PHOTOGRAPHING IN CENTRAL PARK. By FRANK M. INGALLS.

ENTRAL PARK, located in the very heart of Manhattan, is a delightful spot in summer time, with its refreshing carpet of green contrasting with the dirty streets which surround it. It occupies the space of 153 city blocks, an area of 840 aces. It is bounded by Fifth avenue, 110th street, Eight avenue and 59th street. Within its limits are about nine miles of carriage drives, about 6 miles of bridle paths and almost 30 miles of foot-walks. These all wind in graceful curves, and are shaded by beautiful trees of various species, with many flowering shrubs planted along the borders. Here and there statues and fountains nestle in the foliage Many of the foot-walks lead through beautiful vine-covered arbors, which contain seats where one may rest and feast his eyes upon the works of nature and art. In many places ponds and lakes

add to the enchantment of the place. Seats for about 10,000 persons line the walks.

To describe all the interesting features of this park would take a large volume. Just a few hints for the camera workers will suffice for my purpose.

At the principal entrance, 59th street and Fifth avenue, is conspicuously placed the bronze equestrian statue of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman. It is a massive piece of work in gold bronze, placed high upon a solid granite base, located in a little plot of green grass, surrounded by a curb.

Upon entering the park, the path that leads down to the left,past the swan-boat landing, up a few stone steps and a little climb to the top of a huge bowlder, will give us a point of sight that is well worth the trouble. Beneath us lies the "lower lake" surrounded by beautiful trees and beyond we get a glimpse of the tall buildings on Fifth avenue, including the Netherland and Savoy hotels.

Should we have chosen to take the path at the right we would have come upon a scene no less beautiful-the little ivy-covered stone bridge which spans a narrow arm of the same lake. As we adjust the camera to take the picture, a stranger strolls into our field of view, and we hasten to immortalize him as his gaze directs our attention to the little swanboat that has just emerged from under the bridge.

We follow along toward the north, drinking in the views and wishing we had nothing to do but to stroll all over this beautiful world, depicting its places of interest that others might enjoy the things that we admire.

Should we be inclined to study architecture here is an excellent opportunity. Just across Fifth avenue some of the most beautiful residences in America, seen from the park form many interesting vistas.

The laughter of children is heard and soon we see a pony with rider coming down the walk. We prepare for a snapshot at close range. There are also a number of donkeys and goatcarts for children to ride in upon the Mall which they enjoy very much. Turning to the left we soon come upon the building of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, at 82d street and Fifth avenue, the largest and richest art museum in America. The city furnishes the buildings but the col

lections therein are controlled by private interests. One should not try to see all of the collection at a single trip but plan a series of visits, taking only a few sections at a time. The building is open every day, admission being free except Mondays and Fridays when a small fee is required. It is open on the latter evenings, and is then free, from 8 to 10 o'clock. It is an excellent place to study art-especially on rainy days when we cannot enjoy out-of-doors life.

Just south of the museum building, on a little rise of ground is placed the Obelisk or "Cleopatra's Needle," the most interesting historical object to be seen in America. It consists of a monolith of hard stone measuring about eight feet square at its base and seventy feet in height. It was old when Moses read its inscription. It has behind it thirty-five centuries. It withstood the various climatic changes during all this long period, until brought here where the northeast storms have worn the hieroglyphics from two of its sides. A gold-plated cap has been placed upon its apex to protect it. In 1877 it was presented to the United States by the Khedive of Egypt, and removed here at private expense. Its companion was located on the Thames Embankment in London, the same year.

Farther to the south is Crcton reservoir, supplying a part of the water used in New York city. At its southeast corner is an odd little stone tower. A fine view of the surrounding locality may be obtained from its upper floors. It is open at all times-free for all. The gate on Eighth avenue, or "Central Park West" as it is called in the vicinity of the park, is near the elevated station of the Sixth avenue and Ninth avenue lines, at 81st street and affords a fine view.

When the great park has been exhausted, one may turn to the smaller city parks or "squares" with their pictorial opportunities. One of the most favored of these is Madison Square Park, almost in the heart of the city. Two views of its chief features are here reproduced, the "Garden" with its beautiful tower, and Dr. Parkhurst's old church, recently removed to make room for the tallest building in the world, a business block of forty-four stories in height.