The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-20

FINE WEATHER AID FINE SKATING ON THE LAKE
OLD NEW 70 " AND YoUSs NEW YORK IN All
THEIR GLoay-FfNE EQUIfAGEs AND PRETTY wO-
hEN-IfCIDENTs, SUGGESTIONS, ETC, ETC.
The tlase young gentcman-one OF those terribly old
fellows Of three and twen.y-who said he really couldn't
think Of gong skate in cold weather. would have been
without his yesterday. Tho weather was de-
lcious. II just cold enough to make one think Of
brisk exercise, without being sufficiently fgid 10 reicen
the end of ones noso Arctcize ones toes or lenumo
ones fingers The Thermometer stood in the morning at
forty three, or thereabouts, and the sun came ca,
as gouriously respondent as the record OF a
pood mans life 1t the Of weather when
look briskcr and seem prettier; when Broadway
blooms out Ike tptop conservatory and when every
seems TO have had sip the famous Fountain OF Eternal
Youth.
Or course great many people we're impelled to sig
naiizc such weather by some remarkable achievements
Ok these sprghty persons, the minority favored the
skating operations the Central Park, wherein there
lake for the especial benefit OF tbs public large Just
now II is the Of grand skating carnvs which at
tracts hundreds of performers upon the hight fantastic
(and hee), and thousands Of spectators lisa curious,
novel and interesting spectacle.
The lake and its situation have been heretofore fully
described in the HERALD Its form has charming IT.
regularity, and its surroundings eminepy pic
turesque than those of the lakes in the European parks
which havea an artificial appearance that is very distress
ing TO who loves nature unadorned. The Central
Park lake has not made up appear like the eaky
affair in the Bos dc Bouogne The Central Park iakshas
diversified shore, broken by real rocks and real emi
pences, making fine natural amphheatre, from which
skating rowing matches may be viewed by thousands
Of spectators.
So much for nature, which always does its work
well, without regard to political trckery
nd tba Cno
mssiouers Of the Central Park-and we say it
with all due respect-are not alike. The Park
Commissioners regular respectable people, little
dull AMI old fogyh perhaps, but still nice people in their
way. Nature is irregular at times, and not always
spectacle Nature has convulsons, earthquakes voca
noes and St prefer nature, with its occasional
diversions from the path Of rectitude, to the Commis
soners Nature has given US the lake. the clear bracng
ambient atmosphere the loveest blue sky, the plea
SAINT vews the glorious sun walking maesti:aliy
in the heavens. Nature gives. us the gay shon.
of youth, the fresh blush OF the rosy frnged
morning, the silver laugh Of woman, the sharp appetite
for bourgeois dinner which the Commissioners with all
tbcir fine cuisines and dusty bins, cannot
felt. Bless Nature, good SOUL bless her We'll, what
do the Commissioners give uss Listen: They make us
walk over very muddy roads, when few planks would
keep us clean and dry to the shore of the lake. They
attempt to flood the lake, and DO badly the ice being
and unpeasanty rough They obige ask Nature
selves put on removeour skates That all they do
Now they ought to DO more. They ought To provide
light kiosk sort Of eddce in the centre OF the lake, with
small stations at convenient points about the Shore where
might be had by skaters and spectators who woud
gladly pay small fee Than sufficient cover the
expense of erecting them Refreshments should also be
provided these stations. These little things make up
the OF human enjoy Messieurs the Commission
ers They are duly provided in every European city as
you must know The skaters, too would fnd it 10 their
advantage to adopt the Paris plan Of giving few
to the man that keeps the ice clear;
having been accelerated by few coppers Go in, then,
Messrs the Comn stir the engineer archi
k,tn.- 1-ic xa
But to return to skaters. There all sorts and
knds-good bad and Indifferent old and young, from the
grey beard whose popderously ornate sweep reminded
of Sir Roger de Covery nt fast Fifth recep
ton down to the youngster who felt the exharang
for the first time The ladies in the voca-
tive, so far as skating was concerned; but there
was standing committee of the beau doing
an immense deal of looking on and encouraging
the fancy skaters 10 attempt eats of bewidering cha
yaeter Gay turnouts skIrted the shores well dressed
spectators Dotted the emnences hundreds of skaters
caeered over the lake. ana the scene altogether gay
spiritirg, pleasant and In point ofac NICE That
curing the forenoon Az the higher the skating
were generally suspended We saw enough, however,
In the morning hour prove TO ns that skating will be
fashionable as il healthy and nvigoratng hour
two the is better than all the medicine the world
Try 1t, d speptcs, and see If we not right There
was no rowdyism nor disturbance of any kind, and
hope and believe that the Park will be free from such
demonstrations for ali time TO come.
THE CENTRAL PARK POND BY MOONLIGHT.
FIFTEEN HUNDRED PERSONS ON THE POND-GaEAr
AMUSEMENT, But BAD ICE--CALLS FOR IMPROVE
MENT
Last night the moon shed our part Of creation
20 bengnly her svery rays that doubtless many who
would otherwise have stayed at home tempted there
by to"wander forth and snuff the caller air. Assuredy
large portion Of our citizens male and female, got to
the now famous Central Park Pond enjoy innocent and
healthful recreation on skates.
The sun had been too warm through the day and the
moon was too mild at night excite extravagant hopes
Of splendid ice and lots fun" yet the reports from
the Park have created great interest that many went to
and whether their expectations extravagant or
at the same was very large.
The ice was anything but good and up to eight
O'Clock the crowd was kept Off At this hour they could
not resist the temptation on on they rushco
taking chances Before nine o'clock there upwards
of a thousand pers0 0ns the ice and the increase
continued up till ten O'Clock The evening was so beaut
fully clear towards eleven O'Clock that it not all
difficult to read any newspaper so that there mis-
taking in the crowd Miss Jane for Miss Betsey ann.
We have been frequently TO the pond, bat at no time
did many ladies there last evening The
fair who skaed certainly few as tho ice was
anything but tempting them They seemed never,he.
less deter mipcd 10 enjoy themselves well running,
when they got clear piece OF ice, tried what they could
do at sliding We observed one majestic lady, with
lady seemed by far the most expert OF the two and easier
IN movements. She attracted considerable attention as
she te ranks OF tne boys eviicuy gay
The gayest
There were good'y number Of gentlemen, very good
skaters who entertained their own circle Of friends
exhibitlops Of their tact and skill.
The boys eny led Themselves immensely at their games
and made the air rcsound with their joyous shouts the
ffoic. When frs. Se beard them shouting and saw them
rushing on one after the ohersonA n close pur.
sut-ve could scarcely make out The arrangcment-evcr
ready for news didn't know but y nigh. he the police 10
pursuit Is vas however, only tls youne light herrts
NJ Ting" The pond was here and thore dotted with
The dinereni companies at The nvigoratng play on
would so rag" the rst, aud after hm scores IN
rush, stretching out considerably, and resembling more
than anything else could think Of the rush our late
world astonishing comet ana s luminous appen1age
To any one standing little emnence bg the side of
the pond ihe rapid movements OF Tho skaters necessarily
IN dark hgnres on the Whltc groundwork had very sg
euar ailearance. In such n crowd there was a grcat
eonsumIiion Of scgars. Scores lighting IN drant parts
tie pend az the same instant gasc qutt variety the
,ntnth.
THE STATE OF THE FOND.
The lower or eastern part OF the pond reaiy oura
geousy bad To speak OF skating Il was out Of the
question. IL difficult enpuqh IN walk n