The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-13
THE SKATING CARNIVAL,
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Sunday mt tho Park Lakes.
Despite tho biting, nipping, nglng character OF yes
to-day hours that made Wild and vigorous life pant In
the veins Of every pedestrian portion Of Now York
assembled upon the lakes OF tho PARK to participate II
the wild frolic Of skating Before tho hour Of nine
NJ there bad gathered from the four sections Of tho
city Ave thousand animated. skating -imbued mon.
women and children, and as tho day fully
twenty thousand had enjoyed tho pleasures Of the
hiarating pastime. In addition TO the participants
there estimated TO be ten thousand visitors thas
stood long and anxiousy gazing At the exciting.
enchanting spectacle Some have imagined that
skating "is no thing to them," and smile ncredu
lousy when 1t Is cd that "New York will do moro
OF that work In day tnan cities will in week."
But all doubts, all inCredity would have vanished had
these skepcs the great moving that yes
terday lay beneath the feet Of spectators The Park
awaKe-w:de awake and mad with excitement In tho
whiring Of the devotees Of the Of skating
objects OF interest appeared every moment 1t was
time ere they could be separated be viewed
distinctly and let their peculiar features become im
pressed upon the mind. Fathers and mothers with
lakes IN wild hilarious s'n mirs whea vnwzine ~
sucn groups, like small bird passing eagle, wero
infantls specimens with petite skates and light almost
leather, whose tiny seemed scarcely TO touch
the glib surface. BY nervous old gentlemen, taking
their first lessons in tho sport there would dart
swiftly rs to hardly leave IN for observation gay
party of laughing girs aud then old and young Of
imaginable proficiency ID the art, in strange contrast
with other were under ones eyes, and now they
cry hand all directions In the instant
in some newer and more grotesquoly beautiful combine
ton the merry groups wero there again. IL seemed
ike great Kaleidoscope in which bright cheeks ring
ing laughter and gadsome hearts were forever
bonding Ia new forms 10 participants
the sport there moments when they ielt that
tho magao ro.on Of faryland surrounding them.
Amusing collisions frequently occurred 10 this wild
folic Every instant il expected that OF tbs
adept and "heavier weights would down
and annlhilats light and graceful member or tho
throng Bu..no such catastrophe happened, although
tumbes were frequent Crowded as was the leo, mono
appeared to check the wild speed which they do
lighted IN, matter how closely they together;
acw inches we're enough for passage, and miss
was as good as mile.
merry, boiserous frocsome tIme Of an hour, and
the younger folks would repair to the reception
rooms, aud, just as fancy or impulse directed
crowd around the stove or luncn counter. II
the outside we're animated, here they par,o0k
OF excitoment They could not possibly wait moment
eat OF the and lmpuisve both salts.
fed thor hunger and warmed tho ends of tnging lin.
gers the time. The dresses or tho occasion, al
though not particularly unique, were noticeable Blue
and rcd silks, with trimmings Of fur, and caps match
frequent A food OF sunlight greeted the pleasure
seekers during the entire day. and happiness seemed
be struggling with the exctements OF the time upon
tho faces OF all as they swept by in the great living