New-York tribune., 1896-05-03
FIRST OF THE MAY PARTIES.
JOYOUS FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN IN CEN
TRIAL PARK.
SPORTS FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS WAS HARD
SHIP FOR THE POLICEMEN-EvEN THE
LATTER HOWEVER. WE'RE PLEASED
TO SEE THE YOUNGSTERS
} GIRLS WAS HARD
HAPPINESS.

HAPPINESS.
Just as The Tribune predicted. Central Park was
no place for a peace-oving citizen yesterday a,'ei
noon. unless he was content to keep IN the shad-
oux From FYftv-ninth-st TO the "CarTousel, on
IN. lake on the crown of Cherry Hill. which over
looks the water to the left of the terrace on Ceaa
Hill 10 the north of the lake; on the Dig pdi'
grounds where the lambs were Skipping aoou' oi
the emerald lawn while their mild-eyed ELDERS iooAu
on approvingly on the little ball grounds the TENNIS
cour, and ON Peacock Hill. where the tange OF
trees rises thickest above the bluff bank OF 'he
water-in fact everywhere where younes'er "Cuiu
be last sought after, the children hdu possess'o'. "
II was the first day OF the series OF Ma. pa' "
which will be all the vogue until june ""e" ''.'
will be the June walks further to vex the souls
OF the gray-coated policemen. The biggest crown
was gathered Yesterday on Cedar HILL possibly De-
cause as a vantage point where one can see anu
be seen of II Is the most conspicuous o'I '"'
crown Of that hill there were parties saioie' "e''-
eralv they were in such )umoe tha' .'e,e "1
no chance of discriminating as to their indivldual
,o,nos,+,or And the games they played! What
fun 1t was to all. to be sure.
The little folks began TO arrive al o CLOCK III the
morning and. despite the fact that there was ho
sunshine and that a raw wind wac paying haNoc
with complexions. they kept coming unll iea'S
noon By that time all had arrived and had scat
tered far and wide The possession OF permits they
thought gave them a grip on the visible universe
and so they raced the lawns. climbed the trees
until they were dragged down by the officers, raced
over the hills and climbed more trees only 10 De
dragged down by other policemen. and to De tod IN
forcible language 10 stop It," They ran across the
broad driveways taking chances Of being run down
bv the ever-increasing stream Of carriages, and IN
this performance were led by reckless elders VINO
should have known better. When luncheon time
came the climax of official misery was reached Inc
Cedar Hill picnickers gathered on the brow OF the
hill overlooking the drive and at their lunch
eon They unwrapped their paper parcels OF sand
wiches. dished oIt their Ice cream. ana proceeaeu
straighsway cast the pieces OF paper 10 the
winds This as 1t happened. was blowing sharpE
from the east and ii took up those pieces of paper
roted with them. hurled them aloft and hnay
landed them In the middle of the driveway. fright
enng spirited horses and tearing up the nerves OF
drivers by the roots. Then the officers interfered
as many Of the carriage folk were complaining Wig
orously and removed the ice cream and things 10
the sheltered side of the rise. Workmen were sent
for and it took dozen of them about two hours
10 clean up the paper which flying about.
The luncheon over, something had to be done TO
aid its digestion, and then the games began. In
many Instances the festivities were very formally
begun with the May pole dance which one can see in
Central Park it be seen nowhere else outside
of England There were May poles without mum.
ber and OF gorgeous design. There were kings Of
sns aneeMs Mss Of T1a the sy oCEng II ike @ fairy brides With
wreaths of blossoms and long white wells The
king and queen stood under the pole, which was
often topped with umbrella shaped crown or else
a genuine pavilion. and while the king and queen
held hands and cung to the pole the others danced
about IL wildly, singing. For games they played
drop the handkerchief and ring around rosy,
and as one of the policemen remarked to The rrib
une reporter, ''the divi knows what ilse for don't
Be sure. though have niver had 80 much trouble
in the whole course my life. What with throw
ing paper on the drives and crossin' anywhere and
iverywhere, I'm well nigh done out with them. And
it's not bad for the little but the older peo-
pie what knows better and men at that and
women. OF course. with man It's different. II
he gives you any CUFF you can run i'm In, but you
can't arrest woman little one on such a day
of all days. God bless EN- like TO see em have
their fun. It's the best fun of their lives they're
havin' now and l wouldn't be the one to interfere;
but they ought TO keep TO the walks when crossn'
over the driveways. Sure they had"