The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-20
Winter Ont Door Amusement.

SKATING ON THR CENTRAL pARK AND on BECK
MANS PoSDS-TKN THOUSAND PERSONS GRATUI-
TorsLY ENTERTAINED To HEALTHrUL EEcREA-
TioS-THx sCEsYs-ruMBLIsG IN THRwArER, Erc.
Encouraged by the very cold spell Saturday evening"
and the warm atmosphere OF yesterday morning,
the Juveniles, and many beyond uvenism, inspired
with sangulne hopes OF ace days skating yesterday,
instead q passing the "dsy OF rest in something less
nocent than that which not unfrequentiy marks tho
seventh day in this great city Of churches From
early hour quite stream Of boys-e boys, big boys,
and some who would regard I compliment to
DO called "old boys"-wero wepdi ng their way
up the avenues with skates In hand, smiling faces,
and probably many with dinner in pocket, and every
thing necessary to meet tho wants OF the inner man
white they spent the day on the ponds The high expec
taons raised by the length Of the Central Park pond
drew the crowd there nrst in preference to any other
sheet of water, bot arrival there many dscou
ragged by the hnncss OF the cc and their hopes nigh died
within them, especially when the police force stsioued
there that they had orders prevent persons
from "gonR on, AZ the ice would not bear the crowd
Il vas necessary order yet disappointment was bard TO
bear especially when many had distance 10 spend
the day Later In the day. however the upper part q
the pond recognized strong enough 10 bear aud on
went the mirthfu hearts crowds OF Urchns and members
OF the hoo eus of every age aud probably Of every
country that constitute our nationality.
AZ the first rebuff OF thin ice and NJ Ps many turned
their thoughts 70 more familiar place, where Ia younger
days they had found tue hours "Ew by angels
vpes, ~he In sportive CLEO they had coursed on the
CLASSY surcs aud enjoyed the pastme of the seasons
phort lived iocomosoE spite cf Bofess wi hs blasts
sac cawd'-and TO Beekmans pond was the watchword.
Here those who went found the Ice that
Desirable, and, though less prctcntious than its
peshbor the Park, med by far the better place r
big course and all the fun and fro thai they meant TO
for their bodys health aud the entertainment OF
onloo<ers.
At this season q the year there nothing verdurc
Ia boam In the fak 70 attract ththcr those who stroll
feast their eyes nature n gowery handwork.
The ptomcnadcrs yesterday were therefore the q,i
ys Too the skating entertainment one and crowd
they would have made had they been ccngregaad
spot, instead a. being dispersed coming and going over
the 10 he day this the central
promenade ground OF great city that is, and the
greater city that TO be- Tho general computation ofihc
number Of persons the ground yesterday from the
early dawn OF DAY the setting Of the sum- down
at ten thousand. Probably not more than a couple q
hundreds would be on the Ice nj time, and three
fourtbs Of that number only were provided with skates
harnessed to their boots flying along and mixng %
glorious ccnfnsion and OF that figure there only
very limited number Of first class skaters Comparisons
always otous' IS q ,rise saying. nevertheless in
crowd some becomes conspicuous one 81 our city
captains ssemed 70 be that one, aud attracted large
share 81 the attention &c the uncokers that lined tha
banks both aids ~ the skating pond THIS gentleman
has passed his boysh day end has his own boys men
~, se,ss rss es ~. o' nSpe's s,, ana
81 glass, and bis skating was really beautiful
Striking out IN circle with great velocity, he
would return 10 bis starting place and leap up
from tho ice ard land On again heel to heel; or IN
skating tsrms, IA .spread eagle (" In this '.sprcad
eagle would make another circle to the right
wheel again tho lcit another circle and thnn
60 zae to the right TO tho ef, forwards and back
wards balance on the rockers ne seemed second 70
OF the professors Of the eight rope To those
acquainted with the Of balancing, The captains
feats really Wonderful and 10 verybody
doubtless very pretty Though his exhibition for hts
recreation, and not for display, II evidently
a. entertainment 10 the crowd, who watched his
winding through the confused who sought ENJOY.
the ice The novccs who from time 10 time
tured 10 launch out source o. great merrmeut.
Now and again NJ the feet and down went the head
In rather uncomfortable vcocty. Killed ssallcrackei
II would have made difference, the ono0kers
have had their hearty laugh there Is something
funny IN IT. There =, unqucatonaoy, moro than one
person this morning In body from the mislortunes
yesterday the The captain alluded 20 had his
misfortune well as his pleasure. In one Of his flying
rounds he 10 collision with boy, AMI in trying TO
the boy from fall he went down with smash
on his let cheek which evidently severely hurt,
and bed considerably. After free of cold
water TO the wound, no again al the pas.
time, but evidently somewhat affected BY the fall.
during the day, but the number would have been
much greater had not the leo the pond broken no
froay and probably led many 90 the conclusion that
there could be nothing yesterday 70 bear them. During
last week quite number OF ladies' ventured their fral
but comedy forms the pond for skating amusement,
and from tho number OF the fair yesterday the
take considerable interest the healthul recreation
At Bcckmans pond Sixteth street and Fourth avenue,
there something like three thousand during
the day skstng aud looking Ia returning by that
place towards duck Witnessed very inc skating.
There Ave six young who seemed to be
very proaceut in "the art" In addition swim courses
tho pond they had dne amusement In dancing Two
Of them executed the "putch waltz very gracefully and
went through every kind OF dgure resembling consdera-
bly, "yirgnny breakdown" with all It's diversity Of
grotesqucness.
During the day there were several persons IN the water
particularly AZ the latter place About fifteen sixteen
persons got Through the ice but great damage
done beyond little cooling and the general discomfort
Of walking home wet and heavy garments More cold
weather, ana the Central Park pond promises 70 be
fayprite resort