The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-24

greatest speed which ordinary horse flesh IA canable
OF, he Is at peace with himself and ndIsposed In
quarrel with the world. To one circumstanced
how bright is the sun, how clear the sky, how AMI
mated and interesting the moving life around him
The fashion set by the elect OF the people, whose
fondness for fast horses and fast driving will doubt
less be recorded In history suits the genius Of our
people. While the English delight In horse riding
with all It's opportunities for exercise and display or
Skin and address, and the French astonish the
curious with the wonders OF the veIocipede Ameri-
cans are fond OF attempting the twoforty behind fast
trotters and displaying the possibilities OF hard
driving.
There Is feeling engendered in the minds OF men
az christmas time. whether inherited from English
ioreiathers or transmitted from the Norsemen, as
"ooueh legs are said to run, with insanity
IL Tue blood, 1t matters not which gives
iresn zest TO outdoor amusements and to every
species Oh exhilarating exercise peculiar pleasure
reopie naturally look forward to the season OF the
a slesce eo and molly tree for "a good time" and
maueI INV coIuly the wind blows, how piercing
enjoyed. ~ -
!, The sun rose clear and bright yesterday in sky
VI a1uIe pie DItter winter breeze swept round COR
ners and edded into out OF the way places Catching
yenIuresome and lightly clad pedestrians in the neigh
knew not weather to rejoice at the bright Christmas
weather or to mourn over the cold which rendered
"a necessity for their cherries fresides. TO the
rich and idle however, IL was q day Of unalloyed
pleasure; Just sun enough to temper the wind; just
cold enough to render fast driving delightful ex-
ercise. The avenues of the metropolis, in which
fashion holds her gided court swarmed yesterday
both sexes. The splendid trappings OF the horses,
the elaborate and costly decorations OF the carriages
m or the feepg wa e and
vehicles extended from Fifth avenue as FAR as the
eye could see. Harlem road and the Park seemed to
be the objective point for in these favorite haunts OF
fashionable New York beauty is made more beau
tfu by its surroundings and the pacing of favorite
nag liz certain to be observed by appreciative con-
noisseurs in horsehesh.
Seated on the box OF numbering coach, behind
nothing short OF an earthquake could disturb we
JOIN the stream OF carriages, and with "bue, cold
nose and wrinkled BROW we mark the wave OF
fashion as 1t rolls onward toward the Park. The plea
surabe delights OF upper ten existence usually
associated In the minds OF the lower units with dia
monds, gold and garments OF the brightest hue; but
mere on tue avenue III this Christmas weathera
fashionable New York was arrayed in Alaska cos
tune, the pretty blue noses OF the fair peeping out
from rolls OF 1urs ana wrappers OF w0Olen, while
the chevaliers who accompanied them were sunk
In rugs and pilot cloth. The prancng horses, with
shining skins. shoot by with snorts Of defiance
at our sorry nags, who very sensibly take
not the slightest heed to the insult but with heads
bowed down in humility OF spirit plod along the
avenue at the fearful rate OF mile an hour. Car
rfages, buggies drags, sulkies, with one two three
and dozen occupants, cut through the air and send
1t cuts Pinching the nose as in vice; rubbing the
lips with frosty indigo and causing the ears to burn.
II grows colder as we leave the avenue and strike
into the Park Cute little whiifs OF wind scud round
our back and try to hide under an ample buffalo
r1 oa a ngsr 70
men in the sulkies, whose blue noses peer from be-
meath mantle and fur, would under ordinary cir
cumstances excite the envy OF q slow coach as
they .whir! by; but cool reflection tells us
that the faster they go the sharper Is the
OF Jack Frost inevitable chls will follow them to
their homes The tide OF carriages-some slow as
ourselves and others faster than the winds That,
Shaping the fashionable drivers In the face scud
toward the city-ros on through the Park. But not
partial blasts of icy wind dozens Of vehicles were to
be seen rafting along the road the horses steaming
with perspirati0n and the drivers sunk in the warm
folds OF their bufYao robes and furs The majority
drive well; but there are some who would make our
frisky beasts nervous II they but knew enough:
Here comes one OF the exquisItes, whom Old England
occasionally sends over to astonish our unsophsti-
Gated natives, with bright red spot in the centre
Of piece OF fur on his face, blowing a cloud
as he flies at two-forty pace through the air No
matter to whether he drove tandem TO the Derby,
was member OF the Four-in-H Hand Club and was
picturesque object In Rotten row, he must observe
the regulation made and provided for careful drivers
or submit to have his elegant equpage and himself
heart
The rule OF the road is paradox quite,
As you're driving your carriage along
Is evidently uppermost In his mind; but the Park is
not Rotten row, and our native beasts have weak
ness for keeping their own side, right or wrong.
fierce prancng on the part Of our frolicsome Mares
who suddenly wake up and the "drag" OF the ex-
quisite shoots by. Now, while the cold sweat
turns to thin ice on. our exposed nose,
the pretty trees Of the Park fewer,
the road, though quite as even, begins to
show change in form and Harlem lane is before US.
Away on the fashionable drive toward McCombs
Dam we drive at the same fearful speed with which
afro init fnarfu nf heir
STOP turn back, and eventually start with many
''woe,n "way," .'yo" and .'egh-up' toward the
| city, whose glimmering lights are beginning to
sparkle in the distance As the shadows OF evening
are closing over Harlem and stretching along the
road, while the cold wind nips the fingers and In
vades the privacy OF the toes, we gladly avail our
selves OF the invitation OF the attentive Jehu and
| creep inside the vehicle, where, fortified behind
breastworks OF wrappers, we muse ON the philosophy
OF driving until the fleet horses smelling hay and
| oats from afar OF, rush madly to our door.