The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-13
IN LOyE WITH THEIR SHAPES.
The M.rry.xo.rDund. Provide n New Dis
sipn,iou tor Conceited Young Folks.


sipu,iou tor Conceited Young Folks.
Tho evolution Of tho merry-go-round into
what it has now become Is one OF the most in
teres in. OF tho lighter studies OF The moment.
The original carouses were very rude Affairs
and often were not housed at all, but consisted
OF n simple ring OF toy animals made to ro-
voho by man who ground crank. Ihen
came the roofing of tho IN achne and the ad-
dition Of n hand orcan aud n LAD to mako 1t
grcan out its music. Foreigners and worry dull
looking country boys and girls were tho carly
patrons OF the singular toys. tho main income
being from immigrants from Europe who had
fallen under the fascination OF the machine In
thric f4tho!lands.
Now all is changed Tho carousels. the houses
in which they are run. and the people who pat
roEi;c them are all several grades finer than
used to bo the case. The best merry-go-rounds
are now the result OF n considerable outlay OF
capital in every instance. Fine houses are
built over them. the walls are mainly OF glass.
t. mako tho interior bright by day; the ami
mails AMI charots arc gully decorated. and
stand on broad solid platform held up by
bewidering array Of colored rods; the ma
chinery tina moves each flying circle Ia hidden
behind pictured curtains; q steam engine
moves the machine and works the invariable
organ: rows OF seats o hold hundreds OF spec
Gus. and tue Illumination at night is made
brilliant by IN abundance OF electric lights.
Candy counters. soda fountains. and even
stands for the salo OF novels and illustrated
papers swell the attractions of these places.
Tho changes have been rapid. and seem to
date from that article In The SUN few years
ago wherein at ention was called to the fact
that q merry.go-rourd in Atlantic City was
coming 81 minute on busy days--or 90 cents
n minute. to DO moro eXact-for it's owner.
who was then becoming one OF the lani barons
of that resort With the knowledge that there
Were fortunes in the business. came II new lot
OF showmen with practical methods, and they
no interruption Of tho inflow OF money. The
old plan used to be to take on q load OF riders
load When ali were seated a collector went
around aud TOOK up the fares. To-day this
long delay between each spin Il avoided By
Office in III" bniliinc While one So! OF riders
is alghting another set gets on. and while the
the round OF III" circle and takes up the ickets
Ine rdss have be enc 80 adept that often
changing ills loads OF passengers.
But tho most interesting thing about the
merrSgo-ronnds is that they have introduced
what mnuhts 10 new vice. Riding on the
lying circle isa new ntoxicant Boys and girls
and Young men and women became 20 iniatu-
holidays a d every penny they have or can get
in Gratifying the now apprtitc. There are
parents anxious for the morals OF their chill
dren. and this Is sui1ic entity serious to give
the n,aGes an oF-color casto in many resorts.
put ut the Same time they are the resorts Of
thousand Is OF The most modest pc sons. who 20
TO them to provide amusement for it'll. chill
what Go"s on srouna ,h@m. Their Vicious side
Is 40 more than pertains 10 every place where
bers indeed. tho merry. go rounds ars always
open to the street. and 50 crowded with look.
q dr. q la and nj
skn,iuE rinks. which were enclosed and sepa.
rarsd from the ( neral public;
that which is complained OF at aii. it is q new
and distIhct diversion and can be likened only.
who are stage struck. Those who have not
stuffed St, me evolution OF the merry-go-round
XVI rs o. pE in h sS 30 1s
Bodkns were ri,en 70 the riders and they RI
Tynlod one another in securing rings in the
1ny very II, j" children indulge in it, The neM
in statueslue attitudes, IN order to crafty
thai form OF .nniy which leads men and
u"enny. As ono merry Go-rouud proprietor
put, it. ~ tho simple vernaculRr: I've are
stuck On th"ir chap ~"
:, Bolh isexe, 70 N or tho new diversion. but
the young men md he young wome a dress in
their very best clotne and look carefully a ter
ever llcIil lHbt cOullIDuleS 10 Inc making OF
good api earance Their hands their feet and
their hair arc caioiully looked after nv the
young women. while tho young men arrange
their incipient mous.acllcs, look after tile
crense7 down tho legs O. their trousers. and
set their hats or cars on ut Just the lady III ling
n'cl" y low 81 hetD i4e or on tn. backs OF the
10Y animals, but mo MAJORITY, stand boldly be-
tween tho wooden beasts, well out by the edge
Of me spinning. rlatlocms Then they pose 10
look thor r"ttlos. To one who IL not IN the
spirit OF III" pnri' rmers bnt looks on coldiy il
is the most absurd sight now to be seen Mt the
seaside: 10 much cg"iism and rampant vanity
cannot be found anywhere else.
some OF thu girls lean ono elbow ON the
nearest animal and rest = cheek on tho hand
oil that arm, others DGt their hands on their
hits AMI hold their ncads on one side wear
ing nt tho same time. tho most sinipering ex-
rlessipns. Oth.r- 90 in couples, and while
on" encircIcS iha othcr viii, her arm, thai
cthe one tests her head on her cOmInnioi;s
shoulder. tho young men are Inst as bad.
They Try to ho picturesque. They gaze a the
ceiling iondle an inclpiert nous ache with
fold their arms in front Of them. and nose like
the picture u NAPOLEON ut Eta Ths cratiil
cation arising from this must be unspeakable
for the saro gris an boys ara seen i'm tho
sum- positions day NJ OF dny riding ceaselessiv
around, driiGh cd sel.-c%hibitois. as long as
their money IAals.