The morning call., 1894-02-05
1T WAS TYPICAL.
A Midwinter Sunday in
the Park.
AND SUNSHINE.
Great Crowds Enjoy Balmy
BreeZeS and Music.
EASTERN VISITORS IMPRESSED,
Scenes in Golden Gate Park when
Thousands Throng the Lawns
and Avenues.

Sunday In Golden Gate Park. But the
brightness and warmth were shut oil Il
some extent from san Francisco-Do
enough. however, to bring suggestions Of
unpleasantnesS nor wish for warm cloth
ing. A crisp freshness, lovely to expert
ence, was in the air. II was day fol
action, for brisk walks aud flushed cheeks
aud no doubt everybody who could thor
oughly appreciate this fact found intense
pleasure in tbs rich ozone, the breeze:
laden with pungent fragrance oil pine
forests and musical with the chirps Of bird
songsters.
Golden Gate Park in mantle OF mid
winter green never looked better, except,
indeed, in the genial summer season. when
all its banks are dotted with blossoms and
its avenues filed with exotic fragrance.
And vet this day was a Sunday In the
depth of winter. III the eyes OF visitors
from PARKWAY frozen regions the landscape
looked like fairyland with many flowers
abloom, with crowds str0lllng about anu
children gamboling on the grass. 1t was
surely appreciated by them, though not a
whit less by the great crowds that passed
through the open gates from morning until
dusk.
A walk in the afternoon from Baker
street through the panhandle" ave-
nue. into Concert Valley was most en-
jOyable. On entering from the dusty
streets the sudden change had It's effect.
and first impressions are difficult to over
come. The grass borders were fresh and
full of life, aud behind them the ornamen-
tai shrubs and forest trees shut out an ex-
terror view, so a very grateful sense OF
seclusion was felt Equipages in astonish-
ing variety sped past. gong or coming and
always observing instructions on signs:
IN no RiChf - The QnOlnm m oa
team of two horses with bobtaiIs and gilt
tering harness ambled along. the steeds
champing their silvered bits aud liveried
driver maintaining maDnikln position
with as much personal discomfort as
man is willing 10 undergo Tor money.
Alongside went the livery team, or livery
horse aud buggy, something about them
denoting so much per hour, although they
were as a rule stylish enough for men
without proud professions. They had a
redeeming feature which belongs to livery
teams in San Francisco more than in any
other city. and that was the superiority
and beauty of their horses.
Then in the endless whirl of carriages
were many stately family vehicles
barouches, phaetons and the Resin
larger numbers, il seemed, than usual for
Sunday afternoon. These gave an air of
grandeur to the lines of carriages, and no
doubt 1t impressed visitors favorably.
DG way VI fhllCly uOsCdiio AduCy
traps. with snowy steeds and snowy
drivers. filed up the moving picture, and.
as If to assert the free-auG-easy side of
democratic Western life, old rattle-trap
shayS and wagons carrying honest folk
and drawn by old plugs that had seen
better days. 1t was so in the park
avenues aud around the carriage con-
course.
Closer to the park each side of the
sinuous pathway was bordered with
blooming heather or tufts of marguerites
and marigolds. The end Of this enticing
avenue marked the limit of mans
endurance in carrying an 0vercoat on his
back. The walk and the braciBg air
combined against overcoats and. like the
well-known fable, caused them 10 be re-
moved.
The green lawns we're as fresh as sum-
mer blue grass in Kentucky, and daisies
dotted the surface in places, making the
daintiest nantes of white and pink. Now
this was in the park proper; and beside
the daisies were beds of vlolets in bloom,
yellow and white marguertes. an odd
Towering shrub, magnolias and some
roses that had come too late in some per-
plexty about seasons. Evidently the
authorities did not expect that dust would
rise in clouds from the roads, but il did ,
and being midwinter dust it told its own
story. The red clouds occasionally fioa ted
across the trees and lawns, scarcely
changing their deep green, and not in the
least affecting the brilliant emerald of
young grasses that covered the slopes.
The Park band held an audience of
many thousands, a mixed and sprightiy
assemblage. who listened to the music
with evident pleasure. 1t was matter of
remark TIL at young ladies appeared in light
costumes and gay colOrs. and that para
soils were more in demand than mufflers,
for the sun would now and again break
nnt thrnnuh rho aiOuHS ~
earth. The benches were fully occupied
and many people stretched themselves on
the grassy slopes. and the walks around
the baDdstaDd were Gro wded, though not
uncOmfoTtably, as on Sundays before the
Midwintef Fair offered an irresistible at
traction.
Between Concert Valley and the chill
dren's quarter stream of Young and old
people walked back and forth. and around
the swings and merry-go-rOund 1ocks of
happy Youngsters frolicked 10 the sun
shine. The donkey and goat track were
popular for hours. aud when the children
could not get ride they tumbied on the
lawns or went inside the cottage for some
thing to refresh themselves.
The peacock lawn was greatly admired.
and particularly by strangers who were
agreeably surprised TO see the gorgeous
birds strut about and display wonderful
hues and colors- In the deer paddock a
oaU5 hobSGioO amuoCu tHo people DIV his
awkward and grotesQue method of loco
motion. He appeared as much at home AZ
if ne were in his native bush in Australia
but the timid Californian deer could moi
tell what to make of him, so he was left in
seclusion. The big elks have OF lost their
antlers, and as they moved through the
underbrush people watched them with
some curiosity. Across the drive crowds
gathered around a corral in the buffalo
paddock, where two large moose from
Cariboo, B. c., besported themselves in
their new home, to the evident disgust of
big Ben and his herd.
The conservatory was open all day
long, and during the afternoon hours the
stream of people passing through its
doors was incessant. Very much may be
seen there now.in the way of rare flowers
and foliage. Mr.. Cole. who watches the
exo,ics. had a busy day, with his assist
ants Eastern people," said he, TASK me
all sorts Of QuestioDs. You know. we never
had such show of rare orchids as at
present. and the Fasteners don't UNDER
stand it. They never saw anything like
the flowers we have. The climate here
suits orchids to perfection-dry in summer
and moist in winter. similar to the
orchids habitat That does more for us in
the conservatory than art or science could.
Like everything else in nature, orchids