The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-17
That's What People Go to Park
for Saturday Night.
Reporter Goes Over to Garfield
to Watch Them.
REGINAlD AND HIS GIRL
They Dance Turkey Trot and
Ride Figure Eight.
The Riddles Have More Fun
Than Anyone.

Garfield Park on A Saturday Night!
Zip goes the figure eight Bang goes
the merry-go-roundi Zzt goes the circle
swing-onIy there isn't any! Boom goes
the band The three-piece orchestra
strikes up ragtinle variations on Verdfs
Miserere. ..Two-step'' says the placard
and we are of!
"Oh, myi', gasps Reginald, sucking his
breath in delight. There goes Gwin-
nyvere. Look at the turkey trot.
Guinevere, staggering in the centre of
the floor, is glorious in a Norfolk with
glistening red patent leather belt and
scarlet sailor collar
'And, say" Reginald goes on, adj
dressing khaki-clad youth beside him,
danc1n, with a guy in SuSpenderS that
dent know his left foot from his right.
There goes Mike Flint's girl in a yellow
hat like a rising SUM-"
A couple of matrons glance Jelly at
Reginald, and he retires from publicity.
"Oh, I say" he adds in a whisper,
there goes a rube in a red shirt; ne
bends around like windIass."
The music dies away. Guinivere's
cbum, divinely tall, wears clinging
black crepe and yellow shoes. Having
no partners for the redowa they link
arms and stroll toward the merry-go-
round.
Here mothers rock to the Irresistible
music of the calliope, while the
youngsters battle in excitement.
''Oh, oh. OH squeals a tot quicker
ing her face in a frenzy of anxiety.
which one shall I take?' Finally she
chooses a high-stepper, and sails off
enrapt. Not so the small boy; he
dashes for a gallant zebra, lashes it
to speed, boards chariot, straddles
a camel. and ends up on giraffe.
A fox terrier, solemnly boarding the
whiTlinG Tllqff0Fr1 n the haH<
seat of a bench, settles himself, and
views the company with gravity and
poise. The attendants, leaving the ba-
bies to hang for dear life, devote theIn-
selves to the visions in fluffy braiQS,
and long, scant skirts.
One of these visions is the daughter
of the gods now having in tow a five
foot youth with chromo-colored hair.
Come on. grille, and we'll have some
Ice cream he suggests, as they saunt-
er toward the pavilion. "or water
melon"
watermelon for me-" the vision de-
cides.
"Only trouble with watermelon" says
the facetious youth, yho is a record
breaker. "the seeds get into my ears
law, amt you CUTE" giggles the vis-
ion, 'I eat mine with a fork"
All aboard for the figure eight! In
the first car cuddle family of children,
under their fathers wing. Beware,
kiddiesi Up that steep slope you will
steadily climb, then dip with thrill
that shall
Harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young
blood.
Make thy two eyes, like stars. start
from their spheres
Behind sit a farmer and his wife,
taking the ride with eyes screwed shut,
and the knowledge they can tell the
folks back home that they have been
on the roller coaster
In the last car sit couple in soli-
tary state Reginald, who has return
ed up Guinivere, or vice versa Her
collar is blatantly red under the arc
light, and her charms are now en-
HANGED by ball of gum coquettishly
lodged in her left cheek.
"I can't go! Aw, I can't go. I
amt goin','' she shrieks. Neverthe-
less, she rides the figure eight a dozen
times every Saturday night.
Sure, you can go, kiddo,' Regi-
maid treasures her. "It won't hurt you.
Come along, Quinnyvere. I'll get your
picture taken in an airship after this.
Hang on to me-"
Still shrieking, they take the in
cline, then Reginalds arm encircles
her, and they disappear into the dark.
Hoop la for the movies" Push
your way through men on motorcy-
cles, wheels, cars and crutches. |
Search frantically for a seat where a |
man isn't smoking, a baby bowling or
a girl smacking gum. Then glance |
over the audience, and spy faces bored, |
amused, sleepy and cynical under the |
starlit sky.
~ a