The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-08
The Weather and the Water Sea-
SON.


The Weather and the Wiater Sea-
SON.
At last We have good, cold, seasonable
weather. Mercury down to zero. The dolefhl
prophets who have been predicting "a full
church yard" because Of ''ths green winter"
are now shaking and shivering from very
different cause. The young folks are at length
able to use their skates. The Park ponds will
be in excellent order to-day, and the private
ponds in the city and suburbs are crowded every
day and evening. The ball will be up at the
Park this morning, and arrangements have
been made for long and busy season. Refresh.
ment saloons have been prepared; there are
houses for those ladies and gentlemen who
suffer from the cold; there are skates on hire
for those who come unprovided; there is .
force detailed to assist the unlucky people who
may break through the ice; there are even full
suits of clothes ON hand for those who happen
to get wet through. In short, everything is
ready, ice and all. Jack Frost is conf
GENTLY relied upon to put on the finishing
touches, and to keep them on. Two thou
sand people skated on the Fifth avenue
pond on Saturday; fine band was in at
tendance, and the scene was as gay as car
nival. The Excelsior pond is equally favored
by the clerk of the weather, and the Brooklyn
lakes are reported to be well patronized
Skating has now come to be the most popular
of winter amusements, and we give special
department to this sport.
W. thap hos I1tys ,n,,r nra1 Tho
prospects of the theatres, and balls aid parties
are more in vogue than ever. All the promi-
nent hall. are Engaged every evening for
months in advance by those who delight to
trip ''the light fantastic" The theatrical and
concert managers have increased their attrac-
tons, and the season will now become even
more brilliant AT the Broadway Scion
Single returns to us, not having found that
'barrel of apple sass abroad, and will again
amuse large audiences by his comical but I'M
availng search for his lost property. The
original play, which was very trashy, has been
carefully rewritten, and this new version will
be presented with new scenery and strong
cast Manager Woods new theatre, opposite
the st. Nicholas Hotel, will be opened next
week with new comedy called The Balloon
Wedding, an adaptation from the French, 10
which Chanfrau and the six Hsnlon Brothers
will appear. Miss Lucy Rushton's miraculous
theatre, which was arranged in only
sixteen days. is still crowded by The
admirers Of legitimate comedy The Honey
moon is announced for this week, and
new romantic drama is in active rehearsal.
The farewell concerts of Madame Parepa take
place at the operate catacombs, the Academy
of Music, this week. Madame Parepa is good
but not great artist and is assisted by Levy,
Carl Rosa and Mlls--all admirable perform
ers--and by a full orchestra. The French
Comic Opera troupe, which is performing at
the New York and Brooklyn Academies, pend
ing the construction of the new French theatre
on Fourteenth street, will produce Halevy's
L'Eciatr and Victor Masses Les Noces de
.jeonnette. Bryan,s, Tony Pastors, George
Christy's and the San Francisco Minstrel
troupes all flourish and deserve theft success,
for they consia ntly produce amusing novelties
and are always funny and never offensive.
These reputable places of amusement keep
the public in good humor and make the winter
evenings pass most pleasantly.
In spite Of the Fenian troubles. the pecu-
liar perplexitcs Of The Mexican middle,
the high prices. the forcbodings about the
cholera, and the radical schemes OF Sumner and
stevens, the sensible people Of this metropolis
manage to enjoy themselves about as we'll as
ever, and their happiness Offers a striking con-
irasi 10 the notorious demora lzation which pre-
walls in certain obnoxious circles OF our best
and worst society.
THE RE-EsrABLrsHMEyr or SLAVERY n NIX
Tco.--If the elder Caxton had lived in our time he
would have given Napolcon's Mexican idea
aud the internal policy Vf his agent, Maxi
milan. prominent places iut the History Of
Human Error" The decree'cf the Austrian
prince on peonags serviiude establishes .