The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-31
STRAY TOPICS
 FROM NEW YORK


 New York. May so.---sunanter ylann and racing now engage society's at tention almost to the exciusion of ey- efything else. The fashfonable folk can be seen in large numbers at Bel mont Park and among them 1t is con sidered the correct thing to be able to talk about the horse races infelli- gently.
 Incidentally to know how to dress appropriately at the races and to mako attendance there moro or less In the nature of a social event are required of everyone who hopes to be considered in the social wiiiri But racing las by no means absorbed entiraly the atten- ton of Gcthar's aristocracy, for the weekend visits to paiatial country homes either at Lenox or Tuxedo have been very popular and to spend sun- day in the city these delightful May days is decidedly bad form. Os couree, too. many society people are sailing for Europe where the majority will stay for a short time and return in the middle of the summer In time for the fasaionahls season at Newport.
 While the wealthy and aristocratic set of New Workers are busiIy engaRpd with fashionabla dofnge the middle and lower classes In tfia metropolis are no less busy and joyous over the opening of the many summer resorts in and near the city. where they spend their week ends or at least some part of every Saturday and Sunday from now until September. or course the cliief interest centsred in the opening of Coney Island with all of its old time features besides a host of new attractions to catch the nickiea ana dimes of the working classes The Is- land is now in fuIl swing and na in th e past the two big features of Coney are Dreamland and Luna Park But besides these there are scenic ynil- ways side shows of every description rail idea. Among the new features of the Island will be wolnen "barkers-s Dreanfand win employ women instead of men to lecture on their different shows, and the Suffragattes. who brought about this recognition of wo- mons rights ars planning to hold e raammoth celsbrati in honor of the event.
 For some years past those who have charge of Central Park have tried the idea of giving the public absolute free dom as to their con1uct, relying on their appreciation Of the beauty of the grounds as a safeguard against de- struction. All of the 'KesD Of the Grass signboards were removed with the result that the lawns soon began to look like pastures criss-crossed with cowpaths. Consequently the signs have been restored, and the Park Commis- sforer Is now determined to restore the grounds to their former reputation as one of the finest parks in the world. Measured by it's. monetary value Gen. fral Park is one of the greatest public isixuries in New York City, for a fair estimate of it's value as real estate to- day is s20o.50o.O00. Moreover. the con sensus of opinion Is that ft is cheap at this price.
 afre City" which has become the slo- gan Of those who are lighting to have more subways constructed ct once, f.onaptroiler Metz who has been op- posing any new subways for the pres- erlt because of the great debt of the city. really furnished ammunition for his opponents when he estimated that Inc cifyss holdings in real estate were worth close to two billion dollars which is three times greater than fhe effvss net funded debt. Although the comptroller has been obliged to change his attitude somewhat since he issued this statement, stil he persists in his opposition to more subways on the ground of poverty, and this in view os the fact that New York will have an AQQ1ItOu&4 OOILOMAA& G1KBDA<S O+ sa5 ,000. 900 on the first of July. It is argued that this amount will be re auired for the minor public Improve- ments. and that 1t would be unwiss to expend any of 1t for new subway lines.
 Ida Conquest, the well-lxnown actress who Is now playing in The Vol" at the Lyric Theatre was the principal figure in a unique christening which took place at the Bronx Zoo the otler day. The director of the Zoo asked permission of Miss conauels to name the baby Canadian gray wolf after her. Miss Conquest readily consented and immediately sent a silver collar with a gold name plate to adorn the shabby neck of the baby wolf At the christening the wolf was formally pre- scented to the actress. and taking the animal in her arms she poured a glass of water over it's head, saying n chris ten thee Ida, and may you have many conquests." The actress wanted to take the wolf home with her, but 1t was finally decided that it would be better to have it visit her occasion ally for a day at a time. IL is now planned to have the little animal visit Miss Conquest in 6 few weeks at the