The New York herald., 1872-12-16
THE SKATING QUESTION.
A "Plain skater Who Has a Word tu
Say About the eFancy Fellows.o

Say About the Clancy Fellows"
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
You published in yesterdays issue letter from
"Fancy Fellow" or rather fancy skater, who
nnds fault with your article on skating, in which
the HERALD writer refereed sarcastically to the
attempt being made by the "fancy fellows" 70 get
portion of OF the lakes set aside br they ex.
elusive use. think that Mr.. Clark. as the fancy
ielown signs himself, allowed his wrath to get the
better Of his knowledge OF the situation. happen
to know that the fancy fellows petition to the Com
missi0ners relates simply to just what your
reporter said 1t did-vz., to the securing OF por-
ton Of one OF the two lakes in the Park. They
did not ask for one OF the little out-of-the.way
ponds; so his talk about inconsistency on YOUR re.
porter's part, which, he thinks, he makes plain by
calling attention to the fact that there is pond
set aside for the use OF the Scotch curriers' doesn't
amount to much. II the fancy fellows want to
..rise to the magni1cence Of Shakspearen in the
art OF skating, why are they not content to take
Of the duck ponds your reporter referred to for
their exclusive user But no; they want to have
o portion OF the lakes set aside for them. In
other words, a certain part OF one OF the big
lakes, now quite inadequate to accommodate the
non-ancy people OF all classes who 90 to the Park
TO enjoy themselves must he reserved for the
fancy. think II more than "ofr.hand insolence;,
Tor them to ask Tor such thing and question the
right OF the Commissioners to accede to their
request. Nobody finds fault because the scotch
curriers' or the skating Club have a little pond OF
their own In the Park: but what would have been
said OF them II they had asked to have portion OF
the big lakes set aside for their exclusive use -
There are several little ponds in the Park which the
fancy fellows can get for the mere asking no
doubt; but, beg the question as they may the real
thing they want 10 get is the exclusive use or a
portion OF one OF the big lakes where they can
''show of.n The great mass OF the men, women
aud children who patronZe the lakes in the winter
do SO TO enjoy themselves: and each one good or
bad skater, as the case may be, always finds room
enough TO amuse himself or herself in. or course
II each ''good" skater in the city was a "fancy
skater and as anxious as Mr.. Marvin X. Clark TO
'rise to the magnifcence OF Shakespeare. :, the
crowds or non-fancfus would have to STAY al
home, else there would not be "stepn room for
him and his kind who have sufficient persistence
In the art coupled with adequate biain ts) to
work out new and graceful movements" And
yet ask any beginner who falls oitener in
minute than the wisest OF wose men are said
to do In day If he Is not always surrounded by a
crowdy' but Is that reason why portion of the
lakes should be given up exclusively to the he.
gnners The fact Is, sir, the lakes were provided
Tor the benefit OF the masses, as your reporter
says, and II the fancy fellows find that oecause
whenever they go there to twist themselves out
side and above the principles OF the "School
Reader" crowds surround them ana they are or.
look out When they go TO Rome they should do
as the Romans do.
But Mr.. Editor, suppose the Commissioners
should rope Off portion OF OF the lakes ior the
fancy fellows. II Mr.. Clark Is right and he and
MS fancy friends are so very attractive as to draw
crowds wherever they go, would not the Commis-
sioners have to rope off another portion of the
lake as ''bank space between so that the fanci-
fuls would not be annoyed by coarse remarks? !?
They seem TO be so very particular, you know.
a PLAIN" SKATER