The morning call., 1892-12-27

ocean, and the clouds seemed to muffle the
pulsating roar of the slow but busy surf as
1t kept at its task Of washing the pretty
sands along its shore.
But the rocks were not sheathed in Ice
and up on Sutro Heights the flowers bloomed
just as though the sun were shining brightly.
But let the sun break forth on one OF
those ideal winter days that so often come
Ia strings a month long and how perfect
will become all this beauty
The park is never so enjoyable as on a
bright, perfect winter day.
In midsummer the harsh, steady winds
annoy and even chill at times; but in De-
cember aud January the breezes, IL they
blow at all ON those bright days, would not
disturb butterfly in its flight One forgets
that the air exists. There is delightful
softness about the sky and the sunlight
that can be matched only above and about
the bay OF Naples. II light oyercoats are
worn ii is mainly through habit. and para
soils and sunshades decorate every open
barouche.
On Sunday of that sort In December or
January 25.000 people are not an unusual
crowd to find in the park in the afternoon.
About the music-stand free open-air con-
cert keeps eight or ten thousand people
assembled and the carriage-stand close by
is crowded with hundred fine equipages.
On the grassy slopes hundreds of people
are lazily loIlng about listening TO the
music. watching the animated crowds.
glanciBg at the flowers, chatting, resting
and serenely enjoying the hours. They
stroll all over the miles of walks and drives,
sit on the benches, crowd about the various
fences that keep the animals within bounds.
60 over to the aviary to see the bulbuls and
the pheasants from Japan and hundreds Of
other birds from semi-tropical lands en-
ioying life in the great open cage. and find
generally that the park is an ideal place
for an afternoon Of rest and recreation.
While boys and girls are kicking their
toes on the Ice In lincoln Park, Chicago,
and In Central Park, New York, to keep
them warm, here there are 800 or 400 ba bies
and toddlers in white SUNNI cry clothes, and
urchns little older laughing with jollity
as they bestride the wooden horses on the
nerry-go-round or the little donkeys near
BY They are as happy and free about their
swings and teeters ana the green lawns they
roll on as any child could be on an Eastern
May day, and it is probably not nearly so
cold at that
Just above the ehildren's playground
family parties who are putting in most of
the day at the park are enjoying little pic
ME lunches about rustic tables In little
grove.
The doors Of the big red Casino are wide
open, and downstairs at the many tables on
the sanded floor men and women are enjoy
Ing their beer or sandwiches and coffee.
The observatory on the TOP of Straw
berry Hill is crowded. The breeze is barely
strong enough to futter girls red ribbons
At the foot OF the Hill is winding, placid
lake cleaning in the sunlight. TO the east
the improved portion of the park presents a
gay panorama. Crowds and flowers add
variety Of color to the rich expanse Of
green, and strings OF flashing carriages
stretching the whole four miles from the
park entrance to the ocean beach animate
the scene with gay life. The view from
this point can be rivaled in few places on a
June day.
To the north, old Tamalpais. dark with
forests. rises above the lesser Marin County
hills that roll their green down to where
the steep, rocky portals OF the Golden Gate
bound stretch of flashing aters.