The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-26
Preparations Completed for the
Entertaining of the Little
Folks.
FUN AT GOLDEN GATE PARK.
Park Policemen Invited to Dine
With J. E. Kirkpatrick at
the Palace.

Golden cate Park is to belong to the
children to-day. All of yesterday Super
intendent McLaren had his force at work
making preparations. There was a show
ing of hustle and hurry everywhere.
The park policemen, in their shirt
sleeves, were working just like ordinary
mortals. And with their faces red and
dusty and with their brass buttons gone,
they didn't look bit like the awe-inspir-
ing creatures of every day. But they were
all happy in preparing for the expected
youngsters.
AT the scene of the prospective feast the
little tete-a-tete tables have given way to
long tables capable of seating sixty
people EACH And long benches have
taken the place of the high-topped cane
bottomed chairs. Room has been made
for the accommodation of 800 guests each
time the doors are opened and so it is
thought all will be accomm odated.
The little goat boys, and the donkey
boys and the popcorn girls were all help
ing. They were bringing in the greens for
the windows and setting the tables.
This last job was not light one. Long
oilcloth covers were drawn over the tables.
Then little wooden picnic plate was put
at each place. Beside each plate was a
glass with neatly rolled Japanese napkin,
and also fork.
Early this morning the labor of setting
the tables will be completed. Each child
is to have sandwiches, cake, popcorn,
candy and a glass of milk. If they have
a particularly great capacity they will be
able TO go through this menu an indefinite
number of times, as each child asking for
1t will receive ticket for lunch and
there will be no way of telling how manv
lunches the youngster may have had be-
fore.
Everybody knows that the children are
to 60 out to-day. Even the woody donkeys
seemed to be thinking about 1t yesterday.
They were having a good easy time, for
the Christmas visitors seemed to be in
hurry and devoted their time to walking.
The burros nodded their ears at each other
wisely and were evidently discussing
the work they would be expected to do
with the entire child population of San
Francisco at liberty to ride for nothing as
many times as they could get tickets.
eve are going to have the greatest
crowd we have ever known, | think" said
Mr.. McLaren yesterday. But We'll be
ready for EN-"
And he smiled and looked as pleased as
if there was no work at all in handling an
eager mob of several thousand children.
ave are going to have the band on the
will be for the children alone. Then the
goats, the donkeys and the merry-go
round will be at their disposal. Last, but
not least, each child will get ticket for
lunch, and as the lunches will be served
from 10 o'clock in the morning till 5
O'Clock in the evening. [ am satisfied that
every one will be waited on at least once"
''And is there no limit as to age? was
asked.
1--WE haven't had to make any," was the
prompt answer. 1--WE only cater to the
little ones and those who are too old to be
called children have never tried to impose
on u.s.
There was no band out at the park yes
terday, but the crowd was there just the
same. The drives were filled with buggies
and bicycles, while pedestrians crowded
the walks.
There was no lingering anywhere,
though. The sky was clear and the sun
light bright, but the air was braclng and
exhilarating, and kept people moving
briskly.
There was no wind, and in consequence
the shady side of the boulevard remained
muddy till late in the afternoon. This
caused continual trouble for the police.
The bicyclists kept to the right going out.
They all wanted to be ON the same side of
the road coming back, too, because the
shady side was vet and slippery, and so
they rowed with the police. There were
no arrests.
A very great compliment was paid the
park police yesterday. j. c. Kirk patrick,
manager of the Palace Hotel, stopped at
the park lodge and told Superintendent
McLaren that he wanted the entire force
to take dinner with him ct his hotel on
Friday evening. He said that he drove to
the park every day at least once and some
times twice and that, though he didn't
know one of the force by name, he had
learned to regard their efficiency and gen.
tlemanly behavior so highly that he
wanted them as his guests.
There was even greater crowd than
usual at the chutes. Quite as many peo-
pie sat on the fences around the chute
grounds as went through the turnstiles.
These were watching a monster balloon
ill with hot air. There was almost no wind
and the balloon went UP almost straight
to distance of at least 1000 feet before the
parachutist cut loose.
The aeronaut sailed only hundred
yards or SO to the south. He made the
greater part of his descent hanging by his
heels and raised himself Just in time to
light on his feet in vacant lot.
The boats were kept busy and greater
harvest of hats than usual was accumu lated
by the lake. AT one time it seemed as if
fleet OF differently shaped crafts had been
launched on its wave-tossed surface. There
were no other accidents.