The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-31

Winter sports In New YORK.
| SKATING A NATIONAL AMUeENEsT-THE CROWDS
ON THE PARK AND FIFTH AVENUE PONDS.
Ono Of tho greatest natural advantages Of which this
country can boast the great variation Of climate
bccd In lis extent Of territory Here We have the
recurring and temperatures Of the hsbisab9
Globe varying from the intense GOLD OF the Icy regions
and whitening heat OF the tropc 70 the balmy
and invgoraiing Of far famed Italy Ths grand AND
complete variety Of climate granted any othss
country extentso that all the inventions,
improvements and Accomplishments Of every nation,
whether In cold attitudes, readily adapted
here and In their application made perfect for all the
purposes Of usefulness and amusement Nothing could
possibly DO appropriately designed seeing that the
people Of this country gathered from among the ns
habants OF the whole earth ranging every trans.
Of temperature; and In other land they nnd
the elimes they leave behind them bus In this-ths
true home Of The emigrant.
To Illustrate this need only glance al tho winter
games, Of northern origin, which now ~ populas
among us not No. Than TO the denizcns Of Russia
and Siberia, where the leo King holds unbounded sway
and power. seIshins and skating bu, especially
the hitter, are national amusemcn,s among
True they have always been but never until within
a very few years has the practice been fully and
thoroughly systcmaiized- since the opening OF Gus
magnificent Park winter and skating have become
synonymous But even that extensive place Of
public resort with all It's lakes and ponds sufficient Ia
accommodate tens Of Thousands OF aspiring performers
on tho ice has lattcrly been found inadequate 70 tho
rapidly Increasing army Of skaters among The con-
sequence that other skating ponds have sprung up NJ
n by magic both IN the city and liz suburbs and all Of
,hcm are abundauty paronIze Among all these private
ponds so Called there Is popular, more do
serving OF being than that which adorns the Fifth
avenue. II Is the fashionable pond par excellence We
used so bathrooms ard dancing halls 10 see The
graces Of 'human form divine" now 70 behold them
In their perfect glory, must bend steps either 70
the FIRM avenue the Park ponds The former IN
however tho great attraction, because Il Is not 70 far %
10 tho Park which Ia long dstancs for many
persons 60 Dcsides It u pcnsoiy enclosed and pro-
ted against tho rough winds which frequently pro
vail during tho cold season and ~hcn fierce gales
sweeping the other ponds much 70 Tho annoyance
Of skaters, especially the fair ones, the Fnh avenue
pond a. calm and serene as frozen lake between I've
ovcrshadowing mountains I
There no telling how fhr this rage FOR skating mag
20; but canno, havc too much OF u There
Ia no healthy and vigorous exercise, and
every attempt TO bring Il moro generally within
tho reach OF the people ought TO meet with
fui encouragement The maiden and the youngstsr and
the old and his sged partner, mayery rcqrenrybs
seen together gliding mery over the CLASSY surfaee Of
our metropolitan lakes There is In fact scarcely fsmk
" now ,ha, docs include skating among the accom-
pii,hmenu Of their children; and . young lady fesn
rather awkward In tho company OF her bithe young
friends II she cannot "put on the sks,cs" Thus thu
pslmo u the frozen regions fully ua,sralred among
us Let the Fifth avenue pond . well as oil others y
the city and elsewhere, be, then, fully attended oN
Winter s gradually drawing 70 close, and his reign vi
soon be over Let the young and old The sad and inc
merry al go In now and enjoy themselves While h,ren
time TO do Skaters will nov hnd ample opportunity
10 indulge IN this fayorte exercise, and TO rival the
accas AZ Tho inhabitants Of more northern lands In theit
tea bound homes