The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-03
The Central Park.

we know OF In the world is 80 fully and 30
popularity used and enjoyed as the Central
Park. Children particularly. by many
thousands, freqG,nt 1t In every available
spot on every day Of the week when care
and climate make 1t possible. There is room
for all who may reach the Pork. and the
reason that so many can enter checrily. with
the expectation Of freely enjoying all that
the grounds have to offer In the way OF turf
and landscape. IL because the gates are con-
ttnually forbidden to organized bodies. ike
militia regiment. which could either In
terfere with the publicin its ordinary amuse-
ments, or offer so powerful an attraction thet
the natural currents Of players and strollers
would be changed. and people would DO
brought into one donso and unmanaReabie
throng, with ono impulse and one line OF
movement. A single moment OF such an
assemblage would do moro harm than q
year OF the usual visitors; and the posi-
bilities Of injury In an enormous and COM
pacted crowd containing many Children
liable to start In mass suddenly or be STAN
peded in terror, lie as great for Its members
as for the Park grounds. AS 1t ID. people
OF all ages crowd not the walks only. but
the lawns, safely and without o single
restriction not required by common
sense and experience. The Central Parks
use 10 as great and admirable as its beauty;
and with this In mind. 1t has been
watched and nursed by its executive super
intendents: and hitherto 1t has been zeal
ousiy protected by its most responsible
guardians, tho Park Commissioners. from
tho intrusion OF any people or performance
hostile to the wise and liberal regulations
which have defended and maintained 1t
from Its inception.
Three days ago an attompt to bring the
military into the Central Park broke upon
the community like thunder from o cloud
less sky. Years OF persistent effort to this
same end had been met with steadfast re-
sistanco by tho Park Commission. 80 that
ut last regular parade ground In Van
Cortlandt Park. perfect for its purpose and
beautiful In It's surroundings. was sup
posed to have created permanent and
Nnal defence against the old-tlme danger
to the Central Park. Nevertheless. one Of
the regiments Of the city brigade. all Of
which are equally fred with longing to tread
the Green" near Ffty-ninth street. pre-
pared on Wednesday to invade this care
necessary permit. But fortunately the de-
sign was abandoned at the request Of the
Infanta EULAL1A. before any harm had
been done. No doubt what was intended
was q sincere compliment to the Infanta:
but It Is not the least Of that lllustrious
ladys claims upon the admiration Of New
York, that she declined it In a maner at
once so gracious and 30 considerate OF the
local sentiment.
II the long-suppressed rage for military
evolutions In this setting Of ideal piotu-
resqueness, wouldn't make use Of an acct
dental triumph as q precedent. radical
change has come over human nature. It
would make q most distinct precedent,
moro regrettable than any hurt the event
could inhict upon the grounds themselves.
There are other troops in the city besides
the Seventh Regiment. and we trust that
other considerable functions will claim at
tention hereafter besides the entertainment
Of the Spanish Princess now with US.
Even II the public. or such portion Of 1t as
could get o sight Of Q military display on the
"Green" should be wholly excluded. and
private parade for single spectator should
leave tho Park but little injured in fact.
and assuredly serious and eontin-
ual damage. would remain afterward in the
destruction of q deliberately and nationally
established custom. Let US now hope that
we have heard the last OF this eccentric and
vandal notion. and that this wise and neces-
sary rule will never again be threatened
with break down by any influential agency
not In touch with the ideas underlying tho
creation and the preservation OF the Gen.
trail Park.