The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-14
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
tFOr AddaiOnu, Local Items see Third Poge,l

SKATIEG-THB SEASON COMMENCED -
IHK PARKS IN FULL OPERATIoN-THE SNow. =
Ihe cold weather seems to have set in Tor good.
Jack Frost has covered our ponds and skating
parks with firm, hard ice, and already the men,
women, and children are to be seen engaged in
the healthful and invigOrating sport OF skating.
The parks now present most beautiful sight
with the gay and BRILLIANT assemblages that are
gathered within their enclosures.
These parks are an Institution, and there are
probably more of them In successful operation
in Philadelphia than in any other city on the
continent. They are as as fOllows:-
The 0akdale Park is accessible by the Fourth
and Eighth Streets passenger railroad.
The Harrison Park is on Berks street, between
Front and Second streets.
Arctic Park, Eighth street and Columbia
avenue.
Thirteenth and Fifteenth Streets Railroad.
Keystone Park, Third and Morris streets.
Eastwick's Skatlng Park, near Gray's Ferry
bridge.
GraJ's Ferry Park, near the bridge
Central Skating Park, Fifteenth and Wallace
streets.
National Skating Park, at Twenty-6rst and
Columbia avenue and at the Free Union Skat-
ing Park, Fourth and Diamond streets.
ALI of these parks are open during the day,
and until 10 p. M. Most of them have bands of
mu sic in attendance, and have every appliance
that will add to the comfort and convenience of
their patrons
Speaking of skating and winter sports, we
came across the following amusing article, from
the pen of "Gris" mir. +. O. Griswold), which
appeared in the Cine mn att Times
Winter is the coolest sessJn OF the year. because it
comes 10 the winter mostly In some countries winteT
wish winter came in SUNNI IN this country, which
the best Government that the sun ever shone upon.
N linen rOwsers; We could SNOWFALL without % :, our
w6udnt have to stop at every tavern to warm they
do now It SHOWS more in the winter than It does at
cutters and sleghs are made then 49,, T., .-
Ice grows much better In winter than in summer,
which Inconvenience before the discovery
houses Water that is LEFT out Of doors apt 20 freeze
cisterns on cod night and keep them by the fire. SO
great qn the The SSy get
(tbey get drowned sometimes, and brought home all
%a9 & the
break their heads and enjoy themselves In many other
nem
nnd Cei % Tdsmen Win have +, be
pretty lively on his legs. for that boy runs bully.
ter FOX. don Seem to s6oS in warm
weSther Grown up boys and 1 Girls . Ike to 80 sleigh
help girls to hold their mufs with the other Bro.
tOSE celia o
he paid more attention TO no ding the mutt than he
"snST bsillng is another winter sport. I have
snowflake ed in the summer but used stones and
somehow"
We have not as yet experienced the latter
visitation, although III some parts of the coun-
try there have been heavy falls OF snow. We
have had few sprinkles in our midst. Last
night, indeed there was ust enough fell to
make 1t certain that winter has commenced.
There was a very small aud scant covering on
the ground this morning. We would desire in
this connection that the reader should peruse
the splendid little poem on "rhe First Snow
Fall,r by James Russell Lowell. 1t is a. fol
lows:-
The snow had begun in the cleaning,
Rsd been hesping heid and highway
With silence deep white.
rR. Every pine and FIR and henlock ESS az gsse-
r. Wore ermine too dear Tor an earl. =. -srSs
"" Was rldged inch deep with pearl fx1e
From sheds new roo ed with Carrara : =
Game Chanticleers mutfied crow; EeS
AZ The stiff rails were sottened to swans down En
: IN And still waVered do Wn the snow j. ~e
a. Istood and watched from the window
The nOiseless W ork of the sky xs9A
A. Ano the sudden furres Of snow birds, -TFs1
e. Like brown leaves whrling BY.
= thought of a mound in sweet Auburn
Where little headstone stood;
BOW the fakes were folding IT gently,
AS did robins the Babes in the Wood
Bp spoke our own little Mabel,
Saying, "Father, who makes the snOwp'
And told of the good ALL Father
Who cares for us here below.
Again looked at the snow fall
And thought OF the leaden sky
THAI arched Ser first great sorrow
When that mound was heaped!so high
i remember the gradual patience
That fell from that cloud IKE snow
The scars of our buried woe.
Then with eyes that saw not I kissed her,
And she, Kissing back, could not know
That my kiss was given 10 her sister,
Folded close under deepening snow.