The New York herald., 1874-12-19
WAITING FOR THE BALL TO GO Up"
THE SKATING SEASON ABOUT 10 OPEN WITH
GIonY-pREpARAr1oNs By THE PARK AUrHoRz-

THE SKATING SEASON ABOUT 10 OPEN WITH
G1ony-pREpARAr1oNs By THE PARK AUrHoRr-
TIES FOR THE WINTER CARNIVAL
Skating Is o pastime beloved by thousands II
this city. but 1t Is over two years since tneIe
has been any actual enjoyment OF the sport. VI
course Il IL pastime entirely dependent upon tae
caprices OF the weather. and unless Father Fross
gives sharpness to the atmosphere there Ia little
hope OF any recreation for the votaries OF tho
skate. Last year there was dearth IN ah suco
amusements, and consequently there Is now
fearful appetite for anything that has any connec-
tion With skating or dancing. The latter Is an ex
ercisc that cares neither for heat nor cold, bus
skating must have extreme rarity OF atmosphere.
once the ball Is up there Is an unusual excite
ment among the younger folk OF this city, and
crowds Hock to the ponds In the Park. Some few
years ago thero were skating ponds all over
the city that were advertising their
merits before the public. and consequently
created certain kind OF rivalry a.
to which was the best pond TO patronize. Ladies
In those days were very fond OF skating. and the
Fifth avenue and other ponds were crowded every
evening with representatives or the iatr sex,
warmly wrapped In their velvets trimmed with
gray fur or seaisktn edged with feathers. Now
skating has assumed direrent aspect, and It u
only on the ponds in the PARK that there are any
Qyrations OF the kind. The old ponds are all nled
up and since the Rink has been In the hands Of
the American institute the prospects Of skating
have been considerably reduced. IL Is only some
few years ago that the Empress OF the French was
80 delighted with the skating Of some New
York ladies' that she practised the art herself
and gave It tone that has since carried It through
as one OF the very fashionable pastimes. One has
no idea of the innumera bic skating costumes thae
were improvised or OF the tax on the brains OF
~vv. Eat Whaut Evup
recognized skating ~ fashionable pastime all
the ladies' OF the upper ten were anxious to wear
costume that nobody else had ever worn before.
and, consequently. the great Partisan costumer
was at his Wits END to satisfy the Unsuitable de-
mands OF his lair customers
There has been wonderful change In skating
during the past ten years. II is still fresh in the
childish memories Of many when the Dutch
roll was considered an exquisttey graceful
movement and the perfection or skatorial
skin; but In these advanced ages OF civilization
no expert is satisfied unless ne or she can cut
hts or her name on the keen Ice In letters which
tnst were let to the inexperenced to assist them
In the untrodden path are now nowhere to DO
seen as the beginners appear 70 p prs,es sns
OF the dumb order.
The skating this season will be decidedly more
democratic IN Its nature, as since the abolition OF
the private ponds ell skaters VIII have 10 Ryrate
on the ice devoted to the public IN Central PARK.
maskea carnival ~ Vas ceeSrate more ana
the Fifth avenue pond, Tor years the neadquarters
Of the New fork Eng SocE CSn aa now h acs 6s
skater has but objective point, and TO Central
PARK he nastens when the bali Is up.
very hard since the outbreak OF the dry, hard ana
frosty weather to make ready ior the thousands Of
inadiy over the beautiful lakes surface soon 90
II becomes cOngealed and nj for hard work Tno
nd rnttrtu0 skater have been cleaned And
iurhsned up, and the usual calcium lights and
danger posts have Deen drawn rom their secin.
owners own OF bright eyes and the wearers OF heavy
Ulster overcoats. There Is no season Of the year 90
and doting iatners who have eligible daugsterA
as the skating season, for hall 1T up smting
pond has not S equS Us Stins s no nr
vocatlve Of the waxen red blush which comes I'M
perceptibly to The maiden's satin cheek, has mo-
face or the ir5zen pona, and the ringing clink Of
the skate irons are the prem9nitory acGompani;
beautiful rose, leaves the church door to assume
new and swceter and hoer responsibility in her
sd nona exist forever, though the heated ballroom
and its artificial splendor snou!d iade INTO dark.
ness and the close and confined opera box be hung
MiIions Rs' Of laos and asses nave swiftly wntrIed
on this sinuous Central PARK pond IN the years
yet all these myriads OF skaters who now live AID
breathe have such charming and tender thoughts
terns, and in the shade OF the nr trees, and under
the darkened bridges that so beautifully stud tho
lake, that hearts viii paiplfate and eyeiasnes
Quiver at the secret impulse that bids middle.
knees ana family res onsibilities. and wisn tnas
they were again eighteen or twenty, and could
leave carking care and money-eetiing behind 70
cut spread eagles once they did in days OF yore
I'll not yer known whether the railroad com.
pan.es Will make any special arrangements inlre.
gard to the carriage Of pas.e ngers to and IRON
the lake, bui It Is presumed that as soon as tho
pa.l rises 10 the faestar that iney VIII be tound
equal 10 the emergency. Ample provision has
also been made to Keep the tee clear ana let water
In on thin and bad Ice when the weather becomes
cold And now let the cry be Vtue u o10dtellel
and let the ball rise soon as 1t may lOr, by the
beard OF the Prophet, II will be honorci by the
NorrY Ynr al hnfh and of all cQndlfinna