The New York herald., 1866-12-16

The Season Ipaugurated In the Park--Skaters
the Uptown Lakcs-The Ponds I'm Brooke
Iyn. s.
The Park yesterday invaded by exultant crowd
Of skaters The spire OF the sta on the Arsenal was
topped with the red ball. and cheeed with the glad
sight the fraternity took possession Of the Pond and
celebrated the opening day with becoming spirit The
lower lake. ensconcsd in dell, and looked down upon
by the passersby outside the limits OF the Park was
covered with seo shod morals and the sheets
the central and uppsr portions OF metropolitan Bos
do Boulogne were equally well patronized The
gathering comprised . large proportion Of ths
fair sex and representatives Of every class cf
society," from the fashonably attired damss In fitting
hoops and with three yards of jet wound around her
was out after hard days work TO enjoy the sport And
the shoeess urchin provided with gmIets and nosiy
making announcement Of his readiness 70 'bore holes"
"buchle skates" and the arisocratic young gen.
teman jnss sghted from his dog cart and securing the
irons to his feet with wc gioved hands, wore seated
side by side with the utmost disregard for recognized and
time honored prejudces The ice was in tolsraby rood
condition, although the thousands OF akatcFs had
spoiled to some extent the giassiness Of the
surface. The change OF weather had also impaired
its powers OF resistance and the burrows ploughed into
The frozen waters gradually deepening. partial
will repair the damage, and with the Ice Kings resump-
on OF hs sway tile smooshncss Of the lakes will A06rd
US chance for cri,icism But while the morn demo
cratic Gotham ~s avatled themselves Of the freedcm of
the city, which Is inclusive Of the right uf admis
SION 10 the ponds In the Park, the 6lis indulged II
the pasme Of the season IN the comparative seclosion
OF private skating grounds Major Oatmans Finn
avenue rink was generally crowded with pJoncient
skaters, gallant laddies and briehtcycd lasses, all
cornet band In attendance, and from the
earlier hours OF the day until late In tho evening, dis
coursed the music which gave rhythm TO the move
Of the sieel-shod bellies Tho demand for
tickets such as TO engross tho attention OF every
dtahe OF the rink and tho Major himself prevented
from putting the irons because OF the greetings bc
extended to his old patrons their reappeaance the
Ice At night the pond was lighted up, aud the picture
presented by the skaters gliding 10 and fro, swiftly and
noiscessy "a shadows, was beautiful In the extreme.
That the surface OF the rink may net remain roughened by
tracks In Ice which somewhat sotened by the
warmth Of yesterdays sun the place viii be reooded
to-day. and the mirrorlike expane will Tomorrow bo in
admirable condition. Eastward, at McMiIans park, the
attendance was iar, and the skating excellent Dod-
worths cornet band was duty by day and by night
the park being well lighted up during the evening On
corps comprising forty musicians, will give : grand
promenade concert, n such name can be given
crainment whercat the promeuadng will be on skates
programme OF choice selections has been announced
and every effort will DO made render the occasion
enjoyable and memorable one.
sP0Rr BRooKLYN.
Tho skating enclosure the Capitoline grounds
Brooklyn, thrown open to the public Thursday
morning last and tho attendance has been daily increas-
ing since Yes erday afternoon there at one
time over fifteen hundred persons on tho pond, and
during the day therc hardly less than three thou
this most favore resort OF skaters The large building
running along the northerly side OF the pond and
which II one hundred ana thirty fert In length twenty
four feet in width and two stories high, has re-
ceved the addition of an elegant ladies' dining sa-
loon for the exclusive occupation OF tho fair sex
and their male attendanM This addition to the
usual kitchen aud refreshment department Tho skate
and strap department is commendabe feature. Here
skates for sale and hire, while man Is ready ~ all
times for rifle to repair any sudden damage incurred
while the leo box office Is also at hand wherein
for the charge OF dollar per season. the members
provided with exclusive recepaces In which deposit
superuous clothing, also skates during absence
Of the Besides this there is apartment
IN which transient skaters may have small parcels
taken Of The Capitolne pond b Of the
most commodious Of private enterprises for skating pur
poees. II has ice surface Of 500 by 46O feet
eight acres, and the enclosure comprises the whole
and Hsscy street II " lighted up side with gas
which Illuminating agency 10 also used IN the buildings
On the application .of tho proprietors, MessS Reed 4
Decker, special gas main has been conveyed 70 the
pond from Fulton avenue, and the lighting
OF the icc and buildings is now FREQ from
the annoyances and interruptions OF last year.
band OF music Of ten pieces is also engaged for the
season. and performs during the afternoon and evening
from three until nine O'Clock. The adepte1
Observation-Disclosures SEASON ticket &a1fss do,
81 so; boys do., e. Tho leo yesterday WAS In very
frozen The least sold portion rop<d or delicate
ground" and not used night or two Of the
present frost will render the cntirc surface available
Tho Union and other ponds al we'll attended yestsr
day.
No steps have a ys, bccn taken 70 put the Fifth
pond IN condition for skating II seems that
there has been some Misunderstanding between the
former lessee and the Of the ground and the pond
10 not in readiness for tho reception OF skaters