e ice is in
suitable condition, a red ball is hoisted on the Arsenal, and little
white flags, on which is printed a similar ball, are affixed to the cars
running between the park and the lower part of the city. Then the
pleasure seekers come out in throngs, and soon the ice is crowded. At
night the lakes are lighted by numerous gas jets with powerful
reflectors, placed along the shore. The Central Lake at such times is a
sight worth seeing. The Commissioners prepare a code of liberal rules
for the government of skaters, and post them at conspicuous points. All
persons going on the ice are required to comply with them, on pain of
exclusion from the sport.

To the east of the Central Lake, and along the Fifth avenue side, is a
small pond, on the verge of which a large Conservatory, which is to be
one of the principal ornaments of the park, is now in course of erection.

On the heights to the north of the lake lies the Ramble, which covers an
area of about thirty-six acres, and is a labyrinth of wooded walks,
abounding in the prettiest rustic nooks, with tiny bridges over little
brooks, wild flowers and vines, and bits of lawn, and rock work, all so
naturally and simply arranged that it is hard to believe it is not the
work of nature. It is one of the most beautiful portions of the park.

At the northern end of the Ramble rises a fine gothic stone tower, which
forms a prominent feature in almost any view of the park. This is the
Belvedere, and is intended to serve as an observatory from which the
entire park may be seen at a glance. The rock upon which it stands is
the highest point in the park.

[Picture: VIEW ON THE CENTRAL LAKE.]

At the foot of this tower are the Croton Reservoirs. There are two of
them. The old or lower one is a parallelogram in form, covering an area
of thirty-one acres, and capable of holding 150,000,000 gallons of water.
The new reservoir lies to the north of the old, and is separated from it
by a transverse road. It is a massive structure of granite, irregular in
form, and extends almost entirely across the park. It covers an area of
106 acres, and will hold 1,000,000,000 gallons of water. Thus the two
reservoirs take 136 acres from the park. The landscape gardeners have so
arranged them that they constitute a very attractive feature of the
landscape.

North of the new reservoir is the Upper Park. This has been less
improved than the Lower Park, but is natur