The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-12

u.
Wonderful place your Roger Will
,liams PARK. s1obseryed the stranger In
town to one OF the old inhabitants the
other day.
Yes. 1t Is a. nice place." observed the
old inhabitant. hesitatingly. For the
fact is he hadn't given the Park the
honor of his presence since 1T was a
tanglewood country in his boy days.
before there were trolley cars. band
concerts. a Casino, or any things like
that.
inject" echoed the Stranger "Why,
should say II was nice There is not
another spot on earth. TO my mind,
quite so charming. It's unique"
That so?" said the old inhabitant,
musingly, wondering where he had
been all his days. Needless to OBJ
serve he wasn't bicycle rider and he
had no children) q
why, bless your SOUL" remarked the
Stranger, with growing enthusiasm. II
don't believe you half realize what sort
of a place you've got out i'm Roger Will
liams Park. It's a wonder to me that
the whole population of this town
doesn't spend It's evenings out there in
stead Of only a few thousands. l know
there are other attractions. Never saw
place that offered so much summer
diversion so handily and so inexpen-
sively as Providence--your shore re-
sorts. your trolley cars, the suburbs,
and all. But Roger Williams Park is
different
Why" went on the Stranger, at
went out there to use up time after
luncheon the other afternoon; got off
the trolley car and started TO take a
walk around the Park until my cigar
was burned UP. 1T was cool and re-
freshing. and the cigar burned we'll. /
was Wade curious by the varying vis-
tas OF scenery that opened up anew
with every few steps. 1 fancied i felt
something as Adam did when he came
TO explore the Garden Of Eden for the
first time. The layout of the Park Is
enhancing. ! could see where the good
taste was put in. as well as the money
you taxpayers have spent on II. /
could see the value OF what had been
let alone In the plan, as well as OF what
had been developed and cultivated.
saw little company OF your pretty
girls In temporary camp under some
trees. with their lunch spread on an
extemporized banquet board. They had
their hats off and were amazingly at
home, seeming to lack nothing except
man whom, I haven't doubt. they
could have had IL they'd wanted him.
Pretty soon heard muslc-band music.
i needn't tell you about that, for you
know your Reeves band If you don't
know your Park. Well, to make long
story short. the sun was getting low
before thought of going away.
Il was sitting on the piazza of that
building-what do you call it?-the
alone is worth going miles TO see. 1t is
one OF the most beautiful pieces of
architecture my eyes ever rested on.
Well. with the going down of the sun
my appetite was getting up-and
didn't like to leave. There is a cafe in
the Casino. you know-Td been watch
ing II, but as 1 dine in the evening. I
didn't care to venture in--took 1t for
one OF those ice cream and cake places.
you know. Well. what do you think?
Hungry as j was, I wanted to stay
about so bad that I decided to risk
stopping my appetite in that cafe. You
can imagine my surprise when picked
up bill OF fare and found / had struck
q regular hotel out there in that Park.
Why, there were steaks and chops and
'broiled live and no end Of stuff and
well, / just sat down and ordered a
dinner Good? Why. there isn't
hotel in the land that could have given
me better or served me more daintily.
There wes natty orchestra a-playing
all the time in the dining room. and I |
could hear voices from the private din
ing room adjoining. which indicated
that party Of young people We're en-
joving a feast In the exclusive society |
OF each other. The idea OF striking |
service like that i'm a public park |
amazed me more than anything I've
run against since l was first introduced |
to a Rhode Island clambake. The idea
Of going to park for ones dinner or |
a sizable supper is certainly unique, |
but when I come to Providence again |
In the summer / think 7 will be quite |
as likely to go to Roger Williams Park |
for my table as to any hotel or restau-
rant I'm town. And such a charming |
place il is to eat. too, once you know |
you can get things to eat--sitting at the |
table overlooking that lake. with the /
it's Incompatible
Hum said the old inhabitant. re- |
nectively. "Whatcher going to do this
evening""
Nothing on hand, old boy" replied |
the Stranger.
"CoUe out to the Park with me, then
You show me the place and I'll stand
he dinnert"