The New York herald., 1871-12-16

taken SO much OF the disagreeable nature Of early
winter that the dwclers along our isothermal line
scarcely felt the stealthy advance OF the genuine
Boreas The mild autumn weather, whose "lengtn-
ened sweetness s usually so 'l0ng drawn out"
had q brief and unsatisfactory reign this season.
and up to the present eope could scarcely consent
to believe that the brown and mellow sunshine Of
the declining year had departed for good to other
attudes and that tue annual visitor with the hoary
locks and beard Of icicles had really left ms bleak
home in the North and come to stay.
THE BITING BREATH
he blew during the past few days, however, was
suficient to convert the most sceptical and 0bst-
nate unbeiever In his permanent presence Furs
have been taken from their summer hiding places
and wrapped around economical old ladies, who
thus to certain extent, neutralize the still less
grateful odors that pervade the atmosphere within
our street and stages by making 1t redolent OF
camphor and other powders unhealthy for moths.
Fall overcoats, too have been discarded for wrap
pers OF heavier material; watery eyes have been
numerous. and lively young ladies have been stick
ing out darling little noses In the open air, with
ripe
COLOR THAT ToPERs ENVY
and vainy spend fortunes to acquire. But the
crOwning proof that winter had positively set IN
was Afforded yesterday by the street cars leading to
the Central Park from which there noated gay little
fags with red balls whose disks have the magic
word +" Skating.n The early portion Of the day was
Clouded ana the weatnerw wise were puzzled as 70
whether they should predict rain or more snow but
were quite positive 1t must be either. TO the
utter confusion Of those unreliable prophets how.
ever the atmosphere cleared in the early
afternoon: sharp, keen wind from the
north hustled through the leaness boughs OF
the city shade trees and whistlea along
.,rh thara
NO SUN WORTH BLINKING AT,
the upper air looked bright and hard and showed
no signs Of melting. At sight OF the insignia on
the street cars the hearts OF all youths and maidens
who to glide over the frozen surface OF the lake
beat hard IN the rapture OF Joyous expectancy. The
venders OF skates drove rushing trade during the
day, and when the welcome news spread through
the city that the Ice on the ponds OF the Central
was s0ng 10
snS s1s the
temptuously away, and rushed on, skates In hand,
to the Central Park; young gentlemen in their
most extraordlnsry .slcK headaches'' and sought
and girls Of smaller growth threw down their nor
Js ssasS a2hs hs ass Ss K Gg S o Se
ful denght IN many bald and siivered head.
Any VISITOR to Ss the Central PARK Yesterday would
was
"soMETHrHa UPn
and from the otherwise unlnvltlng appearance of
everything out OF doors ne must have concluded
that that something was skates, ana could be
augnter borne away 10 the upands on ;ne 9gasi
laden breeze from the ponds IN the Qlens below
told, lhousand-tongued, OF the Joy on the lakes
on the Ice were delightful and heartstrrng beyond
description. The Cutie pond" at the termini Of
during the entire afternoon. and SO far from being
ali Inconvenience to the skaters, as might be ex-
me ea d SanS ss
the moving crowd around the Lake without col.
larry when the greater number were desermhsi that
nobody should perform It successfully. When col.
lIsion did occur, 80. 80 -.
- $500 THE RESULT WAS LUDICROUs
in the extreme, and Afforded as much amusement to
the good hunlored victims as to the grinning spec.
tators. Here group OF laughing boys and girls al
the little unwa.hed street Arab side by side
with the dainty child OF wealth and luxury, all on
asrs ss Oh as @
Of grown-up skaters. The ends OF the line wheel
round gracefully take In everything That comes IN
in their way, and In moment quite large number
OF unsuspecting victims finu themselves collidlng
y0sthng, tumD,inR and Sprawling IN the miudle or
the magic ring formed BY the little jokers The bio
ones come down " tn heavy tnud and cut
UNDlGEiFIED FIGURES
on the ice. The little are prepared for the col
llson and let themselves down easily, and when all
are ''lad out" are there not fun and laughing and
at the edge OF the Lake. sits blooming belle, with
an eye OF condensed sunshine. AT her feet, on the
o her aaes and par
sawder.' An unsentmentai boy glldes along rap
IDLY, pokes the kneeling strephon In the ribs, and
whispers. very loudly See mere, young fellow. that's
too thin' The playful youth giides OF laughingly,
and everybody laughs: the young lady bushes and
knew every one would notice you fooling;,' the
swain rises III absurd confusion and leads away MS
inat %ox s ak 1n ON ne
@snsous head on HIM 4 turns out % be % made '1s up
have an ugly habit OF falling on my poli,n he ex-
plains TO the Park policeman who glances at him
anu gentlemen hand In hand and arm In arm,
RACING FOR BARE LIFE,
and each pair moving IN magical unison, as though
they were one instead Of twain. or meant to be
soon Then glides single lady alone; q splendid
creature, magnihcenty dressed ana skimming
man was a fool who called dancing .'the poetry OF
m0tlOn;'' skating is the genuine article.
,,s, oi C. course r there are falls and plenty Of them
pense OF the fallen; indeed IT must be very serious
1all which, as the result OF slip anywhere, that
broad grins over the faces OF the spectators There
occur some falls on the ice, nevertheless which are
patty. one OF them happened on the large
pon1, near En'a faei avenue yesterday al-
the back OF his head brought swiftly and Violently
IN Contact with the hard Ice. he sat up Immediately,
and stared around him In q vacant way. The look
ers-on at first Laughed consumedly,u but when 1t
was observed that he continue
TO REMAIN IN SESSION
apprehension look the place OF amusement, ana the
crowd came syn npathlzinRy around he was utterly
dazed He did not know where he was, nor what
brought him there. he could not tell where he
lived, Tor did nc even remember his own name.
.Where am n Ae asked az length
you've been skating, and you fell, Lly poor fel.
low said bystander.
"Skaiing !" he exclaimed; Impossible: I'm the
pest skater ID New York, and never fell yet,u
but, see, you've got your skates on.r
Inc Dung man put his hand TO his head and re.
NAMED silent After While some friends OF his
nappened 10 come along, AID, recognizing MIN, re.
moved aim 10 Ms home. This was the only serious
acciuent 'ha' occurred yesterday. The following
SKATING REGULATIONS
OF the Centrai PARK are again In order-
ssiort wa pass Oh the Ice by the paha and gsnrvavs
provided for thai purpose. s~-s"-ys
the Ice. ' O's '"epp'"So -
Do not crop t,oFs.o cigar sumps paper nu,shelis or
other articles on the ice or gAngways.
thick. - N>' ~" :" -
Cautions from Park policeman should be Immediately