New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06
EACH IN Il BACK YARD.
dies AMUSED IN Brooklyn Store
While Mothers Shop.

~ he metropolis is not satisfied with hauling
he inhabitants Of Manhattan and The Bronx to
4 ci.y Island from six to seven times week and
cha ming half their earnings out of their peck
ct AS for Brooklynites they are so accus-
tened to being at the beach and like it SO well
TIT anything of that kind that can be woven
into their daily walk and conversation appeals
TO them with peculiar force.
one of the large department stores Of the
CITY u Homes has turned this local disposition
TO account in a way that has proven a boon
10 tired mothers and source Of joy to hundreds
OF youngsters who are limited to one or two days
"a week at the popular strand at the further end
e the domain of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit. In
a building the of the store the proprietors
have established a miniature Coney Island. com
bined with a playground and nursery. high
board fence covered with canvas is painted to
represent the beach The surf is breaking on the
shore boats sail the mimic sea. long piers
tend far out over the water, and the earth is
covered a foot two deep in sand brought
from the real Coney Island
There are toys well calculated to deceive the
youngsters who have previously visited the real
Coney There are plenty of hobby horses to
remind them of the equine merry go-rounds;
there are sand pals and shovels galore and
plenty Of sand to put in them There are toy
COWS. with real cowhide skins TO recall to jul
von.le memory the larger toys in the same form
from which milk is drawn for them at half a
dozen places between Concourse Park and Sea
Cate. and. in the expressive language of one of
the Coney Island press agents. there is a de-
li-.um Of something doing every second of the
d."
This miniature Coney Island is maintained ex-
prosely for the care and amusement of infants
while their mothers are shopping in the store
On bargain days which come twice a week, the
nursery department is far more populous than
the baby incubators at Luna Park. Indoors
II: y he found, the of careful and com
petent nurse, dozen or more infants in baby
carriages When each baby is brought in the
inquiries whether not it is bottle
baby. II it is, her task is easy. for when it
wakes and appears fretfu she has only to pro-
vide il with nursing bottle. freshly filled with
sterilized milk. which the enterprising merchants
SUI ply free of charge.
There are sofas and other provisions for the
children of playing age who may grow tired of
their exertions outdoors and want to sumber
When the sandman comes round" these young
sters taken into the nursery and cared for
there until their mothers come TO take them
away or they rested sufficiently to resume
their little revels the beach.
In laying out the playground the merchants
have considered very carefully the health of the
young lrOOhlyIllltS 10 DE dIluSeu lneTt. Oletil-
lines is an imperative rule of the place. The
sand is frequently changed. the toys are care
fully cleansed, the shines into the yard the
greater part OF the day. and the swings and
other appliances are constructed with a view
t. minimizing the liability to mashed fingers,
bumped heads, scratched vsages and other ju-
yenile casualties
We have great times here" said the matron
Of the department to The Tribune reporter.
THAT towheaded youngster of three is the life
OF the place whenever he is here. He is born
leader and sets the pace for the play. He never
cries. except when his mother takes him away,
and all the other children seem TO admire him
and pattern after him. He is a boy from the
soles OF his feet to his haxen crown, and yet he
Is gentle toward every other child here. He
never quarrels OF witness there is not an en-
vious or jealous hair in his head, and he is bub-
bling over with laughter all the while. 1 am
always glad to see him come and sorry when his
mother is ready TO take him away"
See him swinging! Isn't that picture of
health and amiability? Hear him shout with
glee. Now he wants to dig. Here is shovel
and pail Now him work.
The sand fairly flew. There was a good breeze
and the child got several puffs of fine sand in
his face. He quit, looked about. and then made
of toward an Unoccuped hobby horse.
What's the matter. Harold?" asked the ma
tron
''The bushes blow in my eyes" the reply.