Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-23

and the little sunbeams, each as bright
as the great orb of day that shines down
upon them. accompany their sGuar dianS
with their gursling cries of sheer happi-
ness \
Older children enter the park for a
romp. and from IL o'clock until in the
afternoon the grassed plot resembles
some untrodden paradise as yet unsul-
lied by the hand of man, whose innocence
and youth go hand in hand. believing in
everything and fearing nothing.
BY o'clock the procession of the morn
ing. reversed in its order of march. pa asses
through the park. The lawyers, doctors.
merchants and chiefs leading. and the
weary plowman. still rubbing his tired
eyes, bringing up. the rear.
So much for the day.
The lapse between the return of the
workers and the beginning of the social
gatherings is not long. My lady must
change her dress and prepare herself for
her little stroll. and my lord must of
needs see that his immaculate person is
still more immaculate before he meets
my lady.
Social Distinctions.
The grubs and the butterflies never
mix. In the southeast parks you behold
the conventional Mayme with her Jack
Hard work is their portion. but even they
have q short respite and go to the park
to forget their trouble and toll.
The band concerts have done much to
obviate the class distinction prevalent in
the parks. Since the martial strains of
music have resounded from all parts of
the city the crowds have flocked to the
parks at which the concerts are being
held and have thus made the gatherings
more heterogeneous and variegated than
heretofore.
Go to a band concert of an evening and
you will see the little butterfly of society,
her bright wings shimmering glossily in
the soft night lights. She leans on the
arm of the fashionably dressed young
man beside her and promenades in the
proper and approved fashion.
Re- The poorer class do not mingle with the
butterflies even at the same park. There
is a bar isolating them as high and strong
park the grub hangs bashfully on the
outside of the motley assemblage. eagerly
drinking in the sweet strains as they pull
safe throughout the night
The residents of Washington are in
tensely proud of their parks. and woe be-
tide the individual who brashly endeavors
to encroach upon their rights The grow
ing multicolored flowers. the shrubs. the
grave old trees. the statues and the little
concerted walks are as dear to the heart
grand buildings, the military, the flag or
anything else
Each park throughout the city makes a
different appeal to the users. based prin-
cipally on its environment.
Mecca of the Lovelorn.
Lincoln Park is essentially the mecca
of the lovelorn. Wander through Lin
coin Park on an evening-no. on second
thought. don't wander through Lincoln
Park unless you are young and in love
yourself.
masses of shadow in the summer dusk
beckon to you invitingly. You say to your
self:
"Ah here is a sylvan spot where I.
with nature, and by communing learn to
lead a better life
Filled with this beautiful sentiment you
move toward bench. draw out your
pipe. seat yourself and prepare to submit
to the enhancing thralldom of summer
time Your mood does not last long
A voice. coming apparently from some
person of the male species who is located
in your immediate vicinity, murmurs
mushily:
rs OoumSy mumSy?
You are about to demonstrate with this
mushy one and explain that he should
not ask such personal questions, when
you happen to notice he is not talking to
feet away and. with some young thing
seated close to him. is murmuring with
idiotic monotony:
'Is ooumsy mumsy?"
You rise and move. but there is no use
in motion. You cannot escape it. for
lovers are legion.
Other parks have their own distinctive
duty in the community. Franklin Park
is the home of the baby. Lafayette Is
the rendezvous of the aged Each park
is the selected spot for some particular
order of citizens.
And the park remains the universal
caterer to the public who wants to be
amused and escape from the glazing down.
pours of the sun and the torridity and
oppressiveness of the heat fumes from
the sun-warped asphalt