Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-05-08
More Than 1000 Pleasure Seek
efs Visited Reeds Lake.
ADMIRED The NEW PAVILION
Ia spite NJ lss Cnnnhhcd Cossdialoa
IL u BOpSlAs--As North rArk and
Joha Hall Pack


calendar cannot always be relied upan.
Ii has the unblushing rfrontcry 10 in
sist that spring began April -. when
the sun 10 supposed Ia cross the line;
but everybody knows IL didn't The
shameless old god Of day played ashabby
trick on the astronomers. and he has
hardly showed his face since. until yes
terday. II was Sunday and the old rAs-
cal repented. The night patrolmen and
the belsted newspaper men caught sight
Of his boiled lobster face a. they were
going homo In the early hours ii tho
morning. long before the weary slcepers
had turned over for the coveted last nap
lie peeped up over the eastern hills. and
surveyed the city with u curious air. for
it had been ~ long since he had good
look at 1t that he was not sure he could
recognize il at q first glance. Then he
aPologized for his escapades. and flooded
the city with . glow Ut summer sun
shine Yesterday was all the spring that
Grand Rapids has had. and the day
should be given the homage Of the sea
son.
Ii Was Appreciated.
Probably il the day had realized how
il would have been appreciated it would
have come earlier in the year. The
change from the raw. wet. drizzly, rheu-
matte November-like weather which has
been shivering in macintosh and storm
overcoat, was too marked to pass I'M
noticed. The poet and the sentimental
list have had much say about winters
lingering in the lap Of spring; but the
hoary old reprobate did nothing of the
kind this year. lie not only refused to
fiirt with the fair maid OF May; but be
drove her from her throne. and forced
her To change her rosy blush Of inno-
cence for sealskin sacque and WOODEN
hosiery. That's the sort of tyrant that
lsscSs winter showed himself to be.
That's the reason everybody hopes his
icy old soul is lost in the vista Of the
past.
But that has nothing to do with the
way Grand Rapids showed it's apprecia-
ton OK the first spring like day of the
season.
Crowds at the Lake.
As early IA 9 o'clock yesterday morn
ing the Reeds lake cars were uncom-
fortably crowded. But there was a
chilling wind that deferred many II the
pleasure seekers. In the afternoon,
however, il was AZ beautiful a
May day as anybody could
wish and fully 1900 persons
visit the pretty little resort that nestles
In the hills TO the southeast VI the city
The capacity Of the street cars was
taxed to accommodate the gay throngs
Of visitors. They filled the seats and
stood on the running boards and crowded
the platforms. Sometimes they were
three deep. and frequently a man held
his wife and family on his lap in order
that they might not he compelled to
stand. Other men held their prospec-
tive wives and families. Pretty girls sat
on their escorts knees and attempted to
look unconcerned. Even the dudes that
stard on the rear platform and smoke
cigarettes became accustomed to the
semi -affectionatc sights in front Of them
and made no comments. The conduc-
tors felt the bencticent influence Of the
weather and rang up sixty fares TO the
trip without grumble.
The New Pavilion.
At the lake the new pavilion was the
especial obiecto Of interest. Ii was thrown
open for the first time and every one 81
the 1900 visitors inspected il. In spite
Of its unfinished condition. il WAS uni
versally admired. All the afternoon the
long elevated promenade from the pavil-
ion To the lake was wilderness IL
pretty girls and dazzling spring cos
tunes. The interior IL the building is
not completed yet. Even the monster
soda fountain. which ia the pride ~
Warren Swetland's heart. was not eject
ing lemon and crushed strawberry tia.
vors. but il will next Sunday.
Wurzburg's band rendered choice se-
lections during the afternoon. and the
seats around the band stand were never
empty.
Gathering Wild Flowers
Tho walks and driveways about the
grounds are not completed yet. but a
week - pleasant weather will pee them
finished Thousands visited the woods
about the lake and stripped the hanks II
their wild flowers. Bright checked
maidens wandered in from the woods,
their hands filed with spring beauties
hepaticas. blood roots and adder tongues
Here and there was violet. first ~ tho
scason--the JOHNNY lumpup" 81 the
irrepressible school hoy which had
pushed ifs pretty head through tho dead
1
the raw May wind. that had swept over
IL. The steamers ON the lake did good
business and ploughei through the clear
water with all the easy elegance - a
man ~ war NJ naval review. The s,r
face ~ the lake was dotted with row
boats and few gracelesa sons - Belial
ssee'f for bass in the early hours - the
evenirg
Tho coy AMI diminutive bathing suit
WINS not in demand YESTERDAY Nobody
but sanitary crank or email boy
would think - going in swimming al
this fioe - tho year and even the small
boy did not have tho courage 10 brave
the ic~ waters - too lake. The trim
and dltident maiden who believes swim
ming IL just -, lovely for anything and
wants somebody g. show her how o.
kick and paddle. vas sl-o present bu'
she had no longings f"r Manhattan
tcsch. Tho summer gardens were We
it'd by large crowds bot most - the
visitors we're too much interested va tho
new pavilion ami the promenade q care
~ anything eis@
Al the sight s~ers ~ the ciis dii MT
G. - Reds lake however Hundreds
visited North park and enjoyed The
excellent hps'ing N tho river and ne
pretty sights fruru the pavilion. Others
were ~ John Rail Park. eager - see bow
the three legged d~~r ant I " Tu-rer =
4 ors1asiirns bad endured ihs hardest in
ier 'or to decades The uooi~ ~
The river AMI st the liuFs are SLED . ,
.rrIng aosers sn8 80 vlsi'ors refurnn,
laden With exquisite funrhss = ters