The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-01

Of Motion and the Music
of the Spheres.
NEARLY hundred thousand people, you say were
here t0-day?" asks HERALD reporter OF one OF the
Central Park police last evening" as the latter stood
on the verge OF the frozen Lake. which was thicKly
covered with skaters OF both sexes.
"As near as can come to 1t, sir, there was q
hundred thousand here to-day and think that there
Will be nearly half as many here tonight" remarked
the policeman as he pulled his cap peak down over
his eyes, drew the fingers OF his buckskin
gloves closer ana tigntened the collar OF
his coat around his muscular neck, for the evening
was blowing up c0ld and fierce gusts of wind came
hustling by from the Palisades and Dattalions OF
Opaque clrri and cumull marched together In the
laden atmosphere 10 the right IN the direction OF
the East River, the neghing OF solitary horse and
the barking OF brace OF shivering Dogs could De
heard, mingled with the quick. brittle reports OF
FLOODED horses feet on the byroads OF the Park, as
the ANIMALS dashed forward, urged by the halooing
OF aif-drunken riders.
The night came down on the quiet fields OF the
central Park as they lay covered with snow, and
the sky above was hung with fllmy face. Below
every approach and byrOad and bride path was
thronged with young people, hurrying, with skates
In hand, to the grand rendezvous where the ice
massed on the waters OF the Lake ten inches thick.
There the restaurants and coffee shops show
their brght-burnng lights to all who are
hungry or cold after o days skating, and as
the moving stands, with white lights, are
showed along the splenddly solid surface Of the
pond by the ready policemen and here and there
red light shines to warn those who may venture
near broken holes that danger is ever present.
even when frolic is at the highest, the little Lake
lying nestled In the bosom Of the Central PARK,
like diamond In o fair w0man's bosom, begins to
have the appearance OF q gorgeous bail room dark
ened for q shadow dance" ' CESS
switer and swifter they glide, dashng under the
silvery stars and waving to ana fro, bending and
unbending, and rocking like clipper In gentle
swell at sea.
How graceful and noble some women look when
on skates. with bright moon above them How
snuous are the lines made by the cutters fastened
to their tiny feet ana then the utter heplessness
which they betray wnen about to fall on the Ice
See, here a score Of young men and fair, fash.
ionably attIred girls are gliding over the ice in
poetic attitudes in group Five or Six young
girls are hanging to each other, struggling
and shrleking In comcal fashion, fearing
ana aa' 1 %ss nsr ssasSs ss dresses n sa9
eeaskin NUTS and collars. AL! these girls are OF
undoubtedly grace the Charity Ball at the Academy.
You can see by their well.bred air and by their
those beaUeousiy shaped heads on such columnar,
white threats that these young girls are born to
fortune and ease and aIluence ana tnat the paths
OF roses without o bramble or briar to scratch
their leet.
all who stands forth prominent for her beauty and
grace. Her far companions eali her "lda Kath-
leen,n name which she answers 10 with loud.
sllvery, ringing laugh. This woman Is the cynosure
OF all eyes on The pond, and the patler and clang
Of ner little feet sound like long-lorgotten home
music TO a returned traveller. Ida" Is a TALL
finely proportioned blonde, with lustrous blue eyes,
might be likened TO that of winsome Annie Laurie
The fa,rcst that e'er the shone on.
The merry party have gone under the bridge inst
now, and can De heard aar or as they burst forth
As IN the cup the bead Gies up,
RSS aaa the D Srnn in a'SSeD Srh chain,
Life with glad rapture blending
BBa anss s sing Oh oh what what i Si!ss
Eyes that sparkle, lips to kiss;
Naught earth can equal this.
A; through the glass Is. the suneeam' pass,
Lake golden dsin, bubbles bibles n9s, ,ro
Joy with liz glow Destowins.
Dance, sing, &c.
The rich, merry voices Of the young men and the
car0llng sllvcry tones OF the fresh notes from the
waters, make tins crowded Skating pond scene Of
enchaunent for the time beng. There Is such
| deghtul uncertainty about ones movements here.
! as we glide 10y cold gray rocks and cumps OF fir
and New England pine transplanted 10 the garden
spot OF TINS metropolis, That many collisions occur,
which only OCCASIONS for nilarity, merrlment
| and harmless uprOar And out OF the hundred
thousand people who have visited tHs skating
pond to-day, and VINO are still pOaring In as The
night into It's gladstone hours slips forward there Is
hardly one man, woman, BOY or hoyden girl VINO Is
not the better for this peasirable excitement. And
| how many rosy cheeks have mad their color
heightened by the unusual glow OF the Parx winds,
and how many careworn faces have frightened
| up as their owners have left the skating pond 10
hasten homeward after the afternoons sport Go.
by all MEANS to tine Central Park and skate
| as long as possible. Go often and 90
early to skate Go in the morning and
! 90 in the evening. II 1t is only to help the I'M
| poverished finances OF the horse railroad com.
painless whose lines are parallel with the Central
PARK Skating Pond, by oil means let them nave an
additional five cents fare To help their depleted
bank accounts. And then think OF the Park police
| men, who have to exist on ice, without any CON-
pany, during the long winter nights, unless people
| will frequent the Skating Pond. GO often and early,
and skate until you SICK, and then get well again.