Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-23
OUR PUBLIC PARKS.
Asrvpv OF THEM Hv SENTIMENTAL
REPORTER.


the public parks. for here. ~ in the grave
yards. al classes End common resting
place. though tho attendance in the former
would by no means DO 30 great II the h0bs-
tses thought for moment that their stay
would be 40 long rs in the latter. Mark
Twain. or some Other humorist. complains
that death itself is not 90 bad. but the
trouble 10. when once man dies he stays
deed % long. Now this is where the parks,
- public resting places, surpass tho grave
yards. Many an aching bone has been re-
cuperated on the benches beneath the
shady trees of Capitol Square. while tho
eugust features OF George Washington.
demsaned by tho audacious sparrow. look
dOWuin peace upon the winding walkwavs.
Even Chief-Justicc Marshall. who per-
hans has tho best head for knotty ques-
lions OF any man in the " fathers party.
would admit without hesitation, II the
question werc. put. to him; that baby car
riaeA and colored nurses have almost the
exclusive franchise TO the Capitol square,
and after these come tho squirrels. and
then the passing multitude.
Still il is the park of Richmond, and
ever will DO. Perhaps /. lie the location.
or perhaps tho associations that cluster
around IL. At any rate. everybody cuts
through il when he wants to 90 to Broad
TIM POLITICIANS BLsr.
Here the politician, ever ready to dis
Ouss measures concerning which he
tnowe,h naught. seats himself in some Sc
cluded nook n; all times ready TO pounce
upon som. unsuspecting victim going to
the State-House. and here. too. the man
with last years peanuts and ante-belIum
ginger cakes expatiates IN seductive tones
upon his tempting stock. Dogs are per-
haps the only animals excluded IRON the
rights of the lovely hillocks within the
Square. and even these. If they are built
after the Doctor Tanner pattern, some
times manage to squeeze through the iron
bars of the fence and disrespectfully wipe
their feet upon the soft green sward, as the
little girl said about her neighbor's hens IN
mammals backyard.
Some time ago saw an amusing acct
dent happen to dog who had evidently
fAiled to scan the sign which admonlshes
oil canine specimens to keep out of the
place. This particular brute was possessed
of . rotundity which proved an impede
ment IN his progress through the bars of
the gate, and when that section of his
anatomy, which in this case pointed north,
had gotten halfway in the gate the remain
ing portion Of his makeup refused to fol-
low. and deadlock ensued.
IN GREAT PEBpLExITY.
The quadruped Immediately realized
that something was wrong, but he could
not locate the seat of the disorder exactly
and started to 60 forward. This forward
movement swung around the gate, which
revolves. and the dog would fam have
wiped the preparation from his wrinkied
brow had he known precisely whether he
was now possessed of two or four paws.
In his onward OF rather roundabout pro-
gress he soon found tina: although he started
Tor tho Capitol he was facing Main street
(he entered from q Bank-street gate) and
that that portion of him which should
have gone last was heading direct towards
the monument. The more he tried to
better matters the worse things got, until
finally dog and gate IN their rapid revolu-
lions became harmonious blending,
which gave beautiful exhibition of what
promised to be perpetual motion, Hntil
public-spirited citizen released the howl
ing canine from his ludicrous but en-
barrassing position.
AproDos to the subject of dogs and tho
Capitol Square. gentleman OF this city,
whose photography does not equal his
kind-heartedness. addressed communica-
ton TO the DISPATCH recently IN which no
complained of the cruel treatment re-
ceived by cannes at the hands of the
guards in the Square. He first dwelt with
the subject from q humanitarian stand
point and then concluded by bringing the
law to bear upon the question. First. he said
the sfectionate quadrupeds were lacking
IN the educational facilities to enable them
TO know that the Park is forbidden ground.
and then he added, in his quaint and
original chirography, that dogs are per-
sonal property" and mo one" concludes
he, referring TO the vigorous kicks the
brutes sometimes received. has rightto
injure or deface personal property" His
arguments are good, either from humane
or legal standpoint.
The Square is lovely all the year round
] think. The gentle SLOPES Of the hillocks.
the soft green sward. the tall trees, and
the horde of babies always strike me as
beautiful, and il there is any one place
where q man ought to be excusable for
wasting his boss's time, IL Is here.
At night when the moonbeams simmer
down upon the magnificent monument,
and bring out the lineaments OF each old
hero's face and figure IN
clear outline. think the scene is grand,
and tits a wonder Washington and Nelson.
and even the dirt-begrimed Clay, don't
sometimes descend from their pedcstals
and relax their dignity sufficiently TO join
in game Of historic leap-frog or duck on
Davy.
CANDLES HILL.
After the Capitol Square. which, like
Washington, consider first in war and
FIRST in peace" my favorite stopping place
is CANDLES Hill. In broad daylight 1t has
but few attractions, but when night
throws her sable garb over the world and
+" all the dir q solemn stiffness holds" the
place "a indescribably sweet Babies give
way here to fair young girls, who sit upon
to sentimental nonsense. Far across on the
other shore the lights of Manchester
twinkle In the distance. while closer
by the fires of tho Tredegar blaze
and roar like the furnaces of Vulcan
On every side electric lights sparkle
with their violet hues while the
fair lunar orb seems to hang more closely
to the hillsides of green and sheds softer
light upon the velvet grass If the moon
Is high in the heavens and the atmosphere
clear, sometimes the waters of the James
can be seen between the many factories,
and the sight always sets the mind to re-
calling tender memories and thinking of
the turbid stream "a it dashes to the
ocean. have often sat upon the Hill"
with INV mind far away in dreamland and
n aueht could bring me back TO this hard
old world but the stern reality OF two
inch candie-bug dropping down my neck
NJ il met its fate fluttering about the cleo
bic lights.
TEE SPINNING B1cYcLIsr.
Here the bicyclist spins around on his
wheel, wbizzing like phantom by some
couple 'or barking" his
shins over an unexpected rock that hap
pens 10 be in the pathway. i have seen
some of tbem--I mean the wheelmen, not
the pebbles valued not life ride down
the steep hillsides on their machines,
while I inwardly contemplated q neat
obituary notice for the prospective de-
ceased.
There used to be a small alligator in the
on the "Hill," but the children
were so profuse in their attentions TO the
big -mouthed ssuran that ne has long since
been gathered to his fathers.
LIBBY HILL.
The Wcst-End man who has the deter
mination of Napoleon and is willing to
paw Eve cents to one Of the numerous
strcet-csr lines which run almost every
where In the city can by Drawing the |
heights Of Libby Hill or Marshall Park |
obtain a. pretty view of Richmond as
can be found anywhere. The most beau |
t!ful sight which strikes bis eye 10 the |
south il the green lowaround of Chester
Geld. while looking west the spires and |
towers Of our hilly CITY can be seen on |
every hand. Libby Hill combines both |
the sentimental and the baby carriage, and |
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