The New York herald., 1869-01-03
SLEI0HING.


A Carnival upon RunEers-Generai Turn Out
Yesterday-Pursuit of Pleasure Under Diff
culties-The Streets, the Park and the
Rosd-sn0w Below and Rain Above.
Among the various outdoor cnj0yments which
exist in tho comparatively bleak winter months
there Is none which is more counted upon by num-
bers OF the inhabitants OF this city than that OF
seighing. While skating Is the great outdoor
amusement OF young New York Of all sta
tions, and almost the only one In which
the socalled working classes take part
there are also a large number OF the more WELL
to-do members OF society who regard sleighin9
as the only redeeming feature Of the wntry season
which can afford them outdoor recreation This
class in the community keep their sleghs carefully
guarded through the summer months, and as soon
as the Snow King vouchsaies to dispense his naky
showers the streets, the Park and the roads imme-
diatey become filed with establishments Of more
less value drawn by horses Of greater or lesser
speed. The fact that gentlemen will keep seighs
year after year. when the opportunity for using
them Is always limited to few days at longest during
the winter, Is Of itself sufficient TO prove the esti
nation in which the sport is held, and tie extraor
dinary prices which are paid for days hire
Of one OF these vehicles at the various
livery stables is enough at any rate to
show that the sport is fashionable. The fact ID
seighng is an institution with us, and one the In
dulgence in which is made all the more pleasant by
the fact that only be enjoyed at long tervals
and for short periods OF time.
The old proverb, 'It's an i'll wind that blows no
one any goodn was fully proved yesterday. While
toiling mortals were yanly trying to walk quickly
In the drifting snow which filed all the thorough
fares while passengers in the cars were indulging
In damnaory CALCULATIONS as the sorry hacks which
drew the numbering vehicles refused to proceed fur
hnnc h.lH
bargaining with exorbltant knights OF the
shovel as to the wages to be paid
| for cleaning their sidewalks, the owners
| OF sleghs were rejoicing that at last the
! snow had come, and that at length they would be
able to speed its surface TO the music OF tner
bells in their as yet unused but favorlte vehicles.
1 While general wall was rising on New Years Day
| against the management Of the weather and dsap-
pointed mortas were looking out with disgust upon
the whtened streets, the po5sessore OF SeighS were
glorious sleignng and forgetting all the inconven
ences OF the present In their hopes for the future
And their hopes were realized. Yesterday morning %
cient depth to make seighing not only possible but
pleasurabe, and the opportunity offered was not
As far as sleghing Is concerned. yesterday was
| carnival day and the inaugural one OF the season.
the snow Was Was deep and SOFT the air was soft, the
weather was fine and the prospect OF dry day was
good. But the after part Of Yesterday did not real
the clouds gave forth mixture OF hail and ram,
which, driven by the wind, pelted with great force
| sively uncomfortable for all with whom 1t came IN
contact. But who cared for so slight an lncon.
venlence as a little rains Was there not plenty OF
| snow upon the ground, and was 1t possible to go
seiymng M sysry day? Defiance 70 the % elements @ ana
the cap, with the mufllers, and let the weather
do its worst, long as 1t does not spoil the snow
the fortunate possessors OF sleighs argued with
themselves their resolutions being endorsed by the
ladies', and as consequence, notwithstanding the
hobo win nf n
turn out in all directions.
ON BROADWAY.
This crowded thOr0ughfare even gave evidence OF
| the gathering cavacade. While the sorry steeds
| attached TO the stages were striving and smoking
pa1g as they dragged their Carriages
along, and the heavy van horses slipping and sud
ing as they endeavored to move the cumperous
vehicles TO which they were attached, there might
be seen in every direction, swiftly gliding about
sleighs OF every description size and shape.
rotters s u and % guided By hands skilled in 's the
handling OF the rens; there the heavy double sleigh
easier was their work than that OF many their Iel
lows; here the family sleigh filled with happy, laugh
ing VINO saSwed py fner DUstefOas 70 m
place box on runners improvised for the benefit
Of those who could not afford more complete
wagon or express cart ploughing Its way over the
| snowy surface OF the earth. Everywhere sleghs
bells with the exception Of those vehicles which
| were being used for business the cavacade moved
up town. and away as iar as tns eye could see the
street and thor0ughfare seighs emerged and entered
into the lines, all going one way and all bound for
| one common destination.
FIFTH AVENUE.
Still onward and upward presses tie swiftly NOV
ing column, the air made alive with the music OF the
| bells Along Fifth avenue were s,eighs nnumerable
| some already loaded with their living freight and
Here stately looking coachmen sat ike statues in
their driving boxes, valuable and spirited steeds
champed their bits, impatient to be moving, and OBJ
masters and mlstresses in the comfortable robes,
while all the time constant stream OF sleighs was
rushing along, making the snow ny on all sides and
| the air alive with happy laughter. Fifth avenue
seemed to be out en- nldsse. Elegant sleighs were
being filed with wealthy men and handsome ladies',
and costly robes Of all colors covered their
precious persons. The ladies' were as anxious 70
nso, ION the cavaeade % a. mere @ cn ne,r attendant
presence to its brilliancy. Dressed In their winter
costumes they looked charmingly. From among
mass OF ftlrs many q pair OF bewitching eyes SPAR
ked. Under very elegant red riding hoods more than
one handsome face could be seen, and many dainty
form was beautifully shown beneath some tight lit
ting jacket made oil warm material. Pleasure was
pictured upon every face and the cheeks OF all were
blooming with a charming color which Old Boreas
can produce with more beautiful effect than can any
OF the artificial means too often resorted to by the
eua s V No or e e pa1p
alongw Keep to your side, for faster horses
goes Vanderbilt shooting by us his cutter dancing
over the snow behind pair OF splendid dark bay
horses, and now the music OF iour-inhand ls close
Dcuuiu U.S. away IL kOcss EIuuh i<Ssc hoiluiiik tue
ribbons and letting his horses go fast they have
y mind to- while the ladies' loll back almost entirely
covered by a profusion Of buffalo robes. ON moves
the cavalcade slow horses falling TO the rear while
fast ones rush by them and take up their positions
IN the ADVANCE. Merrly we 20, q goodly company,
all bent on amusement and oil steering for one
object
IN TILE PARK.
Into the Park the sle.ghs all dash and away along
the main drive. Whew The rain and sleet drive
here. Up with the coat collar, down with the
cap. Under the shelter OF the built up thor
0ughfares II did not seem 70 bad but here
the wind has full play. over the hills II mischev
ously plays with the fallen snow and for Its
amusement makes tiny snow storms Of Its own; In
the valleys It whistles along and finds its exit con-
sideraby increased In strength above both II sports
with the sleet and drives II about In TO Its
b0lsterous will. IL silly creeps between your collar
and your neck, depositing damp reminder OF its |
visit; II finds out the only open space In the buffalo
robe and plays perpetual stream upon your limbs;
1t assaults you In your and your ears and numbs
"a n