Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-09
FOREST PARK IS DEAD
Not Nailed up, But the Life, the Gaiety, the Summer Whirl Has Gone Out of it. And
 the Trolley Strike is
 Responsible.

tIG lEUllCy StIlNC S
 Responsible. Messrs Hanna and Horgan, lessees Of Forest park, have not nailed up the entrance thereto; the friends and sym pathizers of the trolley strikers appear ko have done that for them. A drearler and yet a more delightful place than Forest park, or Belleview, could not pc found in all New Esnglandl yesterday The whole place had the air of desola- ton. A stranger would naturally ask why such pretty place was seemingly abandoned to the sparrows and the crows; why the fleet of gaily palnteu boats lolled idly in the water at the dock, bobbing up and down in rythm with the nipples that came across from the dam on the wings of very falnL breeze. The merry-go-round stood ldle- Not a soul was on the numerous rusuc Keats scattered everywhere about the delightful grounds. Not footfan was heard on the gay pavilion, the roofs of which were just tinted by the sinking sun. The piano on the dancing hoor Above in the wood was as silent as the Somb. as were the stalls of the man who used to dry out '"Try my fresh slams' There were no groups or Soung people gazing curiously at the rame of tintypes outside the pho- sographers' calico houses. There was ho peanuts, the advance agent Of CIV lization and the circus and the ineVita- ,le concomitant of the summer pleas dre resort.
 The theater was as still as the rest 5f the place The merry roar and loud guffaw that brought thousands of peo- DIe to this pretty outdoor place oi pleasure was not heard there since the aay after the Fourth. There is noth- ng on earth so 1isheartening as an ul- nsed theater and this one seemed the Embodiment of melancholy. The wind barely stirred above it. as if in keep Ing with the silence that seemed to prevail over all They did not wish to awaken the echoes of the jokes and f1ufps that have stuck in the sides of ..hA fence, since last summer, trusting to kaken up for use this summer. One could see them through the messy knot holes awaiting their cues. But they will not be called upon this summer tt Over on the upper lake, the favorfte place for fishing. there was not boat fT, sight, nor a line hanging from the bridge. There was nothing there, not even a bird or breeze to rufhe the aIfshening surface of the water that was taking on the g1int of the depart ing sun. Not even the lonely croak ot tbe hermit slug -o'-rum." Only the re- lection of the trees could be seen here, bright green and golden. according as the intensity of the suns rays struck the water.
 Away off in the dim distance, just mere speck from the bridge running between the two lakes, could be seen The white forms of half a dozen boys and men swimming at the dam. And fhe noise coming from that quarter only told what a merry concourse used to gather there last year, for even that out of the way corner of Forest park has been touched by the blight of this strike, and for the one small boy or young man that goes there of an after noon now. dozens used to go there last year to swim and take a good. quiet wash. where he will have plenty of room.
 The whole view presented beautiful sight, most delightful picture, but framed with the sadness and gloom of human strife and broil.
 MT Morgan has not yet shaken the dust of the town off his shoes, but he f~is liable to go at any moment. 4estert day several of the tin-type photog- raphers gave orders to have their cleo tric lights taken out, as they had begun 10 pack up their traps to quit this ,-< cursed town" as they called it.
 Here was a stab at the trolley com pany which no one ever thought of giv ing. No customers for the tin-typt man means no use for electric light 1T his work. and consequently so mucf win the trolley company be out. Ger tainly it was not much, only $I25 O $1.50 a month for the use of one light but every penny counts, every jab O a pin makes the victim squirm, ant eventually bring about his end
 x The hobby horses or merry -go-rount was as still as if nailed to the ground There has not been dollar earned a this feature in some weeks.
 Over in Belleview the hoarse wheezy sound of barrel organ echoes across the lake. but it was vain ef fort to promote life in the crowd there Half dozeB girls and fellows can have much fun in big place wrappet in the gloom of contention.
 eve did everything we cou1d,' sail Mo Harris, who is in charge at Pores park, sfbut everything was futile. Eve if they would call the strike off nov we could probably get something out o it We have spent a lot of money her and-well, I'll tell you" said he, wv thought there would be somebody her on the Fourth or on Decoration day but when we saw the crowd abou 1000, we got sick. A year ago thi Fourth 2,700 people saw the show This year about a few hundred saw i MT Morgan and others have done a S- that could possibly be done to end th strike, but it was no good, and we ar getting, in fact we have got it in tn neck for sure."
 WILL. REMIT EINR