The New York herald., 1869-12-08

and rustic arfs were frpged with iclcles, ana tne
lountains dere wrapped IN fantastic a9aeay NJ ,ae Su
atoneQ dr all their cheerlessne5S fru tue s.un,.e
walls N the reservoir that SITS He aiorress ou .e
neiynts, there stretched lar away on every n,iIu
uazng ned OF snowdls sysr1 any spire and wooded
crest from westchester 10 the gray OF tuv Jay
1t exhilerating to slanu IN Tue 81 sunsniae M ~ @ ua
with their scarlet robes swiftly up the avenue
cash across the kaolls and down among tue groves
and bottoms on the other side. Every siyle
or sleigh was oub from the rude uapainted
..bobD that has stood all summer among
the weeds behind some country Darn, eo 70
that nited Ike gorgeous butterflies along the Held
The drives In the Park scattered most OF tha
sleiahs soon after entering the grounds, but on De-
yond where the avenues all become tributary TO tne
Coney islano road. the teams united again, ana IKE
painted snuttles wore gaudy scarf tnat stretcneu
from the t0llgate Tar into the woods that SKIRT the
shore BY three O'Clock IN the afternoon the sleigh
Ing parties we're in their glory. The wiad, WHICH
swept nercely over the hills, gradually subsided as
the sun went down, and the snow, hardening in the
evening shadows, creaSed musicaly under the run
ners and added to the harmony OF the oells Rosy
faces, whose eyes had scarcely peepeu ont iroin
their coverings IN the upland blasts, were unveiled
ana songs and laughter made giadness all along the
THE cogEY ISLAND ROAD
was in splendid condition. The SHOW was 1rm ana
even, and the forenoon travel mad beaten wide
track that anorded ample space 1or passing Teams
Comparatively lew stopped at the various hait,
ing places on the route, and those VINO did
scarcely waited TO blanket tlelr horses IN Inc
sheds. Every one seemed determined 10 make the
most OF his rst sleigh ride OF the season. and after
driving down the road as iaf as time would perinlI
turned about directly and came dasning back into
town. on the way home the wind was very keen
biting the face severely and qncAenmg the antici'
patlons OF dinner aad the glowing CRATE.
IL would be dlilcult To enumerate all the elegant
teams upon The road. Prominent among fnem were
isasc La Van Anden. George = woodward Ii. Poini.
mus j. ID. WINS, A. Is. Hall, w. p. Coliins,
Or. Tucker, s. Hynard, W. I. Mitchell and A. D..
Burns. Nearly all Of the segring parties consisted Of
families. Very few gentlemen were driving alone
aud most OF the slegns were with two or three seats
and double teams. One sleigh had over Il dozen
schoolgirls nestled together under scarlet robes and
their merry voices heard IN the distance after
the ear had lost the jingle OF their bells.
Quite number OF handsome turnouts were notice.
able the road to Greenwood. The cemetery looked
desoate enough The marble shafts ana neadstones tones
blasts from the buy shook the groves anu moaned dis
maly among the knotted branches. A few persons
were moving hurredly along the paths wnerc Ia
Dorers haa shoveied away the snow, but no one
seemed disposed TO linger, and the funeral parties
fastened away upon the conclusion or the last sad
rites as II they dreaded the sacred precincts. The
snow In the grounds was druted Dadly, ana haf
the graves were completely hidden. The
congealed with the water and the surface looked
gray and forbldiing. some OF the evergreeas IN
Looks sheltered from The wind seemed At a distance
thick clusters presented miniature pictures that
somewhat relieved the desolation but winter, tnat
sm0obes with its SHOWS the wrinkles OF nature, ha1
here obliterated every beauty and intensified the
drearlness OF November.
THE sLGIGHING SEASON
may now be considered Us fairly opened. The pros
poets are thar with the nrm smooth ground upon
which the snow has fallen there wil be good sleigh
ing tor several days, and should another storm
come soon as ls very probable sleignlng may con-
tinue throughout the month. There ls great lack
OF accommodations among the stables OF New YORK
for seighiDg, aud the public turnoats are. as a
class quite Inferior. Very lew stables can supply
over three or iour cutters, and great majority Of
these are unworthy oil their use.
Indeed there IL abundant opportunity for improve
ment In every style OF sleighs, whAe each year
deyelopes something new IN carriages, every winter
We see the OLD styles OF cutters, changed only
in paint and cushions. II to the lightne5s aud
symmetry Of the present style there were
added occasionally some new design OF
shape and decoration, IL would contribute very
materially 10 The zest OF the winter season ana
richly reward the enterprise OF the designer. There
Is no more reason lor adnsrng TO the same form OF
sleigh than ia following the same pattern or car
TIages every year, and New YORK watch takes the
lead IL all CHANGES OF fashion on this continent,
snould at least he ahead IN this particular.