The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-12
s x NC

SKA TING.
.~~>~~~>~~-~~~~~~-
The Ponds I'm New York and Brooklyn Yes
terday-(sood Ice md Brilliant Scenes.
With the passing away Of the wild jingle sleigh
BELLS whose music resounded tho crisp raspng OF
gliding runner the hard and firm snowiness OF the
beaten roads Of city, have tho smooth floor
Of the pond and lake. sbeeted with massive cakes Of
bright crystal for the deectaton Of hosa who prefer the
more energetic and exharating past,ms OF skating.
Sleghng is . luxury which is INDUCED by few-ths
privileged few: but the fortunate glide
ward over unsuied expanss Of purest snow. while
silver bells herald their approach but who poverty
stricken that they procure pair of skates and
seek healthful diversion lakes reserved for the
masses at the Park None; whe ponds secluded. and
surrounded with the fittings Of luxurious apartments
on every hand to suit tho more fastdous devotees OF
tho sport Skating is perfect luxury of peasure-a
carnival Of fun and froic-a jubilee Of enjoyment Its
history like all sports that have gradually progressed
from rude and unpublished customs. extends far back
the dark ages OF the past whence argue
hat all that IS grand Is supposed to emanate.
Tue first mention Of skates on record Is found
in paper written eight. hundred wears ago
where the deity Uller is described as renowned
for his beauty his aud his scates since then
history revers to many heroes that boosted OF this
compshmen OF ease and grace, and modern times po
tray In rather ambiguous language the nimble
Duchmen with their scaises" that "did go thirty miles
in fashion until now it ID regarded as one OF the tine
arts
The aphorism that dancing is the poetry OF motion is
quite predetermined Can there be anything OF more
exquisite grace than any of the many scenes
GRACEFUL airy and picturesque now daily seen upon our
skating lakes9 Does aught else send such thrill
through the soul the fresh, young beauty gliding
the crystal floor Of lake or pond with long flowing
locks blowing In the breeze and face redolen with
beauty, bright and tempting the nosegay in spring
as she drinks deep draugh1s Of heath and happi-
ness, making the clear atmosphere ring with
and beauty, while Il develops their frames
and plants roses upon their already fair cheeks
Besides tn art OF skating has portrayed the fasiy Of
mode Of nfe making particularly percepble in
the condition Of our women II has tended TO great
ear fat and foriy describes large class Of European
bellies, their charms In the meridian Of hfe ccpsing the
srst,nr 4 doing with our American "' countrx.
women, and there is little wonder II il does no.
strengthen the frames OF many TO enable them 70
head armies like Zenobia Queen Of Palmyra and in
dulge in outdoor sports ike Queen Elizabeth, Dame
Juliana Bemes aud others Of history lustrous Is
pursuit full Of the preservation Of heath and Of mutual
pleasure.
With great patience at last, real odfashioned snap
| Of this art and all New York and vicinity
have for several days been steel shod. Thousands
and fair we G tho Sp sss
the unfortunate overworked bpeds Of the por.
ton OF humanity, JOIN hands in the rocking sport
Yesterday the festivities continued with the
at their inception, aud many tho artistic,
gliding movements Of tue pleasure eushrouded partici
grace and symmetry Of End pertec;
probation in the verse;:
Along the crystal lake she comes,
The ssos sssssrt, nan sst and ases
welcome to her little feet
The day was beautiful in tho extreme tho sunlight re
ectng from the crisp clear surface OF the ice and tho
BRIG htor clearer surface OF thu steel that
thousands like arrows along commnaing IN giadsome
murnurnss with the enthusiastic shouts VI the katoa
pleasure seekers.
The various skating resorts afternoon aud evening,
ufetfa onAfh tp
THE PARK LAKES.
