32 REPORT OF THE 



There lias also been a great and steadily growing demand for 

 Sabbath afternoon concerts, such as also are listened to with 

 such solemn effect at the Manhattan Beach pagoda. There 

 is a large class of music-loving working people who cannot 

 attend the Saturday afternoon concerts who have begged 

 piteously that Sunday music be provided and that they shall 

 not be denied, in a life that has too often little in it of relaxa- 

 tion or rest, the comfort and the hope that music inspires in 

 the weary heart. 



jieadquarters rurh ^Department; 



OLD LITCHFIELD MANSION, PEOSPECT PARK. 



This massive castellated mansion is located near the Third 

 street entrance on Ninth avenue, upon a commanding eleva- 

 tion. It is conveniently adapted, by virtue of its location and 

 construction for the administration offices of the Park Depart- 

 ment During the past year the structure has been entirely 

 painted on the outside, while on the interior many of its rooms 

 have been put in order so as to serve the purposes of the 

 Department. The appropriation of $2,500 has been allowed 

 for the present year toward completing the interior of the 

 building, with a view of receiving into it that part of the 

 Department now having its headquarters at the City Hall, 

 thereby saving in the item of clerical help and dispatching the 

 business to be transacted. 



There are several rooms in this commodious mansion which 

 have been set apart for the purpose of collecting a cabinet of 

 curiosities, with the ulterior object in view of finally expand- 

 ing such a collection into a museum that shall include within 

 itself the different departments of natural history. One of 

 these rooms has been fitted up with cases for the reception of 

 the line collection of shells presented to the Department 

 through the kindness of Mr. C. B. Nichols, of Brooklyn. 



In one of the upper rooms of this building the meteorolgical 

 offices are located. 



