Central Park Concert

“As the fall season advances and the jolly face of the sun no longer glows like that of a toper the cool, bracing atmosphere of the Park attracts thousands from their close kennels down town. To be sure the shade is no longer so grateful as during the dog days, and organdies and muslins have given place to silks and heavier dress goods; but the draught of fresh air and Dodworth’s music are as eagerly sought after on Wednesdays and Saturdays now as draughts of whiskey by political bummers, or drafts on the government by soulless contractors. Some of the ladies, however, do not go to the park on hygienic principles, but under some of those dainty little hats the sparkling eyes roam about in search of an expectant beau. The young one tumble about on the grass whenever the talismanic board ‘common’ permits them, or else they make faces at the monkeys or give cakes to the swans. The latter are the objects of attention on Wednesdays, and more than one philocygnic individual has given them his last cew of tobacco, often, however, with alarming results, as swans do not particularly affect the ‘weed.’

Taking advantage of the beauty of the day, a large number of persons visited the Park yesterday. Along the Drive vehicles of all descriptions, from the stately family chariot, with its freight of aristocratic beauty, to the grocer’s wagon, with its jolly, rotund, Dutch occupant, passed and repassed each other continually. Through the Ramble parties were wending their way slowly and listlessly, as if thouroughly enjoying the serentity of the weather and the quiet calmness that reigned around. By the shores of the Lake and on the bridge groups were collected listening to the music of the brass band as it glided slowly in its barge over the tewater, and the strains came back to the listeners mellowed by distance. Contentment beamed on every face, old and young were happy, and if care and anxiety lurked in the bosoms of any they were not visible. The murky clouds which in the latter part of the evening collected in dark heavy masses overhead caused many apprehensions of a storm being near, so that before the usual hour for the termination of the concert long lines of persons were wending their several ways to the various entrances, and in a short time no trace was left of the pleased crowd which do doon before thronged the many avenues and pathways of the people’s pleasure ground.”