The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-14
CONEY ISLAND OPENED UP.
THE OCCASION MARKED ny 4
Parade AND BROAD SMILES.

and That Is the Reason They Have the
Openlng Day saturday and Not Sunday.
Lt5o'cIock yesterday afternoon the red
coated Luna Park band. with ruftie and
a snap 81 the drums, got into action on
Surf avenue opposite the Brooklyn Rapid
transit terminal at Coney Island and went
daring and booming down the street.
Trorn hallyhoo stands In front OF frank
r,rtor kitchens from bankers platforms,
On, the balconies OF the beer halls, from
,be candy kitchens and the merry-go-
,or,ds along the avenue came one long
S,own howl Of delight. The sky was dark
md overcast Tho winds we're chill and
laden with mist. But the street was warmed
nv the smile Of many face worn by the
cboerless solitude Of the long Coney Island
winter
The parade was the announcement Of the
ononing Of the season. The weather Is
nsyer good to the official opening day.
II NAV he fairly sizzling hot from Norton's
point 10 Brighton Beach to-day; but Il
couldn't help being cold yesterday. That's
vby they have the opening day on a Sat-
urdav. TO head on the weather hoodoo.
But it was apparent TO the most super
6cial observer that IL doesn't matter much
what day Is picked out by the authorities
for the opening OF Coney Island. The
crovds would make their way down over
snowdrifts and across ice foes just 20 say
that they we're there at the beginning.
Thew were there yesterday when the
,nlparets and towers Of the buildings Of
sieepIechase Park Dreamland and Luna
Park shone dimly through the fog. which
h.f e
that did not in the least detract from the
beauty II the scene.
not all Of the shows prepared for the
Conev Island pilgrims Of the summer we're
ready for inspection. The Creation. the st
Louis Importation which stands at the very
entrance Of Dreamand and which has
added its gigantic statue Of the nude Eve
10 the impressive speCtacles along Surf
avenue, viii not be ready for ten days or
more Hell Gate, combination OF the
floating boat and scenic railway schemes,
which includes a dash down an incline
into q fountain Of spray warranted not to
wet the adyenturer, Ia also somewhat
tehindhand.
B,t the tom-toms Of Asia thrtlm invit-
inglv behind the canals Of Venice and the
gaisha girls In the balconies Of the Japa-
nese tea house and theater smile forth
upon the cowboys, who hurtle around the
dirt track which mas DNtn DOllN dlOnR lnb
borders Of the lagoon. The Fighting the
Flames show las been entirely remodeled
and now shows nearly two city blocks in
stead Of one as heretofore. Mr.. Bostccks
bears and tigers and lions lent their loud
roars TO those Of the concessionaries, who
thought that Senator Reynolds ought to
sell good weather from the very first day
ont along with exhibiting space aud other
The novelty Of the whole day in Dream
land yesterday was the Flea Theater. Mr..
Stewart, a WHISPERED Scot, has brought
from Dundee a fine lot Of fat lady fleas
Che explains that lady heas make by far
the test IefomeTsl, who drag infinitesi-
NAL chariots, turn tiny wheels, walk a silken
thread tight rore and fire baby cannon,
they want to help Mr. Stewart make
a living, but because il Is the nature
OF the flea to keep his legs going, and
Mr.. Stewart after curl ing the proud
spirit Of his charges by keeping them in
a weeny bit Of chain for two weeks puts
them into harness in which they must
work il they make their legs move at all.
How do you feed the poor lii tie things?'
a sympathetic soul asked Mr.. Stewart
yesterday. The Master Of the Fleas relied
UP bis arm and showed that frC m the VII st
10 his elbows II was notified with scars.
i feed them on me arm every morning.
he said cheerfully. They make their
living out Of me and | make mine out Of
them
When the crowds poured into Luna Park
behind the hand, after its inaugural rarade.
they found the same bewildering masses Of
color and sounds and moving things which
have always characterized the place The
hanging gardens have been built over
somewhat more substantially the price Of
trip to the moon in the grand old airship
Luna, has been reduced to 10 cents, and
apparently as many peorle felt warranted
IN ticking the trip as were moved 70 take Il
At Buffalo for 50 cents in 1901.
Edward TEMPLE has found time out
Of his tremendous duties az the HiDDo-
drome 10 whip the Fire and Flames eKhiti-
don into it's usual snap and 20 dash in a re-
production Of life in the Street Of Many
Troubles. from newsboy fights to a three
alarm fire, with hair raising rescues and
slides for life The quota Of shows vet
70 be opened Fred Thompson announces
that the day will never come in his life
tine when he is not just going to oren
some show are The Fall OF Port Arthur,
which is promised for Memorial Day: the
Dragons Gorge, a new Admiration Of the
scenic railway, and the lco-rote village,
from the St. Louis fair, which will 60 into
action late this week.
But there was plenty doing for the twenty
thousand people who roamed through
boto the big amusement places and grabbed
at chances TO ride on elephants snd camels,
crow ed the chutes, went careeninR around
the curving channels Of the free heller
ske'ter rode on miniature railways and
consumed tremendous quantities Of PEANUTS
AMI popcorn, to say nothing OF watching
ne free cirCuses and races, and OF throng-
ng 30 dancing NJ viions.
Not the least edifving sDectacle in Luna
Park next 70 Skin Dundv's brand new suit
OF clothes C-e did not even honor the open-
ing Of the Hirrodrone with such an inno-
vationl was the srectacle Of Young man in
trown suit and fiat toured felt hat who
went careerinR up and down the avenues
OF The resort on an elephant. held two girls
on one seat o. a shoot the chute oat with
out ~ aid Of a net or other art ificial assist
anoe and led in the screeching as TIE first
sonlc railway carload went over the first
breaih snatchinR dips on the old course
he was Frederic Thompson, capitalist
amusement inventor and perennial small
bow He said that he had done the best
paaH Of his job and he thought he was en-
utled 10 little fun. But he found time.
Meanwhile, to boss the open air circus.
.unerntend the starring Of his million
halon fountains elect really Illuminated in
we center o. the park, remodel the He'll
uate cascades. fire fresh special police
man and make sure that all the ticket SELL
hs girls were obeving orders TO wear far
ns ned straw hats with red and white
pompons
peore who 20 TO Coney Island to-day
WI ma u as hard a. ever 10 rea liya when