CITY PARKS. ^111 



the Ramble, where the woods are flushed with crimson and 

 gold, is something to be ti-easured in the memory above all 

 other scenes of the park. 



To the east of the Mall, across the East Drive, is 

 the Children's and Nurses' Lawn, extending from 72d 

 Street, along Fifth Avenue to the gate at 67th Street. 

 This place reminds one of an English lawn. It is 

 a bit of five or six acres of fine turf, unbroken except 

 by a few scattered shade trees of large size. Each tree is a 

 fine specimen. There are horse-chestnuts and some excellent 

 American beeches, oaks, tulip- trees, maples, elms, purple 

 beeches, liquidambai's, etc. 



Under these trees and over the greensward play through- 

 out the months of May and June, and occasionally later, 

 hundreds of children both rich and poor. Oa a Saturday 

 afternoon in May you will see scores of May-parties and 

 hundreds of children covering every part of this lawn. The 

 bright ribbons, the white dresses, and the greensward and 

 trees, and above all, the happy faces, make a picture to 

 gladden the heart of man. The attraction of the picture is 

 increased ^vhen we consider that many of these children 

 come from the great tenement-houses of the east side of 

 town, and from some of the most crowded regions of the 

 civilized woi'ld. 



To the west of the Mall is another great lawn or meadow 

 called the Green. Here base-ball is played on clear days, 

 when the grass is dry, and under the shade of the bordering 

 trees gather picnics. This meadow has no tree or shrub on 

 its surface except on its extreme borders. It extends over 

 to the West Drive, and is contrived, in connection with 



