The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-07
Amusements of Years Ago.
From the Chicago News.

1t requires no deep or extended inquiry
into the subject to discover the fact that
the chief enjoyments of two generations
ago were of a far more rural and, one is
attempted to think, of an altogether more
picturesque character than those OF the
present age. Those were the great days of
tea and pleasure gardens, of open-air fetes
and concerts and galaS.
NauXhall, for many years considered
the most celebrated public garden in Eu-
rope, had been established at an early
date, probably during the reign of Charles
H., and had become a favorite resort of
the pleasure-seekers of London. Readers
of Addison's delightful creation Sir
Roger de CoVerley," will remember the
trip by water from the Temple Stairs TO
Vauxhall or Spring Gardens as they
The fragrancy of the walks and bowers,
the choir Of birds singing in the trees and
the large number of persons that walked
minds of the visitors of an oriental para
disc; the worthy knight, however, was
thereby put in mind of little coppice at
home, where nightingales sung on moon
lit evenings, and where he was wont TO
walk musing on the charming widow who
had so deeply impressed him.
The history of the NauXhaN gardens,
embracing a period Of something like two
centuries presents us with a most inter-
esting phase of the amusements of the
middle and upper classes of London so
ciety in bygone times. AS a general rule
the gardens were opened to the public in
MAY and closed in August. on ordinary
shiliugs and on special occasions 1t was
raised to shilings. The first thing the
visitor beheld on entering was fine graV-
eled walk 800 feet in length with an avenue
of noble elms When the weather permit
ted a band Of vocal and Instrumental mu-
sicians performed in magnificent gothic
orchestra placed in the middle of quad
rangle called THE Grove"
The musical entertainment was contin-
ued from until il, the programme gener-
ally containing sixteen items. Various
scenic and mechanical effects were pre-
scented on a large wooden stage at inter-
walls during the concerts. When the wea-
Their was wet the entertainment was given
in the rotunda,, a building seventy feet
in diameter, with a wonderful glass chan
delier in the center. A pavilion was erect
ed conveniently near for the accOmmOda-
ton of royal visitors. About 1000 glass
lamps, as well as q number of colOred
ones. were employed in the illumination
of the grounds which upon some occa-
sions were visited by as many as 1000
persons in one evening.
The Surrey geological gardens at Panton
Place Remington, were another place of
now almost forgotten. The gardens were
opened in 1892. The collection Of animals
from Exeter Change was brought here
and formed the nucleus Of very inter-
esting geological exhibition. The grounds,
about fifteen acres in extent, were well
wooded and contained a sheet of water
of nearly three acres. The Surrey music
hall, built in connection with the gardens
in 1854 was chiefly interesting from the
fact that Thackeray therein gave some
of his readings Hall and gardens have,
however, long since disappeared. and the
ground is now thickly covered with houses.
Hell confess I do not quite under
stand what a woman means by conf
Shea conhdante is the first one to