The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-11-01
and lace. Beneath this but conspicu-

ously displayed, pink silk petticoat.
Waist a brilliant red. Over all this
radiant glory she wears a hideous and
dis6guring Automobile cloak. On her
head, and resting on her unnatural
blond tresses at the proper angle, a
great black plumed velvet hat To
complete the description, the wag wag
of her jaw as she chews the ever-pre-
sent gum. A rare picnic costume you
say-well it's all a matter of indivi-
dual choice. Language often more ex-
pressive tnan elegant Boxes OF lunch.
The beer in generous quantities al
ready on the grounds. So they cross
the bay. The day is spent in bolster
GUS dancing, in drinking and in many
free fight. And when night comes
back they come. Men and women
dirty, disheveled and many of them
drunk.
Out in the other parts of the city
the church bells are pealing out their
calls to worship. People of different
sort from these we have been consider
ing are going their way to the church
of their choice, to give thanks Tor the
blessings of the week now gone and
for the perfect day given for their en-
joyment The services ended, many
will take the cars for park or beach.
Every Sunday afternoon, weather per-
hitting, the Park band gives grand
concert The numberless seats placed
beneath the shade of the trees are filled
with thousands of people, listening to
the music, glad to be free from the
noise and dirt of the downtown city.
Here sit all classes of people. Side by
side the rich and poor. Dives and
Lazarus together enjoying common
pleasure. The concert over, the people
wander about the park, among the
animal cages and pens, among the
flowers, visit the Japanese tea garden
or the park museum.
Many laboring man, whose only
day of rest is Sunday, takes his family
to the park for rest and pleasure. The
tired wife and pale little children en-
joying for one day in seven sweet
communion with nature. Trying to
forget the cares and anxieties of the
other days of the week. The sweet
scented air, the velvety grass with no
hideous signs to warn the children off,
the trees and flowers, all theirs as
much as the millionaires. What a con-
trast to their everyday surroundings.
The squalid-dirty rooms in little
back street, where the sun scarcely
ever reaches and no green grass or
flowers are ever seen. And who can
say that these simple and ignorant
people are not worshiping their
Creator devoutdely though seated in
a church, doubtless unable to under
tand the teachings of the man of God.
They are home at night fortified and
prepared for week of toll and trou-
bic. Such toll and such trouble as
we know not Of. Surely God will bless
a city which builds and maintains for
its poorer classes such places of rest.
Let us go on to the beach near the
Cliff House. For hours the people have
been arriving by twos and by TWEEN
ties. For mile below the Seal Rocks
the sands are black with people. Child
rem playing in the sand and wading in
the surf Fathers and mothers content
to sit and watch the children at play.
In little retired sandy alcoves bashful
lovers and their lassies listen to the
ceaseless roar of the surf, wrapped in
thoughts and more often in each others
arms. Sublimely unconscious of the
inquisitive small boy who pokes his
head obtrusively into view and advises
them to 'break away Above the
roar of surf the hoarse shout and clang-
ing bell of the huckster Here can be
purchased many articles warranted
to impair digestion. Tamales and en-
chiladas, corn, peanuts. ''hot waffles
while you wait, as you are informed
by the peripatetic waffle man, pink
soda and red lemonade All to the de-
triment of the children's stomach and
the devastation of papas pocketbook.
A little back from the Beach stands
a large dancing pavilion where all
during the afternoon swirling crowd
trips the light fantastic. 1t is patron
lied only by the tougher element. Re-
spectacle people look on, shake their
heads. and move on. Some gay young
Lothario sees a young lady with who
he desires to dance. He walks up to
her, announces his desire and as rule
she very promptly acquiesces. Round
h er waist goes one arm holding her
tightly to him. With his other hand
he grasps one of hers. She has loosen
ed the pins in her hat, and drops her
head confdingly on his shoulder The
music begins and they are off. After
the dance-beer. And so they spend
the afternoon.
The driveway along the beach is
crowded. Four hand, phaeton and
hack, automobiles and bicycles. At
ter the concert every one drives to the