The New York herald., 1869-12-08
OVER THE SNOW.
Glorious Slelghing-The TintinnabnlatiOnS Of
the BsIls-Fifth Avenue, the Park, Harlem
Lane and the COney Island Road-SightS
and Seenes-A Summer Sunset iI a
Winter Frame Greenwood Cemeterl

Yesterday was decidedly the grapAess "a, tor
s,elghing that ever came and went Hhout fun and
popular appreciation. The SKY was bright and
blue. the wind bracing and the snow deep and
hard enough for the happy and healthy exercise;
but the boen was q blessing only 10 q iew for
the many were unable to seize it, simply be-
cause it came like thief In the night without
granting notice or asking leave This was
pity. il IL had only been known one week
ago that such day as yesterday was coming,
everything capable OF moving on runners would
have been boxed up Tor the occasion, ana every
horse wou.d have had his shoes sharpened and many
more people would have been made happy. As IT
was, however. the CRISP clear air was lively with
the tintinnabulatiug bells. Up town and down end
on the suburban roads no other Bounds were heard.
some magnificent seighs ventured down broadway
for Short time In the forenoon, evidently 10 show
on, for there really little fun sleigh riding in
that thoroughfare Family slegns were at a pre-
mum, but there were sum cent out 10 show that
New FORK can make considerable display IN that
line.
THE CITY GENERALLY
Except on the avenues there were compare
lively few sleghs 10 be seen below the Park;
just because horses ut to draw a sleigh
were scarce Everybody, or course was taken by
surprise at the sudden and cheerful change in the
temper OF tie weather and consequently few horses
were prepared for the occasion. Blacksnths were
0verrun with customers wanting their horses' shoes
eharpeaed for the road. but hardly two out Of ten
were ready in time TO take advantage OF the magnif
cent virgin stretch Of sleighing that extended from
the PARK entrance to Macombs dam bridge.
II the cold would only hold three or four days
longer oil New York win be on runners
as 1b never was before. The beautiful snow
received cruel usage On tho avenues, put the side
streets preserved 1t In almost its native purity
throughout the DAY. In the lower commercial re-
gions OF the city very odd conrivances were placed
en- runners, such as coal bunkers, dry goods boxes
and broken down scavcnger carts. These were nat
with In all sorts OF places, sometimes climbing over
conglomerate heap of snow, garbage and coal
dust, and next plungiDg into unfathomabe rift
and tumblng out right side mp and safe as q dollar.
FIFTH AVENUE
made most heterogeneous exhibition OF moving
vehicles IN the early afternoon. There was Just as
many carriages as sleighs and uucommonly
large number OF clumsy coal carts, drays ana omni
buses. Above Thirty-fourth street the sleighs mo-
nopolized more and more OF the avenue until they
claimed almost all OF II in the neighborhood OF the
Park. Most OF the fashionable folks made their
point OF departure from The Flftn Avenue Hotel and
gallant show tney made ior so short a nosice. The
dazzling display OF hualo robes OF all coJrs under
Inc snn was the great feature tnat caught the eve
in looking up he avenue after the flying procession
moving away as fast and slick and steady as loco
motive. Mounting the crest or the nil at Thirty
ninth street glorious breeze met everybody bound
To The Falk-6aen breeze as sends @ tngle and a
thrll TO the tips OF the toes. Further on, about
Flfty-second street. 1t grew stronger and tested
oyercoats with vengeance; but the beloved robes
oil buffalo bid defiance to Its best efforts and kept
the caioric from escaping the rising walls OF the
Catholic cathedral ginted like diamond encrusted
marble IN the cold bright, cleaning sunshine. The
distant woody enlnences oil the Park, speekled with
white and shofn OF their shetering foliage looked
Boinhre and Wntry; but the lively cayaeade Of
seigns, all shapes and col0rs, was a stirring and
exnilarating sisnt 10 see.
