The Washington times., 1895-06-02
Things 6een and Heard
By a Park Wafohnan
Strange Characters Who Haunt the Settees and
Shrubbery of Our City Observation-Disclosures
at Work-Cranks and Their Rostrum

view of the path as It stretched out on
either side The sun was just sinking be-
low the horizon aud dyed the trees aud
foliage crimson hue
A BIT OF oRIENTALIsM.
On the nearest bench sat group OF at
taches of the Chinese embassy and their
ny-colored garments and queer looking
queues gave a sort Of pieturesquenesst to the
scene. A little farther off were several
gray and blue-coated veterans OF the late
war chatting and smoking as they recounted
stories of hard-won fields.
AT various intervals along the path were
several nurse girls with their charges, two
young women with gaily- -hued dresses and
boisterous talk. some High School boys,
aud family ofexcuTsionists from some back
county district
There is one Individual who is looking
fixedly on the ground that attracts attention
because of the shabby genteel air about him.
Almost every one familiar with Washington
would recognize him as one of that class
of persons so often met in Washington, the
disappointed office-seeker PennileSs and
without friends or place to lay his head,
he is debating whether TO humble his pride
aud return to the village whence ne set
out with glowing accountsof what he would
do or else to eud it all in the dark waters
OF the Potomac.
The roadbed also presents an animated
appearance. Coaches and carriages drawn
by richly caparisoDed horses bowl along
the driveway while here comes a hired
vehicle in whose shafts 1ogs an old animal
that has seen service on the street car
lines. Bicyclists and tricyclists in bloom
ers, blouse and breeches, speed along at
lively pace while the horseback riders
canter along with more regard for ap-
hon.
and scorch it.
However interesting the landscape and
the scene along the roadbed may be TO the
student of character, still it is the
motley crowd of pedestrians who pass in
panorama before you on the foot-path
that presents the most interesting and
noteworthy phases of humanity.
ALLS SORTS SANDCONDTIONsOF OF MEN.
The lame and the halt, the diseased and
the sound in body hurry past. Some
laughing, come slehing, some with happy
joyous faces, and Others with sorrow and
moroseness depicted in their countenanees.
Here comes a little lady whose pert,
proud air and Independent staggering
walk shows that she has Just secured a
position in one of the government depart
ments, while but a few PAGES behind there
walks slowly modest, pretty girl whose
dowDcast eyes proclaim the i'll success of
her efforts to obtain the coveted place
Here comes a Ted-faced individual in
checked suit, and his horseshoe Despair
gied collar and jockey-whip watch charm
mark him as racing man who plies his
trade over the river. That ministerial
looking man with the black suit and white
tie, notw outstanding his sanctimo uious
face, is a noted confidence and green goods
man. His companions look like and are
no doubt well-to-do farmers, who have
come up TO see the sights and spend their
roll and with such q skinful hand as their
guide it may be relied upon that they viii
both see and spend. after which he VIII re-
Iieve them Of the residue and send them
home sadder but wiser men,
Blue-coated pensioners hobble along on
their cTUtches, agents and drummers who
are doing the town jostIe one another in
their anxiety TO be the first TO reach some
merchants establishment.
The colored gentlemen are very much in
evidence as they meander along, fully con-
scious of the admiring glances Of the
nurse girls of their own race.
Thus they pass before you, types of all
classes and conditions; every phase OF the
human race is represented in the motley
throng Some are bent on business in the
Smithsonian Institute or the museums,
while others seek rest and quiet in the
shady groves. Most OF them, even here in
the sanctuary of nature, cannot Danish
from their thoughts, talk and manner
the great race for wealth which they daily
run
The business man does not see the beau
ties of the park or take advantage OF the
priceless opportunity to commune with
the maker of nature, but obliviOus of all
Gods handiwOrk spread broadcast about
him, can think only of the latest quota
tions of the stock or money market.
The youth first entering upon ife's
feverish fight saunters along seeking to
CLEAN from a book, The Secret of Sue
cess" the rules which may show him
royal road to fame and fortune, while his
less talented brother hastens past and
reaches the goal. Types Of these and end
less other characters may be seen from
park bench, and when tired of the show
you get up and join the crowd, you VIII
at the next bench find some one else eyeing
you with the same glance of mingled
curiosity and interest with which you re-
garded others but short while before.