The sun., 1896-08-14
BROOKLYN PARK LODGERS.
PREF beds OF GRASS FOR lLL
DURING THE BoT SPELL.

L
| Ing the " All Oct nt 10" Ruie IL = Soon
TO swelterinE HumHnity-An Sorts of
Sieepers 60 be Seen and Conditions.
Park Commissioner Timothy L. Woodruff ex-
| pertinent In throwing open the parks OF Brook
| lyn to the public on hot nights has proved sue
| cessful. When Mr.. Woodruff issued his order
TO the police last Tuesday. telling them that the
40 O'Clock and all out" whistles were not to
blow during the heated term. he was not aware
| how many people would take advantage Of the
| opportunity to exchange a hot bed and q close
room for a cool couch of green grass and tho
unbroken breezes which float across the park
commons. His idea to relieve the wellers
In lodging houses ana crowded tenements, and
he did not realize that many other Brooklyn
ties, living in homes ordinarily comforta BILE,
would hail the order.
The parks have been open three nights, and
from all parts OF the city mon. women. and
children have nocked to them, some bringing
sheets. blankets, and pillows, others bringing
air cushions. and still others bringing nothing
but sufficient stock Of fatigue to impel them
to roll over and go to sleep the moment they
touched the ground. The majority OF park
sleeepers belongs, of course. to the class which
Mr.. Woodruff wished to reach when he issued
the order, but many persons In good crcum-
stances have slept In the parks during the last
three nights.
On Tuesday night, when the order went into
effect. many Of tho small parks were SO crowded
that the policemen on duty there had to pick
their way for fear OF stepping on q sleeper. On
Wednesday night every park in Brooklyn.
from big Prospect to little Winthrop in Green
point, resembled somewhat open air lodging
house, and last night the number of eleepers in
some OF the smaller parks was even greater
than on either OF the previous nights.
The open parks have proved great boon to
loving couples. Night after night for ycars
they have sat on the benches In Prospect Park,
Fort Greene. now Washington Park. City Park,
ana in the small parks which are scattered all
over town. holding hands. billing and cooling.
and dreadinE the hour of 10. when tho gray
coats have been accustomed to order all hands
out. Now. however, the lovers can sit up as late
as they like. go long rs they keep quiet and Or
derly. No longer does the big steam whistle in
the Raymond street jail give Its 10 O'Clock
blast.
Sun reporter made q tou- of some Of the
smaller parks In Brooklyn early yesterday
morning, to see how Mr.. Woodruff's plan was
working. sparrow policeman. whom he en-
countered at City Park. which is about the only
breathing spot in the thckly populated neigh
borhood OF the Navy Yard, proved mine OF in
SAP he remarked to the reporter ~
never expected to sre such a sight as this here
order has brought TO my eyes. and I've been u
PARK copper LOT u ROOu many nef re
sleeping in all the parks, you know. Prospect.
Washinton Carroll, Tom pkins, winthrop. Bed
the place to see 'em like you won't see 'em any
where else. The crowd that lives around hero
is the kind that sleeps on roofs and tire escapes.
because they can't stay in their tenement rooms
and live. They haven't done q thing TO this
park since that oraer came out Just come in
and look at en-"
City PARK is not large. 1t is only few acres
a. most and It is level ground, too, but there
grass and plenty Of benches There were men
asleep on many Of the benches, some sitting up
man aroused the latter with nudges in the ribs,
accompanying the poke with a:
grass. These benches amt here fer beds
Most OF the lovers have gone home" said
sh hhs oms Of SET bem saS ABOUT
o'clock. They don't dare stay out later than
that. because most OF them has homes and the
away"
BY this time the reporter had reached the
women. and children. The men were in the
majority, but there were many women and n
conceivable position. some we're asleep and
others awake some had bedclothss aud pillows.
everybody seemed comfortable, and there was
no reason why they shouldn't be. for a cool and
Controversy % WAS ' Going '' on among sn p several
guests" on the common when the reporter
Now. Just listen to them" said the police
man; they get in.o these scraps every little
while. and then have 10 pile in and separate
them. Then. as soon as go away. they start IN
again.
a woman wa. talking. She was large. and
had voice that there was no difficulty in hear
III I come over there, Johnnie Carroll. I'll
SO contrary aster eat apples in yer bed they
amt no reason ter throw the core at me-"
All, yer talkin' throo yer face" responded
johnnie Carroll contempt 1ously.
am, am = shrieked tho woman. II am.
For the love er heaven shnt mn" roarad n
man about twenty-five yards away. You
women must have bellows in yer. tho way you
let yer seepi let yer Sleep" cried the
woman. turning her attention to the speaker
place Who was asleepin' auiet like. but me-
when Johnnie Carroll plugged me in the eye
they could ter Keep quiet and peace here but mo
when"
stop dat stump speakin'." came in a whis-
key tenor from another part OF the lawn. II |
tink you're freesilver mug"
,sr KIN hd aI'dnd @ 20 Sou yei'ea 'hS woman; ras-
last voice. and then came a babel OF protests.
- III have to put her out" said the policeman. |
she's made more trouble tonight than all the
rest put together"
Hedidnt put her out. though She made such
astrong protest that she was allowed to stay on |
condition that she'd go to sleep and not make |
any more trouble
While the policeman contipued his tour OF |
duty the reporter sat on bench to watch the |
crowd. AS soon as the grRycoat was out OF |
sight the crowd broke out again. This time the |
object OF their indignation was a tall. thin man,
with red rose and red jag. He insisted on |
singing. and evidently had been indulRng to |
some extent in this pastime before the police
man cameup.
Five boardrrs once slept In q bod side by side.
Turn n ooveT.
" Shut up" came from all sides.
" Yer really orter lhicl hear this." remarked |
the singer. "Greates thing ever ON over the |
hills. Lemme sing 1t ter yer;
Five boarders once slept"
The singer came to a short stop. A numb ber |
of stones had been hurled in his direction, and |
one landed on his chm.
It's damn outrage" he yelled. "rll sing |
m song anyway, sheer An sing anuzzo after. |
too. shee Z"
+" Let him sing! Let him sing and get It over |
with" yelled some one, and then the drunken |
man began:
"Five boardsrs once slept in q bed side by side
Turn o-oONrr
They agreed 20 all turn when the outside man oried
Turn oo.Oyer,
But the man In the middle. he thought It a Joke.
And With the rest failed TO turn r. poor bloke;
He got lost in the shufne and had his leg broke,
Turn o-ooyer
"D'yer ever hear rowdy dowdy girl? Creates |
song ever came over the hills. Walt q minute
an III sing It flyer"