In all its winter drapery looked pure ana cold as
chastity ITSELF Tue nr AMI oleander trees, tlppei
with the frozen, gistenng snow reSembled SO many
clusters OF white rose busnes the spreading lawns
were smoothly covered as sugar-coated tarts; the |
sharp, uneven rocks were rounded on, |
and all the lovers bowers aud loalers resting |
places, that make the Park the paradise |
ii fs, were trimmed with beautiful edging OF iu-
macuate snow. and male with tue other matters |
mentioned lice and novel picture. Few carriages |
invaded the PARK and those that did Looked cheer
less aud out OF place. Tue tidy, smart little cutters
tnat shot like creased lightning the splendid
roadway were lar more IN harmony whn the |
OF one particular team was erected q pyramid |
frame OF small silver gilt bells that played |
cent II te large numbers Dated 10 shake the cold
from their feet and 10 lay III refreshments. Those
OF q harder growth continued onward, and never
stopped Tor rest or noursnment 70 the end OF the
Journey at Macombs dam. great many beau
thul faces lifted past along the road. some
were hDeraly exposed, ana others were as
much concealed Turkish houris. The
ladies, almost without exception, seemed
to take Keen delight In the tnvlgorating exercise
and from tie enects Witnessed the marie TINS OF
health bought TO the glowing features OF many iar
maiden sleishing beats both rouge and enamel.
HARLEM LANE
was OF course the great centre OF excitement.
Whole squadrons Of seigns, ike Roman charots,
dashed along the road at more than b,eagneck pace,
and kept up a continual clodd OF fac snow dust
that plstened nKe spray In tae sunlight.
rivalry between fast trotters and high
Ayers. ana great many OF the on freqaeniers OF
their horses shafpened for the rosd, went In ike
crazy ones for neck or nothing Running. FRANK
Work rushed up the road ike 2:s0 hurricane with
his bay and sorre troters; Charley Ransom followed
In single cutier with gray and bay team; J.. B. Fell
vanderbilt IN dousle sleigh, bHed as snusly
as BIRDS nest, gded out OF the Park
with q pair of very last clipped roam horses.
Jim FISK. making no pretensons 10 run race
with the lightning steeos of Harlem lane, took 1t
with singular serenity ia richly mounted sleigh
and par OF large, heavy bay horses Robert Bonner
tore up the slippery surface OF the road with his
gallant pair Bruno and Brunette. Truesdeii's trot.
ter, Richards bay team, o'Donnelps sorre Water.
mans Tom and mate, DIR. Gord0n's Sailie and Sam
Lockwood's Champagne Charlie rushed past TO
Macomb's Dam while one might be saying Jacx
Robinson Tom Rogers was out IN his stnRe
cutter to q bay team. 4. j. Coe had dounle team
fashionable cutter ana double team OF bays, and
Tom Ray gave free ren to his team Of scrrels.
ABE crowd IN Tie lane increased as night drew on
and the racing became additionally animated.
good many who went to the end Of the lane took a
real old fashioned noriwester. Almost everybody
WAS glad TO get into any or the hotels around II g
only TO straigbten out the joints and shake up
the vital current o little Coming home at sundown
was about a. healthy and delightful trip any.
body need desire.
EVENING TBR0UGH THE PARK.
The beautiful appearance which the SKY presented
ne the chilled ana golden sun descended was exceed
in9ly fine, and made all the returning travellers
through the Park forget the keen cniing edge Of the
Tres. enlng breeze ID gazing at the russet and saffron
Bplepdor OF the horizon. The moon, as the veil of
night descended, cane out In q Torn OF marked and
Bilvery brilIiance, ana the twinkling star of
evening, near neighbor OF Luna, snone
with diamond usire. The lamps along
Filth avenue, where II skirts the PARK were t In
1he brief cold twilight, and looked Ike globes Of
gold on ground Of dazzling whitcness. The
selehs were IN clusters as they emerged from tde
ia-k and some OF The occupants. In the height or
their exuitant spirits, fairly yelled with delight
Tic drive down the avenue homewards was most
0grannlLn .iL.sia.. ..r md