errace there is a boat-house, in which is to be found the manager
of the fleet of pleasure boats which dot the surface of the water. The
regular fare around the lake in the omnibus or public boats is ten cents.
Persons may hire a boat for their private use on the payment of a
moderate sum. They may either make the circuit of the lake in these
boats, or may leave them at any of the six pretty boat-houses which are
arranged at convenient points on the shore. The popularity of these
boats may be judged from the fact that in 1869, 126,000 persons used
them.

Whole fleets of snow-white swans are constantly sailing through the
waters. They are among the finest specimens of their species in
existence. At the opening of the park twelve of these birds were
presented to the Commissioners by the city of Hamburg in Germany. Nine
of these died, and twelve more were presented by the same city. Fifty
others were given by some gentlemen in London. Of the original
seventy-four, twenty-eight died, and the remaining forty-six with their
progeny form one of the pleasantest attractions of the lake. A number of
white ducks have been added to the collection. All the birds are quite
tame, and come readily to the call.

On a bright moonlight night in the summer, the scene to be witnessed on
the lake is brilliant. The clear waters gleam like polished steel in the
moonlight, and are dotted in every direction with pleasure boats, each of
which carries a red or blue light; the swans sail majestically up and
down in groups; on every side is heard the dash of oars, and the sound of
laughter and happy voices; and the air is heavily laden with the perfume
of the flowers along the shore. No sight or sound of the great city is
at hand to disturb you, and you may lie back in your boat with half shut
eyes, and think yourself in fairyland.

[Picture: THE TERRACE, AS SEEN FROM THE LAKE.]

In the winter the scene is different. Huge houses are erected on the
shores of all the sheets of water in the park, and are provided with
sitting-rooms, fires, restaurants, and counters at which skates may be
hired for a trifling sum. The water is lowered to a depth sufficient to
prevent the occurrence of any serious accident in case the ice should
break, and the ice itself is carefully watched, and is scraped smooth
after the sports of the day are over. Rotten ice is quickly detected and
marked with a sign bearing the word "Danger." When th