The New York herald., 1860-12-17
SUNDAY At THE CENTRAL PARK.
Fifty Thenand VklteFs 70 the Park-Tea
ThousanA Skaters on de leo Great Con-
course Of Werking Men-Agge Feats on the
Skating Ponds New Dessriptiop Of skate D.
Views from the Observatory,
Ac., Ae., &c.


1t very generally anticipated by the good folks Of
New York that Sunday would be the greatest skating day
of the present winter season very few considered
that the elements would have been propous and the
clerk Of the weather happy and agreeable dspos
tion as he displayed yesterday. External nature was
more than ordinarily exuberan, in the favors she ex'
tended TO our citizens, who were not aow IN awaiting
themselves of them, A brighter and more balmy
morning never broke upon the city than that WIN
which we were yesterday favored. The sun outshone
himself in dazzling enulgence, and poured forth
an unwonted degree Of warmth upon the earth;
the chilling hyperborean blasts Of the previous
day that had chilled many and threatened so
many toes, had meiowed down into ambient breezes
and fitting zephyrs, that gave tone TO the blood and
termination to the lungs. It of those calm and
beautiful days that remind of the yellow eaved
of autumn rather than Of the frigd period Of the
reign Of the icy king. Although the earth literally
baked with frost, there health in every breath Of
air that waited across the waters.
The Central Park was, of course the great scene OF
attraction. Sunday being day Of leisure and re-
creation to the working classes OF the com
munty thousands Of these took advantage of
their opportunity visit this great public resort
some to skate slide the ice, and multitude of
others stroll through the rambles wander among the
grayeled paths saunter about the summer
houses The skating ponds frozen as hard could
be desired and there were facilities and opportunities
for skating that must have reoced the hearts Of the
professors" of this manly and invigerating exercise
Nor did the people neglect to go n' when the sport
began. AS for the boys, they went into the amusement
con an,ore No fat Alderman ever rcjoiced more over
his turtle and port than did these youthful skaters
at the rare prospect Of fun and enjoyment which in
their grasp From early in the forenoon until the
began decline, the pond presented continual
Of hustle and animation. Men and boys Of all ages and
sizes, went whirng and darting about on the frozen
lakes with inconceyabie rapdity and In every possible
direction. Now and again there extempore
got up between two good skaters who would slide
away with degree Of celebrity perfectly appalling 10 the
uninated in this difficult process of equilibrium AZ
as the principals Of the fairly under way II
the signal for the whole army OF urchns to start in
pursuit. and then the time to what may well be
termed "prety tall skatngn Some of the skaters yes
terday were really adopts at the art Their gyratons
over the smooth and CLASSY surface Of the ice were
graceful and elegant No movement appeared to be too
difficult for them There were others the contrary,
who were very clumsy. Some Of these latter
were continually running foul Of people, and
when there was nobody to come in contact with
tumbling themselves on the ice. Tho love Of the
exercise be greatly the increase to judge by
the large number Of yros who were essaying their first
cumulative efforts. The most Of these very wisely kept
near terra rma only made short excursions and
fro, On the principle that
Vessels large may venture more
But little boats must keep near shore.
Many Of these beginners the of much merr
among the lockers The persistent but awkward
efforts they were compelled TO make to preserve their
perpendcu and the frequent falls they had for their
pains were highly amusing TO the spectators who
I{nfr of
could ntimidate the aspiring philosophers As
tyro dropped his back expert skater sure
to be at hand 70 put him his feet again. Sometimes
couple Of pracced hands would learner and rush
of with him to the other side of the pond and
there leave him to struggle back as best he could.
These were tricks Of friends 10 one another
and therefore taken in good part by everybody.
The utmost harmony and order prevailed. Everybody
enjoyed themselves to the fullest possible extent without
entrenchng the comfort enjoyment Of their neigh
bors, and from early morning 10 night there
tinual scene Of exhiraion and enjoyment and about
the ponds.
The ladies' division Of the skating pond not well
attended yesterday previous days The most OF the
fair early in the morning and left before church
time, but there some that kept the ground the
whole day The skating among the Indies does call
for more than passing remark. Most Of those who
went the ice preferred sliding and riding in species
Of chair provided with steel slides 20 bucking the
skates Two young girls Of about fourteen years OF
and fair haired boy Of about eleven, absorbed
all the attention Of the spectators on this side.
Their skating was as graceful and perfect
is possible TO conceive, and there very few
statArs tho ladies' pond their skill
the readily made apparent and drew forth the
appreciation Of an admirng crowd
There have been so many skaters on the ponds since
the has opened that the whole surface Of the
ice bruised and cut up in very complete though un-
comfortable manner. The immense number OF skaters
who visited the Park yesterday have not done anything
10 smoother the ice, and We fancy that skating will not
be very easy today unless some water LET ON and be
allowed time TO freeze. The ladies' pond the only
that presents anything like even surface This is
owing the fact that but few gentlemen permitted
this Ice, with their ponderous skates and heavy corpo
rstons and the ladies themselves only fit Ike fairies
the frozen waters leaving scarcely any impression
behind 50 that although our male population may pos
siby find Inconvenience in skating because Of the
battered and irregular condition Of their pond the ladies
have comfortable and easy skating til the ice begins
There were an immense number Of visiters at the
Park yesterday. Our reporter Informed by one Of
the officers on the ground that ~ early as eight O'Clock
the ice and surrounding grounds many Of these being
ladies' Certainly at from nine 70 ten O'Clock there were
over three thousand, and at noon there room
al all for the But the cry sstiI they
comen The Of the various city railroads continued
TO pour IN fresh arrivals and II that many of
those who had been the pond from eight the morn
ing tired out and ready 10 return to their
homes there would have been forty fifty thou
sand persons the ground at three -four O'Clock The
aggregate number OF vsters during the whole day could
not possibly fall below this number Not half Of
these had the sgheschance Of getting on the Ice Many
who came long distances In the expectation Of free and
uninterrupted enjoyment of their favorte pastme,
grievousy disappointed witnessing such multitude IN
advance of them and all they could do under the crcum
stances was 10 deposit their skates in their receptaclcs
and become spectators Of the performances q others when
they had little chance of being performers themselves
This particularly the with those who very
late, when the ice was greatly cut up and not very nv
ting IN appearance.
The post prandial arrivals very numerous, and
from O'Clock 20 the falling of the evening
shadows there continual flow Of the human tide
through all the entrances to the Park While those who
delighted in skating were enjoying themselves 70 their
hcas content bands of people dispersed about
the grounds and found abundant means of recreation
An immense number Of ladies' and gentlemen be
strong about the unduatng grounds and along the
tortuous and circumlocutory paths of the Rambie.
The emnencc around the observatory was crowded all
during the day. the view from this elevated position
being exceedingly beautiful The coup doI from the %.
servatory itself well worth visit 20 the Park As far
the eye there is broad and slightly unduating
country laying a the feet Of the observer IN
all the and ruggedgbeauty Of winters landscape
side the magnificent artificial Croton lakes,
Ak,xu