The New York herald., 1874-12-31
THE SKATING SEASON.
SECOND DAY OF THE WINTER SPORT AT THE
pARK

SECOND DAY OF THE WINTER SPORT AT THE
After three days. intermission, during which
there was .ireeze" OF considerable severity, the
"ball" again went up at the Park yesterday morn
Ing. 1t was the second time this season that OPP
por.unity was gwen our citizens n indulge In the
healthy recreation Of skating, and eagerly was 1t
embraced. Everybody seemed soon to be aware
OF the TACT, and long before twelve O'Clock the
junior members OF the community were nocking
to the lake by hundreds. Ii was just the day for
the sport. The Inhalation OF the wintry atmos-
phere, with its full proportion OF oxygen,
cansed the amusement to become exhilarating
indeed. Good nature, as well as health, springs
IRON the inhalation of this llfegiving property Of
the cir; and It is this more tnan anything else
which imparts to the system feelings Of buoyant
invigoraton, and away 60 the blues OF nervous
detection, the morose temper OF disordered hillary
functions and all other irrltaions arising rom the
Ills oil an impure atmosphere 10 which many Of
pnilosopny Of skating and ali other winter sports
ana exercises. large assemDlage reailzsd II on
the lake yesteraay ana nundiedS SO % tnor9ugniy ,y
usual lunch and kept on as members Of the mass
OF pleasure-seeker5 until summoned 10 leave the
in the early afternoon the boys ana girls had
almost exclusive occupation OF the lake. Tine
older and somewhat graver people did not com-
mence to ccngregate until iour O'Clock or tnere-
aDouts; but these estlmabe citizens soon iel into
the way things were gong. and from being grave
paced and slow" did many little boylsn
tricks entirely incompatible witn old iogy.:
In TACT, the assemblage was one not
TO be forgotten and the afternoons sport an
occasion to be recorded as the gayest OF times.
Unfortunately the Ice was not In that condition to
warrant the lake to oe open during the evening.
go at nightfali the skaters were requested TO re-
scrape tie surface, when last night 1t was
hoped that thl ee-quar rters OF an inch would be
adIed to the thickness OF the Ice. The smaller
pond, at the entrance VI the Park, between Fifth
and Sixth avenues was not open. as the Ice was
considered dangerous. Probably to-day IL will be
sufficiently thick to allow a lev hours trial, ana
should this be the case an old time reunion may be
expected on the ponds. Tomorrow, New Years
Day, at least, the Park authorities hope to have
skating, and Will save the ice as much as possible
with this end in view. Skating al the PARK on the
nrst day OF the year Will be enjoyed BY thousands
who otherwise might pass the day less bcnefcany.
Manv poor, jaded man, encrusted over with the
rust OF crowoed rooms and confined "busl-
ness places" viii tfen step on the
ice, and ere he Is aware OF It, feel
like happy shellnsh that has lost
worn out crustaceous covering, and come or
literally rejoicing In new birth, increased IN ca
pacty for life and enlarged In size. Such amuse.
ment gives new lease OF life to the oppressed
denIzen and aids In putting UP another star" OF
health ior the .'winter's weary campaign"
As before intimated, everything IS IN readiness
ut the PARK to make comfortable all who desire to
join in the sport OF skating. Tne relreshment
houses are well furnished with lruit, cakes, cof-
fee, &c. the SKATE rooms with attendants who
will put 'em 0nn Tor the moderate sum OF five
cents, and the ice lights are Ia place, ready 10
face OF the lake SO soon as Its condition Will war.