The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-13
CHILDREN ON THE MALL.
Dccorous Pursuit OF Fresh Air nad Exercise In
Attire OF Velvet md Lnce.

Nv INV s"sVs
Social distinctions are very much In evidence
on the Mall in Central Park. The place is bloom
ing with babies these fine days; but there are
babies and babies. and tho lines are sharply
drawn. None of the little tots up there has a
really hilarious time. To find that one must 60
over to Avenue A, where dirt Is considered
Wholesome. There are cellar doors on Avenue
A, too-not iron things studded with nail heads.
but real wooden cellar doors, worn to n splendid
sickness by crowds of sliders who don't have to
be careful of good clothes. They play every
thing with more zest over t~here-ball and wild
Indian and black man. and that fascinat-
ing gamo pronounced "spuglck," and not
spelled by any save a brave man. Then. too.
children can enjoy n scrap to "A finish on Avenue
A and nobody pays any attentions; but on the
Mall when one baby slaps another's face and
baby number two grabs the first baby's hair
and the fight is fairly on, n French nurse swoops
down upon tho combat nts and they never have
the satisfaction of knowing how The thing
would have come out,
No, there isn't any real solid Bliss on the Mall.
but there arc grades of discomfort. 1.-Two pleas.
ant-looking women. who evidentiydEpre not city
bred. sat on n park bench the Diner day and
watched the baby show. At first they were all
smiles, but after u while tho older OF the two
"Positivoly, Emily, it's depressing, l haven't
aAhfAN INV vi " a'A' " vi hUl
we've been here half an hour
Emily nodded alphabetically. 81 know
she said, They're as solemn ns IA flock OF owls.
That little girl has gone back and forth past us
on her tricycle. twelve times and never cracked
a smile; ] wonder If she Is working the thing
for punishment ."
at isn't so bad with the boys went on tho
motheriy woman with white hair. "A live boy
can't BIO suppressed; but these small girls act as
II they were bored todeath. Now just look at
those ba biol
Two little aristocrats were passing. In charge
OF n maid. They were things OF beauty. in fetch
velvet picture hats OF the same colors. The
little brunette In pink wheeled q doll carriage
In which un elaborate French doll. arrayed in
pink, reclined among dainty pink cushions and
robes. The pale little blonde In blue had an
equally stunning charge in blue. The small
mothers walked primly along, swishing their
abbreviated skirts and showing vistas of expen.
sive lace petticoats. They didn't seem TO take
any interest in their children. or in anything
else, for that matter. but a murmur OF Amt
they just too sweet" ran along tho ranks of
the nursemaids on tho benches. The motherly
woman sighed.
Its n wonder they didn't bring nurses along
for the dolls" she said. half angrily. They've
no more feeling about those babies of theirs
than their own mothers have about them. It's
a shame"
'Je Suis .Gntigufe. Elise" said the tot In pink.
THE benches are too dirty. They would spoil
your coat; and then madame said You must
walk for an hour. II is good for yOu,' said
Elise, but In Fronch-and the baby trailed list.
lessly on down tho Mail.
II wonder II she speaks German and Italian
and Spanish" grumbled the d~isapproVing