The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-09
a oRlr DlY TN cENrRAb PARH.
assutie- ~ Be see. whsn Ous Hss Mature
Alone ena .t Yer simnIest.

AN1@NN = - sHNA
AIone and st Her simpiest.
II was q gray day, and Central Park lay faint
ly whitened with the first slight snowfall. The
grass Of the lawns was tall enough 20 hide the
snow that lay between Its spires, so that the eye,
sweeping from end 10 end Of any lawn, saw II
mainly green, and not white. The walks were
thinly spread with a dry white powder, looking
on level areas like n cheap tablecloth laid upon
q hard table without the softening device Of the
felt blanket intervening between board and
linen to give the touch Of luxury that marks
the dining room Of the well TO do. The
absence Of strong sunlight and contrasting
shadows robbed all structures OF clean defnl-
ton In detail and OF stcreoscopic effect. so that
the great apartment houses fronting the Park
on two sides seemed merely Widowed fronts,
while the absurd mimic castle overlooking the
reservoir was more than ever a pasteboard
silhouette. The gray, inscrutable sky seemed
one with the colorlcss atmosphere, and what
ever light there was 'twlxt heaven and earth
was reflected and again reflected from the clouds
to the ground and from tho ground to the clouds,
while the meadows seemed TO glover in sympa-
thy with the frown overhead.
Few vehicles were moving about and there
were seldom so many as half a dozen pcdes-
trians in sight. A group of well-manncred boys
slid with vocifcrous delight down one Of the
sleeper paths. revealing In their catlike agility
and recklessnoss Of tumblcs the secret of boyish
health. Every face was mobile and full of
meaning, as doubtless II never was beneath the
deadening eye Of the schoolmaster, and each
with lips two feet from those OF his neighbor
bawlcd his opinions in n voice that could have
been heard almost across the Park. One saw
the small children of conscientious persons out
for the memorable daily walk, accompanied by
an accomplishing martyr in the form Of a nurse.
The latter and her consolntory policeman were
almost the sole aduits visible.
And yet IL was a good day 20 visit Central
Park. when one goes 70 tho Park IN summer
- 81. maa,La.w -. -. ,-nNI'
Ing ri richness of vegetation th nFn it seM' Upon
tho attention. When one visita tho part an
bright days in autumn mr. winter one.s rcliows
are there to distract and delight. But on n gray
day in autumn or winter one has Nature alone
80 INNNt ao
ana NJ her simplest. some persons thinK that the
Mall on n bright June day, with n crowd pres
,il,'nai sn D'.' p'ay ~, ~ y 'uo-
lghtlui Spots IN All inc fark: ana 30 Is But
fcrior. on 81 prov autumn dav whom a.. Ieoaos.
W. So, 80 - y; Wv" u' UNI,
pavilion which summer and sunlight, Justify
seems an lmpcrtlnence amid the gray solemnity
member the Mall as q raw, unpromising lawn.
sparseiy piaht.d with young elms in for
think Of Inc Mali now in its fhabitual sum.
nicr, aspect, when II seems n great. ca
theurhi Cnfpctcu WIN. green velvet, hiSled
with sun-iiecked asphalt, rooted with n multi
tudinous tower, and ptllared with granitc-like
bolcs that branch into gothic arches. But glo-
rious as the summer aspect OF the Mall has come
TO- be; " lacks : little OF the naked grandeur
New Yorker that has known the place for thirty
years realizes, on such a day not only the noble
size its elins have attained, but the nobler size
they are yet To attain, and the grandeur that Is
In store for the Mall Of thirty years hence.
stripped OF its foliage, which may well be the
frcscoing and lighter. more ephemeral decora-
tion OF this open-air cathedral, the Mall dis
plays the mobility OF its architectural plan. Take
a single elm at this time Of yesr. and it Seems
to stand with arms thrown nimlessly abroad
In the mere reckless Joy OF strength and stature,
and its head in "A furry of tangled twigs. Take
the elms OF the Mall, especially on n colorless
day. and their long double files seem to have