The New York herald., 1869-01-02

The sport spoiled .t tho Pe>ads--Good Ace a,
the Ria.
The lovers OF the sports of the ice always count
among the days Which, can be devoted to their favor.
ite amusement tie universally celebrated holiday OF
New Years dag. Pleasant plans are discussed,
jovia parties made up and arrangements completed
days previous to the death OF the old year. and
on New Years Eve skates are overhauled, stees pol
shed straps replaced and everything done that can
be done to securea good time upon the ice The usual
routine was no doubt gone through with this year,
and although the skies were leaden and the prospect
OF propitious weather anything but attering there
can be little doubt that some hundreds Of the men,
bers OF young New York, both male and female,
laid themselves down upon their beds and sought
refreshing sleep on Thursday night with bright ex-
pectatons OF realization OF their most sanguine
hopes as to the skating carnival of yesterday But
these hopes were destined to be disappointed and all
the bright prospects were dssipated when The early
morning broke amid descending snow, with
ieaden SKY that that spoke spoke. steady ,,, contin, =,
skating upon the exposed and open ponds were
speedily given up by all, the nope OF gliding on
the icy surface entirely dropped by most and visit
to the Rink settled upon by an enthusiastic few who
in their love for skatorial pursuits had pluck enough
to come to a determination to undergo the trksome-
ness OF long r1ae IN the cars IN order to realize
their sanguine expectations.
Yesterday was disappointment to most people.
IOuuR IauleS WHO Idu eApcCteu W TtCcNc uuHHtIOuS
calls from their admirers felt scarcely inclined go
to the trouble Of sdressing'' to receive company;
young men who had made up their minds to take u
round among their lady acquaintances shivered
at the prospect OF wet feet or frowned
at The dificnlty OF progression which would
result from the accumulated snow; children cried aI
prospective disappointment in not being able to
visit the theatres and theatrical managers cursed
the clerk OF the weather for consprng to retain peo
pie in their houses But no class OF persons were
more disappointed than were the skaters at the be-
haviOr OF the weather, as their hopes were almost
entirely blasted, and indulgence in their longedfor
recreation was almost an lmpOssiblty. To them it
seemed Q mystery that 1t could not remain dry and
ne on noaay an ana aa ,se snow 10 least sing G coua n
day, 80 that pleasure should not be interrupted
even If business had to suffer; but there was no
vaciaton In his purposes the flakes fell steadily,
copiousy and without intermission, totally destroy
ing the last vestlge Of hope that would soon mold
up ana ina. M later n e - gay y o M 20
quented by skaters
THE PONDS.
At the various open ponds, both public and
private, every preparation that could be made had
been made for the crowds OF skaters who it was
year upon the ice. For some days the weather had
been anything but prOpittous for the formation OF
mad been resorted 60 and a fair surface had
been so prepared. But in this case man
proposes and the weather dsposes All the ex
ertons of the persons In charge OF the ponds were
III vain, for the steady, quietly falling snow soon
covered up the ice and, gradually increasing in
DEPTH soon formed SO deep layer that it was i'm
possible for steelshod MORALS to glide upon the
underlying surface. Even II some ingenious me
chanical broom OF immense magnitude could have
been brought into play to clear away the super
incumbent snow, the case would not have been much
bcttered, for the inconvenience OF binding shower
Of hard driving hail and snow would even then have
been sufficient to drive people under shelter and
away from It's unpleasant sensations As con-
sequence 70 ts state 81 anngs G ane & po1as were
face single skater that one must have been a man
who could face anything, and second Mark Tapley,
who could be jolly under the most trying circun-
stances,