New-York tribune., 1901-05-06
NAY PARTIES IN THE PARK
SINGING, DANCING AND LAUGHTER ON
THE LAWNS-DUSKY PARTICIPANTS.


For I'm TO be Queen O. the May. mother"
was the song on at least a score Of rosy lips on
saturday-for the first Saturday in May is now the
day they celebrate Central Park seemed to have
developed all the verdure and brightness possible
for the occasion, and the sun shone brightly
enough TO atcne for The somewhat keen breeze as
the May parties began TO gather. The east side
Mall had the distinction Of receiving the first party
an imposing procession Of Darkest Africa ap-
pearing about $50 o'clock Radiance does not
express the gorgeousness of effect produced by
those small persons. with white teeth cleaning
through lips parted in laughter, white eyes rolling
in gleeful dusky faces, white frocks clothing diun-
utive ebony forms. and the gayest Of ribbons en-
circlng small waists. There were more than two
hundred OF them, and they were prepared TO spend
the day. IL one might Judge from the boxes and
bags. obviously full of luncheon A funny feature
the number OF toy carts employed in this
highly practical way
The children carried May pole. not large in size.
but resplendent IN decoration, its red. white and
blue streamers being held by chubby black hands.
The two boys who held the pole were clad in
srnptuous array OF red and white striped trousers
and blue jacket and the patriotic colors prevailed
throughout the costunning OF the entire party.
Even the heads were covered by red and white or
blae and white tennis in some cases the three
coors appearing.
Arrived at the chosen spot. the pole was set up
with 'shoutings and laughter noisy as that
greater happiness surely than that showing on the
shining faces as they danced around It, first one
party and then another. weaving and Intervening
the gay cheesecloth Ribbons.
Then they played games. singing Here We go
round the gooseberry bush'' Ring rosy,
mamny's got a posey, hop scotch. hap scotch'
hurrah and all the jinges that delight the child
ish soul After a time little groups began 20 stray
away from the pole. taking their baskets and go
carts" with them, in search Of pleasant places 10
HfaEEr a
Another May party had a canopy under whose
red white and blue stripes marched ''the Lady and
the Lord Of May" in regal state. 1t was carried
aloft by two boys and TWO girls All IN as much
red. white and blue as possible with golden stars
scattered thickly pluns in CHRISTMAS cake or
sugar a Washington pie
They too, came provided with refreshments FOR
the day danced and played games just as did their
aarker-hued brothers and sisters and were just as
noisy and Just as happy the greatest lover of
children could desire
All through the vast park smaller parties
without May poles canopies. but with the in
evitable luncheon basket or bag Everything
charmed them The swan boats on the lake gave
them as keen JOY their older sisters ever ex-
perienced when Lohengrfn's swan appeared The
squirrel scampering almost within arms ms length e
sTimTEe m or SI2sdSiine were new delight Wee
tots sat on the grass grooming kincergarten songs
children sang popular" melodies three years old
with voices sofened. one felt cerIaln Dy Hie
children arrayed in modish clothes; children in
garments obviously OF home manufacture chIdren
In raiment sorrowfully suggestive OF many sue,
cessions but all happy in the first chioren's DAY
OF the season IN The park. The menagerie seemed
the objective point of many. and the monkey house
the special attraction for most Such funIly
speeches as some OF them made! A Wee boy who
was greatly interested in the acrobauc feats OF a
group called loudly: Papa papa these monkeys
DO dest what the in the circus Ole!
But one OF the funniest OF all the amusing op-
se-Vations was from a reflective young person
about eight years old who watched as II tasclhIeu
a hyena walk saVagely up and down his cage
Finally She voiced her cogitatIons thus: Mamma,
you said that everybody ought 10 be GOOD or prett
heard YOU tell papa yesterday That great Dig
cat isn't pretty bit and know us NlcAeu
II looks bad. Now what's the use OF Ils llNlils.
And standing near remarked solto NOOe'
That child must be from Boston!