Here the public, in the fall acceptance Of the word
wended their way, and before thousands yes
OF thousands of pounds avordupois OF animated bu-
NANNY without distinction Of caste coof found
three IN number, from the finest specimen OF skaoal
art, bungling In their first endeavors to the mature
adopts, proficient in every t~irl and whirl of tho
pastmc, they we're found The during the after
noon as the merry, capric Gus sunlight shot its
pleasant rays upon the animated groups sending
up their shouts joy the passers by aud from them
waited into boundlsss space ensemble OF beauty
| seldom witnessed. Hero were trio. dressed In a
blue silk, trimmed with luxurious down, seemingly
fresh from the frozen regions OF our newly acquired
Aassa speeding along ~ pleasant unison; There
success at FIRST but watch ne her for min i,es,
you notice her rapid improvement Here were gal
Richmond know ng their "loconotves'' vore AZ. fai
Again others were observed IN rcd clad costumes with
magnificent fu.s, shooting along 10 the mazes Of the
through the evening, and until the merry, twinklina
stars shot their PALE bright lights upon the world they
| kept up the carnival OF fun.
PARK POND.
special train, with many lad es and their tondant
cavaliers, lef. Harlem depot yesterday morning At
eleven O'Clock for this pleasant ana well known haven
OF skating pleasures The magnitceno, OF tho dress
observable among the VISITORS the peculiar appropriate.
ness Of the seis and chairs furnished by the club and
the excellence Of the In the art OF skating that
participated in the fow hours sport, gave
charm to the scene quite unsurpassable Many Of the
fair devotees OF the sport dressed In that
beautiful and Of materials rich and rare Blue and rod
quste designs frequent. The ice was excellent
condition All left the Park as night approached, feel
ing that the day had passed with unalloyed pleasure
strength TO their frames weekly jubilee or skating
VIII be INDUCED in hero long the weather IN pro-
| pltious
nrTcmEn's FIFTH AVENUE POND
This rink was in q condition exceing any previous
era N Us existence Inc crowd ., .a.es ana sen,e
extensive preparations Its proprietor has made FOR his
visitors The music was seemingly In unison with the
tried and pronounced. during day and even.
ing, upon tho smooth surface Of tho 100,
| and enjoyed with. ducet strains the drinking
In OF doep draughts OF health and happiness There
on the tapis al this pond two skating matches tho nrst
TIE lon instant ss,weo1 ,s o n ws sas M MT
ford already entered while the 10Th instast the
contest will be between gentlemen alone Fine and
brilliant displays arc expected. Inc matches VIII be
contested under rules OF the New York Skating Club
| oAraAs's YirTH AVENUE rosb
The "grcat skating match came on here yesterday.
II added to tho usually great numbers that do tho Major
honor hundreds enjoying the scene with pleasure.
while tho pond and stands Dbout wore covered, tho
surrounding embanKmsnt had It's thousands OF demo-
| cratic sighseers. The Ice was excellent There
were but two csntes,ants--Mrs whitney, Of
Boston, and Mrs. Jackson OF New York; thu
prize gold medal to DO skatcd for according 10 the
prescribed figures OF the New York skating Club This
was done, hrs Jackson Winning the baubic amid the
shouts of her admirers and frionds. Her opponent
gracsi 81 and artistic 10 degree, aud 10 tho oppoa
or accomplished professionals lost the prize simply by
her want Of familiarity with the arbitrary fgorss
CURED be executed The medal has neat scroll pin
or gold Inscribed with the words, The bail s up.r
The pendant Is star, oncrcled with laurel wreath,
and tisy but pefect sbas 10 reovo is Ia the centre
The score stood - Mrs.. Jacsson.2o; Mrs. Whitney, ".
yAcNLLASs poSD
AZ on tho other ponds tue same character Ok Ice the
same beauty OF 10 let the same sweet muse, tho sans
btil All. exhlarsne, reuvensting pleasure were here
and tbousanas partc psted in the festivities
BROOKLYN Ponds
The Union capitons, Satellite and Central ponds wers
In tho full glory Of the Injuries Of skating Thousand,
visited them during the day aud evening, and chaterns
aria with brignt eyes and bieomns ohsskA v unison