The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-26

Christmas on the Icc-Where the skaters
Went.

Christmas ON the Ice-Where the Skaters
Went.
Personal preferences determine for different indi-
viduals divers amusement5, and personal prefer
ences are largely influenced BY constitutional tenn
permanent. This fact was clearly proved yesterday;
for although the holiday was universal the various
means OF enjoyment which were used were az differ
ent as were the persons who made holiday Some
found their highest enjoyment in remaining within
doors and taking part In the pleasures Of the home
circles others made of the day eX cuse' for
bacchanalian jollifcation; some helped to augment
the crowds which filed up the Various places OF
amusement in the city; while others tand g0odiy
number too) took advantage OF the general holiday
by spending Its hours upon the Ice In pursuit Of their
favorite pastime. There are great many persons
who cannot skate and who have never ielt any in
Clination to learn to do 3d. and to these II seems
quite mystery that really sensible men and women
can find true enjoyment in gliding about over the
slippery surface OF frozen pond, aud there are
others who would very much Ike 10 be skaters, but
who from constitutional weakness or infrmity are
altogether untitled for its heathful exercise. TO
both these classes the most Charming OF all winner
outdoor exercises is q "dead leter.o and therefore
they are incompetent to say anything about it--at
any rate to its disadvantage.
To know how to skate nowaaays is almost neces-
sty with all those who are anxious TO be considered
up to the times, ana q young man or iaiy who
cannot 60 alone upon the leo ia hardly considered
| to have finished mis- her education. DURING
| the past few years skating has been almost
reduced to science in our midst and IL ia not too
much say that there more skilled sSaters both
male and female, In this country than IN anv OF the
European States. The great charm about the skata
oral art Ia that 10 Is exhilarating AMI heatgivinc
and CALCULATED to add general robustness 10 the
human frame. Then, too, it is an amusement II
Ladies have for long. time suffered for
the want OK good, healthiul outdoor amusement.
cricket, yachting and rowing shooting and hunting
ladies were for long time Without any outdoor
sport in the enjoyment OF which they shonld be able
to secure invlgoraSing exercise. Mrs. Grurny, the
old curmudgeon, had made y Improper for tie gen.
tier sex to have any peculiar amusement which
their joining in the sports OF the ords OF CREATION
But when skating became fashionable her command
ments were broken, Gnd the ladies' made their
appearance upon the ice In large numbers, and en-
tered into the sport with great zest and enthusiasm
skating ia now looked forward to by ladies and gen
tlemen as the great pleasure Of winter and tie
Christmas holiday rs always used by large numbers
in the enjoyment this most enjoyable OF winter pas
times.
Yesterday was cold Those persons who only left
their homes TO walk through the streets on their
way to visit friends or TO enter some OF the theatres
which were opened to provide amusement for tse
holiday throngs nstinctlyely buttoned their coats
az they felt the wintry breeze those who we're ira.
yelling felt draughts playing around them frcu
every window In the cars and huddled round the
stoves; even indoors boiore blazing ire Ii was
difficult TO keep warm all over at once. rut
notwithstanding all the GOODNESS OF the weather,
hundreds Of skaters started out Tor the vnriOus ponds
determined to brave the breath of Old Dor az ana 70
get themselves warm in spite Of him. There was rood
lee everywhere King Frost had been working forthree
DAYS in preparing for the skatng carnival. and hs
servants had been seconalng hrs EFFORTS, 50 ilt his
subjects sn9ad not ee @ n 81 n
Just little the skating yesterday would have been
at.a~t apN n m 80
the wind was made to feel the Bipping bias. The
skatatorial devotces seemed happy and the COLI air
in the vicinity OF the skating places was slightly
warmed by the merry laughter OF the Joyous whlTlcIs
CHRISTMAS DAY
was a carnival day. What though the ICY wiiri was
playing hide and seek around each corner, ana
freezing everything with its congeang power what
though tne ponds were exposea anu gave aaes
face and whistle round every form; what th0ua the
ride in the cars was long and freezing oncwas u
not Christmas day, general holiday and was there
not the best ice Of the which 20 dcs 30
numbng power OF the frost-laden breezeS Away
with all fear of Cold don the warmest clothing,
wrap round the muller and away for DAYS good
fun on skates-a Christmas on skates. Thus TIL,
lovers Of skating argued, and as a consequepce ~
morning until late q night. -
The ponds In the Park are public property AMI
upon them the poorest posscss0r OF par OF sk.
may proudly glide without fee Or reward the are
also OF great extent and upon them the best skn'
may disport themselves without the least lcas OF
having their career cut short by clumsy comrncnCers
sequence they are OF all ponds the best pa'rNnised
and upon them q more motley crowd may be seen
than anywhere else In the city. Yesterday wherever
skating was allowed large crowds were present,
moving about upon the crystalzed surface VI fhG
various ponds The constituents OF the motley gatenr
ing were OF all classes The young clerk, carefully
covered with heavy coat and cap OF iur;
the city gamin, whose scaniy clothing seemed 70 p
but poor defiance TO the searching wind The school
''mlss," whose Redeemed cheek and noisy iaue3
spoke Of health and happiness; the rae woraaag
GIRL who seemed AZ fl the cold were piercing almost
through her; the sturdy mechanic, moving about rs
n he was used to Drawing the worst the clemens
could do; the dressed up exquisite whose THU stu
gloves spoke suggestively OF freezing fingers Hal
folly OF fashion; the elderly father teaching hs hpy
the rudiments or the skating sciencc-these aNt a
| hundred others were to be seen, ali rs
| to and FRO and all apparently rta.s
| pleasure In the same pursuit. There ,cra
| good skaters, fair skaters, bad skater $500
| some that were no skaters at ALL Here aau W!.3
threw himself round and round In repeated Wai.tS
| and still kept his equilibrium; here one WHO Was
writing mis- name upon the glittcrlng surface heFe
| lady who was dong the 'sdouble roili aad Vttr
wonderful feats which the ambition Of al sAatNr
MORALS; In another place five indurnF Y dh
imDr0mptu race, and yet again Others Who Wste
doing backwards what il Is thought clever ~ oe aic
10 do forwards. And then acain there were be-
gnners In the art In oil stages OF progress, some
wi'o kissed the ice az their eet tehcheu am
some who, having escaped q fal ior SOME minutes,
suddenly found their feet going BACK niOh Uthl aah
themselves contcnpiatlng the scene IN seuenidly
p0gitiOn ft was rood nun To Wlsch sQhle " .AsSG