The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-09
SKATING IN CENTRAL PARK.
Splendid Skat ng-Wcathcr too Cold for the
Sp0rt-Eleven Thouand Skaters ON
the Pond The Imperial Skating
Party In Paris,

The "ban was M" again yesterday, Ahd Ger citizens
took advantage OF the Ice to have Atue skating for
bitter cold the wind that even the tougher and
sterner could not resist its nuences and had to
beat retreat before they hid bcca on the pond an
hour. There few uporl whom the cold had less
power, or who did not care SO much for IT, and they
throughout the day and evening But these were
good skaters whose active motiens kept their blood
circulation There very few spectators be
lettering the banks walks ice and those who did
not skate had to keep up active else freeze.
Usually there many ady gazers but yesterday there
Talking about freezing, it quite sight
90 behold the black and Tuddy boards of the assume
whitish gray appearance, as If with premature old age
as they had walked few yards from the cars
The policemen, DESTROYS Of keeping warm possible
put covering to Sheir caps with afpes for the ears
neck and chin giving them quite Crimean appearance
The lady skaters well wrapped in furs and wooens
and abou, with than usual energy So cold
was that the bottled beer cider soda the tents
concealed and burst its bonds At the upper end OF the
Park the thermometer marked ton degrees below
al six o'cock A. III.
The wind OF the day before had been trying TO have
little effect the tents breaking the raers of Water
man saloon and bursting the door Of Platts ladies'
booth II wonder full that the whole Of them had not
been leveed the greund for IL blew in that quarter
both '.stiff and strcngn II about the last
year when four Of these kind of tents completely
season been built stronger. But t Is iii wind
that blows good, ana 30 ii appeared yesterday
for the ladies' would stand steady their skates aud
allow the rude pushes Of Boreas to force them along
il does ship, the spreading garments answering the
place Of the calls. Again, two masculine skaters would
place themselves each at the end of a shawl, and
stretching it, let gil with the breeze, the momentum
given thereby being enough to carry them along without
any effort of their own.
Among the lady skaters have lately appeared some
who have determined TO throw aside the old fashioned
lorg skirts dangerous to the lovers OF this sport Two
hnUp nln fhA GhcrG IL. ol,n
blue skirts fur trimmed basques and hats aud tight At
ting ance boots, trimmed also with fur. Others
had semi Zouave costume, with short skirt Of bright
red and panales Of the ruddy hue fastened tight
y around the ancle the basque and hat both trimmed
with fur, and neatly lifting skating boots These i'm
provements picturesque and apparently comfortable.
Among the new methods Of skating-f II may be so
caed-was one Of person lying on his back on board
and second genius taking hold OF the Frustrated partys
heels and pushing him along. Now this Is funny mode
Of procedure, but the police did not like the aspect
Of alters In general they put stop to IT. although udg
quite an excitement.
There have been recently large number of improve
mens in skates introduced our popular Park,
to defy description individually. The last
called the Arctic skate. This has sole Of brass
struck out 70 the shape OF the foot with die The
endless screw working on gear the motive power be-
ing given thereto by thumb key. These straps, when
buckles are used or required There is no heel
needed, and that nuisance IS removed.
moments This il the invention Of YsnkeeMor coarss
The pond was expected to be flooded last night, the
Coon Board having granted the Park authorities per-
mission 10 the water Of the receiving reservoir for
experiment-Mr Ellis, the keeper, gaugiDg the guam
THY Of water used Should the flooding not require too
much Of the lmpid element, informed obsta
Giles will be placed in the way Of the use of the Croton in
future The hydrants were therefore, all dug out from
the They sixteen in number around the pond,
and triple the centre. II Is supposed that tho
ice be flooded in little over fifteen minutes.
The official returns yesterday were:-Pedestrians,
10 eco vehicles, 423 equestrans, 10 OF the pedes.
thousands
reckened as females.
on the curling pond five rinks were yesterday played
between the clubs merely for practice To-day the Gale
dona Club viii play point game for their local medal
The Skating Party OF the French Inn
perial Family.
