Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-16
STRANGE NAME
FOR Birdie PATH
"Rotten Row" Is Undignified
Label Given Fashionable
London Riding Site.

Rotten Row is not a London tene-
nent.
Londoners have taken great pains tC
enlighten the newspaper men, aids anC
stenographers attending the Armament
Conference on the subject of Rotten
Row.
Rotten Row is a place to ride horse
back, the most fashionable bride patt
In London.
Rotten Row presents the horrible
example of a good French phrase gone
wrong" says a bulletin from the Ma
tional Geographic Society.
Originally Route du ROi."
Because the French language was
popular at court when William III
ordered a road cut through Hyde PARK
to Kensington Palace, It became known
As Route du Roi' or Kings road. Lon
doners soon democratized this nigh
sounding, aristocratic label into undig-
nifed Rotten Row.
"For l mile it stretches straight
through spacious Hyde Park. various
reasons why riders continue to frequent
n have been advanced. First, that 1t
Is a pleasant place to ride; second, That
riders find it delightful to be looked al
by envious throngs along the paralIei
pathways, and third, that the soft SAND
surface makes it diflcult for unlucky
riders to break their necks, legs, arms
or collarbones. 49,, l.,
Rotten Row on Sunday mornings, Wnen
the sidewalks (foot paths, LondoneTs
call them) are used for the cnurcn
parade. Before and after church tasn-
ionsble London, in Sunday best, strolls
down Rotten Row. ~
bidders appear in Rotten Row at all
hours of the morning. The early rising
roders, who gallop before breakfast, are
called the Liver brigade
Rotten Row was an original Sre e1
In 1895 the King ordered the Wnole
length of it lighted with lamps. a
voainr lady of the times left deScrlp-
fion. ON each side are Rowes OF posts
on which are glasses-CaseS for Lamps
which are lighted in We Evening anc
appeares very fine as well as safe 1or "
passengers =
lsHorseback riding and strolling in
Rotten Row are merely two OF the mui-
titide of diversions offered Londoners
In Hyde Park. and the adjoining Ken
sington Gardens. While soap-nox ora.
tors entertain crowds in one corner,
band PLAYS in another. The Serpen-
tine, an artificial lake, offers swimming
and boating. Tea is served in the
Ring Tea House, while at the western
end of the park area, in Kensington
Gardens, innumerable nursemaids and
children gather. Daily regattas in
Round Pond excite small boy ship
owners more than the annual races al
Cowes thrill their fathers.
Rarrie's Park Guide.
zone of the best guidebooks to Ken
gingtOn Gardens Is James M. Barrie's
THE Little White Bird Barrie's Peter
Pan; as his many admirers know, lived
on the island In the Serpentine, where
al the birds are born that become lit
tie boys and girls
Hyde Park, with Kensington Gar
dens, is about 2 miles long Their area
Is about three-fourths the area Of Gen.
trail Park, New York. They are merely
two Of the numerous royal and private
parks that have been made public
parks. 1t is possible to walk two short
blocks from the Tames, enter st. James
Park, and then, except for two busy
street crossings, saunter miles through
London parks undisturbed by the roar
and confusion Of metropolitan traffic. F."