New-York tribune., 1903-03-22
| TOTS IN CENTRAL PARK.
IN EUer Nezu Wonderland to Girls
and Bogs-T'hat Donkey Man.

As the spring opens days of sunshine and soft
winds coming and again by twos and threes'
there Is a of old people who seem to hnd
the moments chief pleasure in life in watching the
troops of little folks that the pleasant weather
brings to Central Park. Many Of these watchers
have their favorite corners in special seats ano
though many OF them never knew one another $
names. their common interest in the panorama OF
child life about them leads to many an exchange
Of reminiscence and incident.
Especially Is this the case in the neighborhOod of
the donkey man." as the crowds Of his small ad-
mrers afectionately call him. There, where the
concrete walk is widest and closely lined with
seats. every bright day d soodly company "f
gray heads and tow heads. grownups and toddhng
tots with the four stubby, sturdy little Welsh
donkeys as the centre OF interest for them all.
Twenty y-eght years has the donkey man held
his in this spot Children and donkeys have
and gone; of the first riders, when this
sport novelty. back with their chill
dren. and, in two instances. with their
grandchildren go again the scenes that
time gave them such keen pleasure.
One notices odd excres2en2cs about most of the
pockets in the vicinity of the dOnkoys. for few
come there without sugar. candy apple
One small girl Of Canadian was
laden with goodies the uthe' day. Her pockets
bulGed with arQes. and squares of sugar were
carefully stowe in her cap. Armed with shining
half-dolIar. she announced her intention Of in
veFting il ell in rides changing from donkey 10
donkey each time ito get the good Of EN- all"
The apples and sugar. it WAS learned. had been
begged from walters and attendants at N" motel
where she was stopping all OF whom had been
| told again and again CT the 'wondertul dnnkeNs'
even the cabnan the way out to the park being
| let into the secret.
My papa told must re sure to have ii ride
| she told the donkey man" - cause he used t"
| when Re was d little boy here in New-York" And
then the donkey man remembered. and told some
| funny incidents OF quarter of Il century ago.
! oh. yes" he said afterward. Il remember most
| OF them. and somehow or other. they always re-
! member Why. I've net en- in the streetcar
OF over Jersey. the kids that com" here to ride
and they'll sing out There's the ''dorkey man!
| soon / get in sight.
| How did ever think Of this for Il trade? Well.
| it isn't my trade, exactly. I'm plumber. and l
| still work at that when the weathers bad. 1t was
| nearly thirty years ago that | walking through
| Twenty st. one day, and saw a crowd OF
children rCGnd d pony like these begging for rides
| One man offered to pay as high aS s. to get MS
| boy On its back But IT belonged To a private
| party and the keeper wouldn't allow it. So that
| gave d idea. and the next time went back
| to WaIes-yes, that's my homs-I brought half q
| dozen back with For long time the! were
the only small douhrys OF this sort i'll the country
| Now they raise :! few through the West. The
| genuine Welsh dorkry is gray 1t never grows
any lurgpr than thtse. about thirty-tUo inches IN
night @ugh it "fs9 hgG gn9s no be now GE'y ON ntv Re-
joice in such names as Sam, Charie Jenny atIu HI
side arS nd ar ar a"d sn"d dav m ' ro 5f6 70 iii
| they obetliently up and down the asphalt with
| .SOnetirnee a will come along and treat
| the whole crowd on the donkey man. IN
dicating the groups Of Tenness youngsters stano-
ing about fingers in mouths and riveted on the
| stubborn 1ittl" steeds. Men treat: Well yes once
In great while. but not near so OFTEN as women
| ana II d funny tniug but rs genera llY the elrIs
| that have wits enough to say Thank YOU after
| treated
| ..Tho~c donkeys get tired? Not much; Wny;
dnnkeys are born iookin' tired. If that's what you
| mean: IFS A way they have. Accidents? No. they
couldn't run away If they tried and whoever heard
Of a donkey running away anyhoW2 ,,e.,a MOO
| Yes. know the names OF most OF the little Peo-
| nIa who come to me. and l tell you they snow
| their characters right from the start. Now. little
| Margaret Carnegie She's some six years oid
| nIIass but she knows her mind as well as you or l
| Erou 7urs She's mighty fond Of small boy shs
| t1Ils Nathaniel. don't know his other name. ana
! ~ T,a+ter what else there anlUse her. she 3
never 1lIita happy till she finds Nathaniel Even
the donkevs can't take his place. laughed the old