From the Paris Correspondence Of tho London News.
PARIS, Jan. 10, 1861.
last night had the luck to be present grand court
skating match by tuichight In Paris the streets
muddy; IL supposed that decided thaS had set in,
the ice on the lake in the Ros de Bouogne was pro-
nounced unsafeit was, as ascertaned myself watery
on the surface, and not soul to be upon IT,
But hey ond the Longchamps race course, and the
banks OF the Seine, NJ do Rothschds splendid villa
and just opposite Suresne there If meadow studded with
pretty clumps OF high trees which overowed during
the late floods and which, although the thermometer had
risen to shade above zero, still presented a smooth
coating OF solid ice there being scarcely any water
derneah. Al THIS spot the Emperor with as much
secrcsy az possible had made rendezvous for
ten O'Clock at night The great Godillot, under
aker OF public reoicngs, hung the branches Of the
trees with hundreds of Chinese lanterns ana serving
men, numerous those peasants who walked all
night long and down the ponds about the royal palaces
to prevent the frogs from waking the kings Of France,
promeIaded the frozen meadow with lanterns fixed on
their heads. Besides this constant illumination, there
Intermittent. succession OF Bengal Gre and 0zzing
torches which lighted up the scene giorso body OF
men in white blouses-a special Ice pelice-formed a
Gordon round the field Of operations and kept of those
who were unlimited; but the crowd of spectators,
though considerable consisted mainly If tho inhabitants
Of ST. Cloud, suresne and the neighboring villages. The
population Of Paris knew nothing Of the e and up to
this hour neither the Moaiet1 any other Jour.
IN
peror and the court. arrived, the sport commenced
in very business like style. The Empress got into
icebcy a skater attracted the imperial notice two
years ago and who il called at court the Empcrors
Aid dco0p de 2l1oe had the honor Of pushing her Ma
jesty the ice. He took her along at railroad speed
and out Of sight Of shore in less than minute The
emperor then put his skates and conducted the sedge
of lady whose name could not learn The Countess SO
Morny, developed IN velvet and white furs essayed her
prowess but was supported by two gentlemen, who gave
her hand each side Tho Princess Ponatowski went
along very well by herself In short space of time the
ice tlcky studded with host of cnamberains, gene
rails aides de camp and even judges who had como with
the hour The notion Of coming 20 skate in thaw
highly approved of for the night was by no means cold
The Emperor and Empress remained on the ice I'LL half
This afternoon the frost In the meantime having re-
turned with considerable intensity, the sport
sumed by the imperial party at the spot. NJ. Har
toys gave the Empress promenade in beautiful scdge,
which was sent for by telegraph from Germany, and
only arrived this morning Afterwards her Majesty ven
turtd TO skate, but only with the assistance OF two gen.
tlemen. She is not at her upon the ice and,
sdering that she from sunny spain this Is not
be wondered at. The Emperor very good skater lie
does not attempt any tours dc force but he Is perfectly
master Of his movements His IL 10 e along rather
slowly, and he stops frequently 10 contemplate the ami
mated around him. Not the least etiquette Is Oh
served on the ice. No clear space is kept about
the Emperor Empress. They 70 about just
Ike anybody else, and today. unlike Last eve
ming, everybody without exception allowed
10 skate ~ the time with them. The En-
pcror bad nothing whatever but his own adrotnc.s
TO prevent him from being knocked By the first
tyro the sport whose skates might away with him
II interesting sight 10 the master OF many
legons, the mighty pottntate upon whose mysterious
breath the fate Of so many nations hangs slipping about
on The ice, no squire servant
following him and apparently rs much equality
with the people about him carter is with plough
man on an fnglish farmyard pond Once Young man.
who the Emperor skating slowly along the mide Of
the loe, stecrd almost indscreetly close 20 him and
gave him the by with the evident intention Of getting
ceoit with the spectators for being the best skater
The Emperor then without any apparent EFFORT
his speed gracefully dsanced his opponent by q few
yards, and coDtented with his victory resumed the
steady pace which, a. said before, he " AFFECT
The frfst a. Vxtu