succeeded long Pc
Rod OF atmospheric incemency. aud, being SUI
day, San Francisco turns out In large force TO
celebrate Its release from confinement.
Around the turn-tabie stands quite little
throng OF people OF all ages ranging from child
hood 10 three score and ten. Its well.dressed,
orderly, but not exactly well hammered little
crowd. 1t does not do anything very pro-
nouncedly wrong. either individually or collect
lively; but II exhibits q good deal of the hoggish
side OF human nature. II brushes and 1t rushes
and II pushes; IL works upon the principle of
hindmost'; 1t is utterly selfish and seems to be
unconscious OF The presence OF others, except as
obstacles.
Car after car gldes up and rolls away, being
almost hed-whOlly as regards the dummy
before It's crew have chance to turn 1t and yet
the
WAITING THRoNG
Never seems TO grow smaller There Is a woman
of foreign extraction there, with a female friend
and Two young children. She is a great gross
mountain OF physical deyeopment and Ia very
Ienacity with which she hangs on TO those chill
dren. But even her maternal Instincts are OF a
coarse ana selfish nature, and altogether lacking
in That tender soliciGude which belongs there.
One child is an infant and she holds 1t on her
lett arm. The other Is about three years OF age
and she holds that by the hand. To speak liter
ally, she hangs IL 10 her by Its unfortunate little
arm. Its feet being generally from one to six
l niS on the ground nC. Sne hangs on to that
care OF IL but because IL Is her property and she
does not want 10 lose IL. The fact that its arm
must be hall wrenehed out OF its socket does not
seem to count.
Twice she has rushed for seat on the dummy
and each time has failed to secure it. Disguised
she now seeks TO enter the car by the rear plat
form before IL has ceased swinging. She carries
that child still hanging by the arm and In her
eageruess she does not see IL Knocked down and
almost crushed TO death until the revolving plat
form nearly wfenches II from her grasp. But
the platform Is nigh and the child is as tough as
its mother Is coarse and SO The day does not
begin with a tragedy.
The woman ard her progeny climb on board,
and the observing philosopher. who has watched
car after car depart during the preceding half
hour, In the vain hope OF being able 10 secure an
outside seat without scrambling for II by the
same methods which cause pig 10 put Its feet In
the trough, gives up his useless vigil with a sigh
and steps after her. Mentally he remarks TO
himself: "Well, am snre Of seat for the trip
anyhow I" But In this he Is mistaken.
Since Il time when the memory OF man runneth
not 10 the contrary, 1t has been 4 fundamental
law Of
AMERICAN ETIQUETTE
That noblesse oblge that 10 lady shall be com.
PEELED TO stand In public conveyance or other
public place while gentleman occupies seat.
This Is an outcome of that chivalrous courtesy
toward the fair sex, which is characteristic OF
American manhood By degrees, however. this
courtesy has come 10 be regarded by its recipi-
eDts right, and therein will probably be
found the secret of its death knell.
Men, base bfutes that they are, seem to be be-
ginning TO sicken OF females who thrust them
selves In on crowded cars, when they could with
but little Inconvenience wait for the next one,
and then accept the seat OF some tired male
traveller without, III many Instances, the slightest
acknowledgment, OF at most perfunctory
bend OF the head. The noblesse oblige Is
founded on something, and II that foundation is
destroyed the superstructure must, In obedience
TO The laws OF nature, fall
When women intrude and impose upon mems
cbvalrous courtesy they cannot be surprised II
they destroy IL. IL thee women spread them
selves over seating accommodation for six per-
sons, leaving some unfortunate man TO hang on
TO a strap, they cannot be surprised II that ma n
registers vow never TO surrender bis seat again.
But this Is digIesSiOu, and the Changing of the
conductors gong recalls the subject in hand.
More passengers and then the car starts again.
the accumulation OF pilgrims and nickels does
not cease. One gets of and two get on. Thus
no more. The last two are ladies, young and
cOmely. One carries baby, OF which she is evil
IDENTITY the mother. She pauses as she reaches
the car and says TO her companion:
"Oh J. It's packed; let US walt for the next
one."
Nonsense" replies her companion, 'go on;
they'll make room for u.s."
And so they climbed on board. How they get
through that packed mass of men on the plat
folm. and up the no less packed aisle. Is lncom'
prehensiblc; but
THEY GET THERE JUST THE SAME"
Get right in front OF two old gem lemen (tbe only
males occupying seats on the carr One OF tine
old gentlemen recognizes his duty right away
and the mother sinks into his seat, expressing
her thanks by slight inaudlble motion of her
lips.
her companion seizes the baby and for a mo-
ment II seems as though there Is going to be a
struggle for II, but word and look seem as po-
tent as Freemason's sign. and the child Is sur
rendered. The other old gentleman Is looking
out OF the window III preOccupied way, and
when his eyes and wits return TO the car he sees
an attractive young lady, burdened with child,
standing In front OF him. or course, he, too, rec
ognlZed his duty.
The fact OF the matter is, In the classic
yernacnlar Oh the exchange, that young lady IS
''ny"; she VIII shoulder aud push her way
through the world without difficulty, and from
her Will spring race OF selfish, tricky, contempt
ible men ana women. And now what babel Of
voices arise In that car; "Dempsey will knock
him out as sure as" the last quotation was
31s," ''of what material Is 1t to be-" IAN says
to ner," ach du Liber Gott," are few OF the
expressions which catch the ear and get them
selves mixed up IN InextrIcable confusion.
In desperation one looks out OF the window,
and as the car glides softly along one becomes
Interested In tile houses, In the faces at the WIN
dows IN the people on the doorsteps, In the boys
on the sidewalk. Ii is a regular panorama. There
is picture neatly framed In one large pane OF
glass with a heavy lace curtain for back
ground, which would charm the eye OF a painter.
II is an old, withered. wrinkled face. peerlng
with steadlast glance through g0ld-rimmeo
spectacles Into the pages OF the great book which
lies open on her lap
She cares nothing for Sunday at the park;
Alter long years OF a well-spent life, surroundeC
by the love she has won, she feels the shadows oil
ETERNITY's TWILIGHT GATHERING
Around her, and turns with even greater assuid'
Ivy 10 the lamp which has lighted her journey
through LIE. On dashes the car into The nexl
block. and another face appears at the window
but II Is not Old and wrinkled
IL Is rounded and dimped and fresh Lie Is
all before her. and very fair and full OF hope II
looks as she sits there, waiting for the sound OF
fo0tstep that Is expected and Is always wei
come. And hardly has thai face disappeared
before another comes Into view, baby's faee-s
baby that jumps ana crows in its nurses arms