The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-20
TIE SKATING YESTERDAY.

A magnificent day was yesterday for skating; the
sky cloudess, the sunshine bright the air keenly
bracng and electric with life The red ball had not
been up for three days. As young eyes yesterday
morning saw the looked Tor signal noating high In
air from the Flagstaff OF the Arsenal and above the
Hottest peak Of the old st. Vincent Monastery their
hearts beat happily. The signal told Of a rich and
rare day Of fun and frclic; for OF all enjoyments
allotted 10 youth in the pleasant morning Of life
there is none to compare with skating. The skating
youth Of to-day, OF city and country, VIII bear wit
ness TO the truth Of this statement and the oldest
among have only to cali mp the glad time OF their
own younger days and mdescribably joyous and
exhilarating experiences npon skates, SKIM
ming with the neetress OF the tireless wind
over the smooth surfaces Of the icebound lakes
and rivers and ponds, to give equal earnest attes
tation 10 its truth. IL was certainly merry time
yesterday for the skating youth OF our city. and pre-
eminently so IN the Park, where are Afforded the
finest and most expansive opportunities OF anv place
on Manhattan island for unrestrained enjoyment or
this unparalleled sport.
And how can one describe the merry carnival
for none other IL was-a carnival far exceeding in
the real intensity OF Its enjoyment all the historical
carnivals OF the eiYete cities OF the Old World and
more rife with positive nerrment and enlivenlng
brlliancy of scene than NIL the grand displays In the
proudest palace OF STEAMBOAT the Beautifully Lovers
OF the skatorial art came early. They came
at all hours Of the day. l'ney came till
late at night; till the new moon shed
over the joyous scene. The ice was In splendid con-
ditioll-could not have been better. The previous
thaw and rain fitted he lakes and ponds for the
sudden change in the weather Of the previous even
ing, and the sharp kctnness OF temperature lroze
IL into one compact thickness OF Ice, WIN surface az
even and smooth as mirror. Fhe only dlnculty
was that with the advancing hours OF the day the
crowd became too large TO skate with that degree OF
comfort there otherwise would have been. Owing 10
these increasing additions TO the number OF skaters,
those having attained he greatest degree OF prof.
cheney in the skatoriai art were more circumscribed
IN tn.sir NtDh IN.
dulge with the freedom they desired IN those skilled
evolutions requiring larger compass Of space than
Bnf after all the greater the crowd the more merry
Il was. The author OF Chllde Harold IN his Pilgrim
age along the Mediterranean wrote,
Nor oft I've sueh sight nor heard such song
Asmov'd the eye and thrilled the Bosphorus along.
In somewhat similar strain. barring the same
divine glrt OF poetic utterance, might one write OF
the skating scenes yesterday on the Park lakes.
Such rights are rarely secn such pleasant sights OF
such pleasant throngs, al SO heartily ENJOYING
such gay skating toilets a. were worn by
many; such lively chases In different games that
vices in tic sport; such rudy cheeks; such twink
ling eyes: sn madiy cxhillarating fun IN every way.
And they were OF all ages almost me seven shsks-
the gray haired scxagenarian and those OF either
extreme roaplng the same harvest OF hiIarity; Who
has not read OF 'Iove on skates.N The thing Ia
possible IL IL q fact II any doubt this blissfu
nddenda to The delicious enjoyment OF skating let
them on such bright ana beautiful day as yester-
day ana particularly on such a clear moonlight AZ
last evening visit the PARK skating ponds. They
will see many couples mingng the soft whisper
ngs OF sweet words with their soft gliding over the
smooth Ice and
many lsngrid eye and thrilling hand,
Exchanging the look few bosoms may Withstand,
or, Fenlly press'j, return the pressure still
The same poet adds, and SO we continue the quo
tation not 50 much to unite with HIM in his apos-
irophe 10 Love a. to apply the closing line TO the art
ekatoral and it, keen pleasures as antipodal TO the
weary cares pressing down 50 Heavily upon the
major part Of their terrestrial existcnce:--
f,v~ bnpnl In thv hand
Let aaae or cynic pratte as he will,
These hours, and only these, redeem es years OF w.
Til eleven pm. the skating was kept up that 10 to
say all the lakes and ponds, except what IA known
~ the Conservatory pond. which - given up exclu
sivcly 10 curling--that spiral scottish game on the
Ice with which everybody Is familiar. ON this pond
numbers OF the 81 Andrews Curling Club were prac.
ticsing yesterday among themselves, and between
the Caiedoniau. New YORK and Thistle clubs were
played several friendly but exciting games.
EMPIRE CITY SKATING isiHK.
There was no skating az ths rink yesterday.
After the assiduous skating Of oil The past week aud
the late thaw II was found the Ice had not sufficient
thickness and liability 10 allow to be used pn2cr
| The rink, therefore. was flooded on Friday night
| and by TO- morrow. II In hoped, there viii be ten
inches OF solid Ice when skating VIII he TeauiGed.