The sun., 1893-05-28
eRExy r1AresouxDs ron CHILDREN.
Joyous May Parties OF the Little Ones Upon
the Lawns OF Central Park.


the Lawns OF Central Park.
This 10 the season for the May parties whic
enliven Central psrk and give many childre
| the only glimpse OF real grass and roal tree
| they ever have. 1t 10 a pretty custom whicl
seems specially to pertain to New Yorl
among American cities for the children to ge
together In gala dress and spend u day on th
lawn in the Park. This custom is confined
| almost entirely 10 the tenement house chill
| dren OF foreign-horn parents. Just ms tn,
people who crowd tho Park on Sunday ar,
aim ost oil foreign born citizens and their fam.
lilies so the children who make up these Ma,
parties come from New York clty's foreign
quarter. especnliy from the German neigh.
borhood around Tompkins square.
Any one who has never seen one OF those May
parties should 90 up to the Park any pleasa mt
day at this season Of the year and watch the
meadow in the lowor part Of tho Park. On
somo days there are scores OF these pnrties.
There are more girls than boys. They wear
white dresses decked with ribbons. no hats.
and thcir hair flows loose. In tho centre OF
the Eronp is the May pole. with streamers. one
hy u boy. and im m ediately in front OF him is
the girl who II tie queen ,,,, OF tho May party
girls on her block.
These May groups are cSceeding gly patriotic
san ar %hsh hs crsn hod IA nne
hand. while they grasp the streamer from the
May pole in the other. The streamers are al
tlon OF colors is almost the only one seen. Tho
parents Of the children encourage this demon.
Ittpo girs wear red and tius rnSons y 8, wtS ltS
Since the custom OF holding May parties in
the Park began tho number Of these little fes-
tivals has Increased so greatly that the Park
authorities have made regulations for them.
Of these permits s is TO have sono one 81 rsspen ys.
sible for the care Of the children and to pre-
% hs eGnE ;. e too MAY hnsss
.nt parties. but the PARK authorities have
party plenty OF STAGE to enjoy itssii and to
prevent overcrowdinC. Quarrels between
@ ssdEs Il e in % 81 ,ss nHTy os s
get into II row with another small boy when
he is out In the country. and to these children
The teachers IS OF the pu bile schools and Of the
different sunday schools give many OF these
na s srss M.s TEsy Htpxds E s slsn shs
some some little souvenir, which f. & usually com
small American flag. which is one OF the oet
freqnent souvenirs. The refreshments nre
Park authorities q great deal Of trouble.
SO popular have these May parties become
that children from Jersey s City i'9boken: and
them Is spreading to other suburbs. Parties
are being made up n Newark: Long Island City
try a great deal n carer to these localities than
Central Park. The May parties include visit
to tho menagerie back Of the Arsenal. where
won en- who are In charge OF tho parties an
swer all kinds Of questions.
So many applications have beer made for
permits from the Park Department that the
available space is allotte! for days ahead. At
first the parties were held only In the lower
there was soon taken and the Park Commits
aioners havo extended tho chidren's play
grounds from the large green west Of the Mall.
above tho Arsenal. the lawn west OF the reser.
yoir. and tho hill near the old reservoir, The
tsk1 G
would include that too.
From the number OF permits given. almost
ometm es IRON 5000 to 1SO0O children 60
70 the Park In one day IN these May parties.
i is hard to keep the children from taking
them, but since some grown person Is always
held responsible tor the purity and tho Park
have sns to h. the people
trees the taking Of flowers by the children has
There is plenty Of work for the Park Depart
ment after a day OF these May parties In clear
Ing up the lawns. The luncheons arc brought
e psna IN sheen the
pa5at, par BITS OF paper n5e r in the grass
on the ground This keeps q large force OF
Park lahorers buaily at work clearing up after
them; There is little harm to the lawns. for
persons Would Even X they icy. should % kHma iniura
the grass. the Park is intended to give enjoy
and It is better to rssod the lawns
than to keep the children from
the full enjoyment OF their May parties.