The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-09-21
new PARK FOUNTAIN.
PECULIARITIES OF THE ONE In
MADISON SQUARE.
On a New Principle Not Entirely
Understcod-The Interest Xxx
cited in Passersby.

A fountain is the regulation stock fur-
nishing for public park, planned for
and put in as matter of course, along
with the triangular and straight-bor-
dered flower beds, the ornamental urlo'
mud so on The fountain would be- mss
ed if it were not there, very likely, put
as a. rule it excites little interest, and
few people. besides those who gave the
money for it's setting up, may be the
workmen who worked on it, and the
Eark trustees or commissioners, ever
give it a thought Elaborateness OF
architecture and scantiness OF water
are the general features of fountains
in New York and elsewhere, erec.ea
at whatsoever pains and expense they
may be, but there is new FOUNTAIN III
Madison Square Park that is of another
sort; a fountain so full OF HE anu
healthful inspiration as to put every
other fountain in the city to the plush
in showing what a fountain can be
and is when it stands fairly ana
souarely for the play of waters and
does not reach out for the monument
al, or ornamental or statuesque in art
and design. This new fountain that Is
being put to it's first summers use,
and only brought to perfection within
the last three months, may be reckon
ed practical and purposeful where It's
contemporaries are merely passive au-
juncts to the landscape. 1t has no
wrought stonework, or fretted symboi,
or marble nymphs to impress it on the
memory, or overshadow it, or help II
to discharge its functions. 1t is sim
ply itself an everchanging foun. OF
perennial freshness, contriving infinite
variation out of the selfsame pool and
appealing to the passers-by With
rhythmic story that would win the
most intent or wearied pedestrian to
stop and listen. You might be hurry
ing by in all ignorance of its existence
bent on ever so important or engrossing
an errand, and it would arrest your
attention.
All day and all night, month in and
month out it goes, with the insistence
of bellows rolling in on the shore, or the
measured pulsing of paddle-wheels
reiterated over and over. The water
shoots upward with force, eliminates
every second or two in fresh geyserS
of foam, and a fret and lather of spray
that jets the air and the tree boughs
with a refreshing moisture-a pretty
mist that follows the breeze and floats
at random with the alternating
draughts.
On hot days and nights (and New
York has known many of late), the lit
tie radius of space that the fountain
famed was the coolest in the city ard
the park lOiterers stayed for hours.
reveling in the refreshment and spec
uiating as to the voice of the waters.
Look here, that thing sounds like it's
going" said a street urchin the other
day as he and u comrade leaned
against the curbing and watched the
pulsing columns as if to catch their
meaning.
Yes, it does sound like a boat push
ing for the Shore" said another street
boy, one who had looked on quietly as
if enjoying the spell of the regularly
recurring motion.
Shut your eyes and listen close, and
you'll think you're going somewheres,"
said the first speaker, eagerly.
up and down, up and down; there it
goesi and you can feel the wind blow
fresh off the water. In a little while
more they'll be across the bay and in
at the mooring- place, THROWN out the
ropes
Don't sound like paddles pushing. to
me, SO much as like the breakers roarin',
like to Coney Island" said another
youngster. My pap he happen along
here bout . o'clock one night last week,
and he say it was goin' jist the same.
and he couldn't git it out Of his head
that he was to the beach with the surf
roarin' and the wind blowin' in. You
see it goes up and comes down so reg
ular, jist like the waves comm in. My
mother and some other women in our
house come over here, way from First
avenue, on purpose to hear it play"
So the fountain says its say, over and
over again, in a fashion to be inter-