The New York herald., 1870-02-10
SLEIG H IN G..
SLIDING OVER THE SNOW.
New FORK on Runners-A Splendid Day for
tho R0admen-Who Were Out
and What They Did.

People who affect to believe that snow storm is
IN some way another, and NOT very distantly re.
iated TO the proverbal Ill wind which hasn't enough
virtue In It to blow anybody good, were greatly
exercised over the sudden turn the weather took
on Tuesday night This kind OF people is principally
composed OF constitutional grumblers shopkeepers
who depend upon delicate footed ladies for their
bread and butter, that not very small portion OF
metropolitan humanity who monopolize the SIDE
walks in the apple and peanut business. ana ladies'
OF an uncertain age and lost hopes who see IN every
snow fake sore throat or hacking cough
Indeed 1t may be quite safe TO say that dld II lie
with these folks stultiry al the poetry written
about winter, yesterday would have neen very
dul day However the lovers Of winter sports are
happily IN The majority In this town OF ours, and
the anti snow folks were allowed TO grnmbe anu
make the most or 1t, while everybody who had a
sleigh or knew somebody who had one TO lend or
hire or give away or who could get one by fair
means or FOUL put himself into q comfortable over
coat and made tracks for the Park or Harlem lane.
And the day was all that could nave been
desired by the most fastidious sport, amateur or
otherwise, who ever enjoyed ride in q cutter or
made the soft acquaintance OF snow bank when
the cutter cut the wrong way The sky was clear
crystal the air bracng and the roads and in the
Park .'gente breezes' whisted through the leaness
branches Of the trees and played merry tune on
the telegraph wires that cnimed In quite musically
with the jingle OF the sleigh bells as cutters and
..PortIands" and what not all on runners went
swiftly by.
A finer day for sleighing was never seen In these
parts. and had some goodnatured fellow, in the
ring with the weather authorities given an inkling
few days ago OF the good time that was 10 come
20 those whom snow storms most happily concern
1t Is quite certain that everything capable OF being
put on runners, from the immortal cheese box 10
ihe imposing Albany would have been made to
do most joyful service. AS 1t was the dealers In
seigns were the happiest men about town; and az
for the livery stable keepers not one OF them was
heard TO complain aur3ng the day thai he not
making .feed moneyn which was OF all things one
OF the srangest Ia the world because OF It's disner-
ested rarity.
was, to speak alive with sleghs at an early hour,
and long before the city Rad faify saakei us lazy
self from his sumDers the air resounded with the
merry jingle OF the bells. Where on earth all the
slelghs came from IS OF those questions which
may safely be allowed TO remain unanswered until
some day next summer when statsticians most do
cogitate but the fact is that every SIDE street IRON
washington square fiftynintn street contributed
its quota the general procession OF sieghs which
during the entire day drew ther ioug length
swiftly along up and down the thorough
fare. The concrete pavement Tor once IN
giving excellent bottom to the snow. Save here
and that where the pickaxes OF Mayor Hairs men
had aug huge cavities IN thelr seareh aer lhe Stone
pavement the track was excellent The scene In the
street In the afternoon was most enyenmS one,
and recalled 10 mind the good Old days Of yore
when winters in New YORK were downright honest
wlnters with no hypocritica signs OF half grown
summer aoout them, ana when sleigh riding was
not q thing OF day but OF weeks
as matter OF course, was wen pntronlzed. Every
sleigh that went on the avenue al all made IL
special point to get IL By OF the entrances.
wherein defiance OF the police, whose efforts TO
keep Inelr noses warm IN many instances blinded
their eyes to fast drivlng-lt gllded over the solid
surface IN way that could only be appreciated by
pedestrians who could not afford The luxury OF
pla nf rrnn ORG n n n hp
never III better condition Tor sleghinG and during
the iiveiong Gay and up to late hour Of the night
the roads swarmed with the lovers Of the 1avorlte
winter sport In fact, policeman VINO dld manage
TO keep ms nose warm by periodical inward appii-
word OF honor tnat up to i've O'Clock, over twenty
I've hundred sleghs had passed given point. which
certainly the very best possible evidence OF the
condition OF the drives that could be given. But
when
Came still eyenng on, and twilight gray
Had ia her sober livery all things clad,
the scene IN the Park was the most enchanting
Seighs dashed by in dozens al a time and many
sturdy occupant lent additional charm 10 the music
or the bells by singing songs that intended
sing sing way, perhaps, to make heaftpris0ner or
somebody safely slowed away beneath Goodly
buffalo.
the sleighs dashlng over the roads-lheir outlines
Just made visible III the tfu glare OF the gas lamps
tnat line the routes, each cutter fitting along IN the
Gm light like spectres in mad.chase after one
another-was exceedingly attractive and to person
romantically inclined one full OF Thought
and beauty. In Iact. although everybody
road every body was III good nunor, and the laugh
and Jest was banded about from sleigh 10 sleigh III
IA manner that was suggestive OF how easily strait
laced prOpretes are sci aside by the genial nfaence
OF sleigh ride.
HARLEM LANE
was the grand concentration point for all the sleigbs
particularly those when boasted last horses. All
day long the street was crowded with the conrsers
and nearly all OF the road men were out ana IN line
Btyle In the afternoon Dexter dashed ont IRON the
Park with Robert Bonner handling the reins, from
neat little cutter, ana right after him came Conn
modore Vanderbilt, all alone IN his glory, In
q Portland drawn BY mis- sorrel and bay.
Then came Helmpold, with his four-il-naDd, quickly
followed by Beaudeylne, win his fonr-in-hand TO 4
splendid Albany Prince Erie also put III ap
peaTance Ill cutter drawn by u span or heavy
bays, and, strange 10 say, atnough Commodore
Vanderbilt was right ahead OF him, Jim didn't MAKE
An effort to 'gon for nim even once Jay Gould
dashed up The road soon Afterwards with bay to It
cutter, and tnen T. j. Coe with his bay, to
cutter: Hardy, with his gtap, Frank; Turnbuii, with
the bay, Vanderbilt, also 90 ! cutter. and John
Sayres with his bay ana afag. shepherd Knapp
Jr.is pay colt made the STOW fly from his hools.
with Shepherd at the reins, while Ed Jones
came along with his dark bay and tried 10
lead Hosea b. Perkins, roam, Prince, which that
Weeks hove III signt w!th his Dobtau blue mare''
Lew Petty with his sorrei Frank Temple; DR..
sayres, with his black ponies to an elegant little
cutter; Jake Muniziger, with his soIrel namesake;
with his sOrre and william Burroughs, with tine
bay. Charles Bellows also dashed along with Black
runners with Dan Mace, who handled the relns over
An easy going bay. Dr. G0rdon's Sallle ana sam
came up later III the day. az did Lockwood's Cham
pagne Charlie, and d. Il. WeDb gave rem 70 his
double bay team
Taking 1t all IN all yesterday the finest sleigh
day. the road men nave enjoyed in long WINE.
The suow Is quite heavy IN the Park and II the thaw
VIII Just postpone its visit Tor week or so there
VIII be good sleighing for days TO come