New-York tribune., 1868-02-13
SLEIGHING.
Kep- York, Feb. G,

pRFsFNT TsyAsON-sLEIGHING IN AND AROUND
THE CITY-BLOOMINGDALE ROAD.
II is rather remarkable that the mania for
new and constantly changing fashions should not only
affect the clothes wear but the seasons In which we
wear them az we'll To oil appearance such is the iact
however, for Winters nowadays are no more ike those
within the memory tho grave aud reverend seniors OF
the present generation than the miniature bonnets OF 10
day like the that used 10 protruoe tne
capacous fronts the fOreheads OF our gandmother
The few surviving representatives OF the ancient anu
honorable order OF sporting who passed their grand
cIimacerc ten or fifteen years cast contemptuou
and pying gances on the man VINO presumes 10 spea VI
sleghng to them and sgh Involuntary as tney d
her the seasons when they fOurshed long WHIPS anu
drove fast horses We recoect the time ourselves Wen
the streets and suburban drives were oeeasonay Sle.
N snow from Thanksgiving Day TO the Middle OF MaIc
and when instead Of the little squalls that are now dg
fed With the name OF NV Hs sgain nun te houses
and drifting into the side streets until tDsy were
hidden from sight. We remember, too. when wneeleu
vehicle was seldom seen making way among the great
white bIlows OF these oceans oil SNOW; anu wnea io'
VARYING In size and style the fiat wood sled to the
stately "gondoet guarded ON the sides with s earvsd
speed of its flight Neither have we forgotten the time
when two three dollars could hire good horse anu
cutter for evening" and when young man could give
his "cousin" moonlight airing without making TOO
serious inroad upon his exchequer Those were e te
when sageseghs were In general USE erowdng up ana
down Broadway and lurching frOm side to sde 10 the
great delight Of everybody. except few nervous od
pleasanest "reminiscences Of these good old times ara the
recolections these jolly old eonveyances, Who can
forget themf T9 long, graceful DSS o
sPsSv h$S 6rsSS dsssssEa SssssssIS rSs GSST
de good natured conductor % dancing RSr ~. ,est
gnIa breakdown on the guard 70 %sr Sorae l de
their best To look lively and keep up appearances Tor
the credit OF the company the h singing o 70
hear, and nightly enjoy the Drlghteyen
smiling passengers dOdgiDg real or imaginary snow Dals
to the great delight OF preeocious small boys on TIE SIDE
wak-all recOllecions hat can never DE lot
giIed Rnsdredfod where are these stage seghs
Hauled of into vacant lots. or parked IN out OF
weathered the storms OF half dozen years until their
paint aud yarnsh have disappeared, their @o9dwork @
turned 70 cork and their irons honeyconbed with rust
once In while stage company VIII run OUT one OF
strangely out OF place and the few VINO ride IN
them pass along with solemn faces, as ~ medtatng on
the uncertainty of life and the mutabity of things TER
longer SNOWFALL these melancholy relics OF antiquity
but stand with wondering eyes until they nave passed
Whafever may be the cause, change has evidently
DER The spirit Of old Winters dream or ne shakes
a premium. Few Of us even make good use OF what we
have Who ever thinks OF buying sleigh IN these aeesn
season are liable to disappear almost while we are har-
Messing the horses We cannot but regret these changes
oldfashloned customs and Institutions; and instead Of
merry pastmes in the fresh nylgorating ar OF 9sy
shiverng from Autumn TO Spring, and valnly wishing
for the soft, ars OF summer Probably not more
than one in every hundred New Workers ever thinks
OF taking sleghride, or he did could not ma TINE
indulge his wish The very limited fall Of snow our
changes OF temperature have allowed us us few ara
brief opportunities for seSnng grosnr he Si tbg
amount has been small In proportion to the aver
age temperature The last storm, however followed as
il was By rain and frost has put avenues and drives
in excellent condition; and while the weather remains
%bo care 10 indulge n this hsshfa pasme TO enjoy
fully IL is necessary to reach the upper END OF the ls
vonient by way Of Fifth Madison. and Lexngtonayes
The former OF these Is generally preferred and during
description OF which gong to or from the Park
The requirements OF style" somewhat arbitrary and
convenient they almost deserted except by those old
fashioned people who prefer to Jog along quietly where
The drive Ground the Lake the esa Sl %
road where the maximum speed allowed 10 only SIX eS
casonai hot scotch Gentlemen OF this cas generally
strike for Harlemiane where the sieSnng s pafucuary
good or across Macombs Dam into Westehester where
the many attractions of open roads and hospable bars
entce them from the paths OF temperance ana soDfey
AID other public resorts on the lane are doing
a good business now In the late supper and
refreshment line for the full moon comes most op-
portuney at TINE when its welcome light is most ac-
ceptable adding another nducement TO the many now
offered the unusual excellence OF the reads The yar
Gus drives in the direction Of Eordham also good but
New Workers seldom far out unless 10 10 get the
y much ess tempt at syle In the sleehs than notice
able in the carriages meets on the routes In other sea
sons Few been manufactured o late years for this
mket and most that We now dand out
OF ashionf there any standard by which judge
They look pretty well III their fresh paint and yarnis,
but there of antiquity about most them that can
be disguised under the garb Of modern foppery We
speak, Of OF the and not Of the few par
ticularly elegant establishments having the wellknown
monograms OF the favored ones who have made their
peace with mamOn and gotten the better OF him in the
bargain.
sce the completion Of the Park drives great calam
ty has hefaen the "West Side" and the hotelkeeperS
along the Boomingdae and Kngsbridg roads arc con-
templang change Of bose AT the earliest opportunity
Once the grand Boulevard OF New York, t Is coun-
try road, that douby desoate when We remember
what 10 was In the past. few lunperinl- -wheeleu
the tides used to ebb and How over by day and
night style quito Ignores the Boomingdale ROAD now,
and the sporting fraternity longer travel ~ Tor they
not likely to anything that II would Do creda-
BILE To pass" About mile above the lower enu OF the
maeaaInzed portous of the road stands melancholy
reminder OF past decadesthe Mansion House. formerly
the famous "Burnham's." Who does not remember the
hostabc Colonel and tho good cheer that was wont 70
yis 60 the favorte resort memorable event III the
life OF any apprecative mani There was period, and
not very long either, when fast young gentlemen
looked upon BurDhams rs the objective point OF eNery
campaign against time. and "Cockneys who Kill their
horses Sunday" always stopped here from sense OF
duty themselves. Now however t stands in solitary
grandeur its white front looming out between the Venei
able trees that encirce IT, and its NGmore consplcn'
ously posted than formery-vainy appealing To the
plssersby for the liberal patronage used To ENJOY But
Ike tho Bloomingdale-road. Bunhams has passed into
disuse. Once In while superannuated sport stops
old acquaintance sake but It's comfortable stalls are
empty, and its bartender leans meditavey on his ell
bows, thinking how he used TO mix drinks 'when his
from want OF practice religious silence per
vades ito halls the sound of reyelry by night IL hushcd,
and te Mansion House will follow ITS former pro-
prctor passing away TO live only IN the memory oil lew