The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-17
THE SKATING SEASON.
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II III Il B A l. L u p
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no FOR TH = PARH!
The Metropolitan Ponds Ready
for the Skaters.
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HARLEM, BROOKLYN AND H0BOKEN.
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Excitement ON the Fifth Ave-
niue Pond.
&es &c. lee

ing season. New Workers. ever DESTROYS OF enjoyment
watched the season Of picnic parties and excursions
parting with sorrow modified however, by the consong
thought that winter was coming, with its skating and
sleish rides, balls and social reunions For the pas:
week the lovers Of skating Immediately on rising from
their sumbers hastened TO examine the condition OF
Fahrenheit their spirits rising and falling with the
curry in the tube When others complained Of the low
ness OF temperature they became eated and onged for
She silver fluid to descend far below Skates were
got In order furs aud ovcrcoats procured and ladies'
even suggested to each other appropriate costumes to
wear at the many carnvas which will assuredy take
place during the present winter The preccpt OF the
great American poet
Let those skate who did not sla,e before
And those who Oft did skate skate the more,
was extensively incucaeJ and many assuredy will
adopt the advice aimed in these simple yet touching
lines At length. however, the wishes Of this extensive
class have been grated tho skating season having been
fairly inaugurated yesterday both in New York end
Brooklyn.
THE PARK LANES.
The lakes in the Park viii ptobab be the heodauarlers
oil the skating community this winter they have been
in winters past The public had been well posted through
the columns Of the HfgirD Of the increased facilities
which would be afforded TO them by The Park Commits.
sioners this season in The shape OF two new bases OF
operation II was thought Lat at early dawn the ball"
upon which so many hopes depended would 90 IN
indicating that the Park lakes were ska,ablc and
large numbers consequently, provided with Ill the
necessary and Indispensable aduncs Of fuYs and over
coats started for the Park but only to be disappointed
The ice on the lakes although nearly inch Thick was
not thought by the Commissioners safe for the tread of
many feet. Some advent boys differed with the
authorities, made raid Upon the ice-crowned lakes AMI
succeeded in gaining ootold but only 10 DO driven
away to seek elsewhere For the means Of pursuing their
favore pastme The arrangements for skating in the
Park, already referred to in the HERALD are ell perfected
ana everything Is done by the Commissioners to promote
The enjoyment of the lovers of this healthrul pasnne
Sheds are erected for the rng of skates aud acconn
daon Of skaters chairs in readiness ami should
any Of the participants In the sport in his enieavor I,
'srike ne,' strike water instead, suit OF flannel
clothes OF the most fashionable mako has been provided
" order that the unfortunate shall not take cold
ACCoMAoDATION FOX sLEiGHiNG P.RyrEs ETC
II the deity who presdcs over skating has his or ber
voar!cs the goddess Of seighne has no less crowd OF
worshippers. The pleasure OF sleigh ride on chin
night over the frost strcwn ground while the merry
beils form sweet accompaniment 10 the music of your
companions voice. is of tho greatest joys OF winter
Sut though hearts may be warm and buffalo robes
plenty the imps attending in the train o. the ice god
WI insnuate themselves, pinching your nose until
Ill 10 blue catching violent hold OF your ears and pncl
ing up your lips in most excrutia.ng maj
nef. They must be banshcd and the Park Com
nissoners, impressed with this necessity, have
made arrangements for the opening Of refreshmeut
saloon at the upper end Of the Park where hot coffee,
with the necessary concomants, will be dispensed 90
SemfroSon visitors at moderate rates. The establish.
men' will shortly be opened will DO presided over
BY Mcssrs. Radford stc:son, who have given such
satisfaction to the frequeners of their Casino in the
aeighborhood Of the MALL
FIFTH AVENUE SKATING poSp
II tho visitors to the Park disappointed tue sub
pcribers TO the Fifth avenue skating pond were afforded
every opportunity Of nduging in their fayorite spor,
hen the skating season was fairly nauguracd the zoe
being as much two inches IN thickness This uop 10
favoraby known 10 tho fashionable public az one OF lie
most admirably conducted in the ncghboThood OF New
York u is owned by Major oatlnan, VINO nav PC
styled the father or tho spor; In this country
DO having built the Washington ron peraps the cde.,
IN TIA vicinity Of New York Hare from an early hon,
m the morning season ticket holders Slammed The
sarface OF the Ice, which in splendid condi
o. The skaters With considerable interest,". large r@.
Der OF ladies part cpaed in the sport with zest which
take in hand and the presented was Exceedingly
interesting both TO spectators and participants At
great extent that Major Oalman consierng the can
dition OF the Ice and regarding The safety OF his |
patron paramount thought ~ advisable TO put
gth unwilling hands all commenced un6uckllrg their
Kate straps and hurryngly departed Up 20 late hour
me present weather continue, the pond viii be laden
iown with fashionable freight Monday when /. is
'robape The Park ponds will be OPP 10 the public also
---~rza HARLEM AND IT'S Poxps.
fhs chin north wind laid hold of al tic ponds on the
apper part Of the island. chilling them with IL touch.
the advent OF Jack Frost halle. the neighboaood
in del gh and the opportunity afforded 10 the lovers Of
The sport was not lost theni Embryo champions "
The sport made merry their not rfreqrent falls,
fecursspoc OF which made them only more perseverne
Ia uunhp Qf
nlled With water afford ample accommodation TO all
While one or two private ponds are available for the
sKArisu IN BROOKLYN.
fbe skating season was fully naugursed Yesterday IN
BROOKLYN by tho oponing Of thc Union Pond IN williams
Lake. Bedford, and Ch:chcster's Pond Myrtle avenue
The cold OF the two preceding DAYS warranted
skating yesterday and verified In every particular
xhe Union Pond, proverbal for being sead IN al things
especially skating, hung It's banner ba) on the outer
~ that Of the Capitone Chichc ters AID Washington
nas psags vhn I. and ..ssmes were ngssd on
posters distributed tho about tho city
ing tho good news 1.-THE ball up. Good skating on the
4 MON Pond Early the forenoon crowds of specta.
tors and devoees OF the hcalthful nvigoratpg, life
giving hand t. take part in the inauguration
we're thrown open at ton O'Clock A. ~, when the sub
srbers 10 enter the enclosure groups ol
from two q dozen at timo The pond covering III
aroa OF seven acrcs was covered by .od sheet Of
fec two inches thick and rs smooth A. window gass
Every impatient 10 be the pioneer OF tho
somc in their great haste swent backward TO get for
ward and distanced themselves in the struggle. Ono
little shaver, knee high gras chopper was the nrst
90 strike tho CLASSY element and he heraldcd his triumph
with victorious whoo that made his competitors feel
littio chagrincd Tho tile fellow rapidly followed
BY othcrs young and old but principally males About
eleven O'Clock in the morning several ladies made their
appearance put their skaeg and Joined the pastme
with several hundred skaters that by this time Joined IN
the festive sport The spacious rereshment and retiring
saloons of tho Union newly decorated, were also thrown
open 70 the pubic, and the good things Of life were ds
played and disposed Of by that prince OF good fellows
Captain Sam Lewis who has been fighting rebels for the
pat four years. and now to his old profession Of
dispensing NE giving edlbles 10 hungry mortsls, espc.
cIaliy hungry skaters
In the afternoon the gathering on the Union was
Numbered by hundreds Among these were very many
oxpcrt skntcrs who delighted the spectators by many
artistic displays In cutting figures the Ice which were
artist
In che evening The pond was brilliantly illuminated by
Largo lsmps with improved reHcctore, that person