The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-03
ON ICE.
A Good Days Sport at Gen.
trail Park.
RACY MERRYMAKING ON SKATES,
Scenes at the Ponds and Lake
Driven Away by the Snow.

Merrier than the tone OF many marriage bell
were the peais Of Joyous laughter which rung
through Central Park yesterday. There was skat-
ing on every pond within its charming limits, and
nobody was ever known to join In the sport with
what IS generally known as sour face.
Whatever contortions the howling snow storm
may have produced in the evening-fOr ut blew
and friz and snew," as the ancient poet has it
true 1t Is that the day was spent In unalioyed en-
joyment. 1t is questionable. indeed, whether the
supposed forthcoming monopoly of ice companies,
consequent upon the niggardly display of Mr.
Jonathan Frost this season, at all entered into the
minds OF
THE MIRTHFUL MULTITUDE
that thronged the Park. From an early hOur-say
ten o'clock-the street cars commenced to convey
their freight OF sportsmen TO the scene. The pros
poets were encouraging in The extreme, and even
the good natured Park policemen frightened
up in anticipation OF little exercise. But
Is gratifying to state that their good of1ices
were not brought INTO active requisiton the
entire day. Nobody was hurt; nobody misbehaved
himself; everybody lett the Park a ruddier and
healthier man. Just about the time that SOL
began to shed his weak but genial rays all
the ponds were covered not only with good sub
stantial ce but on top oft by the loveest portion
OF the comm unity on Manhattan Island 1t was to
all intents ana purposes great and glorious day,
. DAY of
FUN AND WHOLESOME RECREATION;
. day OF rosy cheeks, when the lovely glow OF
health comes out on the proverbial sallOwness OF
the metropolitan face; day, in TACT, when
human nature is seen to the very best
advantage free Of expense. And the
day was all the more appreciated because
Of its unexpected auspicious surroundings. The
season had been ccOmmodating-evidently de-
termined to let us nave neither ice for our cob
bleRs nor ice for our soles; but now that the
bl0Od-red globe proclaimed the advent of gal
liant Mr.. Frost, juvenile New York waved its cap
with JOY. Heretofore he had only been mere
MISUNDERSTANDING you see him and now you
brush across the ponds OF the Park in earnest, and
seemed as If he wished to give the boys and girls
SOLID TREAT.
And ne did 1t, and thousands relshed it, and
didn't blame him bit when, in the afternoon, the
snow, Kissing with the violence OF the wind, fell
IN binding fakes, making thick and unwelcome
coating on the ice that eventually, though not
until long alter sundown, brought the invgoratlng
sport to a temporary close Yet the fun, so Tar as
1t went, capital. Morning broke with cold,
eteelcanopied sky and every promise Of splendid
days sport. AS early as ten in the morning
THE POND AND THE LAKE
In the Central Park had numerous little fellows,
from seven to ten years cutting around a. in the
and sill later still bigger boys. with mustaches and
side whiskers. And the girls came--a Whole
Of matrlmony. At noon the surface OF the lake
must have resembed the fields Of the Egyptians
big and little humanity was SUCH S''s tnrona
has been seen there once or twice before, but
never one any larger than that which appeared on
this iavorte skating ground yesterday, between
noon and and, two O'Clock It. seemed as if
Of Skates rushed to the pars to get at east one
days good work out Of them. Wen, for the multi,
tude the lake has its waters regulated to depth
OF only four ieet for never did
A VAST AND THOUGHTLEsS CROWD
more mmlnent danger of their lives. The
field ,n o. ice waved up up and ana down low d Ike
sand ne seams cut across its surase
appeared ready to break apart at moments no.
tice. 1t made one nervous to watch the heavlng
Ice field threatening every instant to part asunder
and drop the thronging skaters into Attracting bath
beneath. Along the margin OF both pond
showed themselves in the afternoon, Tor the wind
had made havoc with portions of the ice, but they
that kept sho0tlng to and fro and weaving in and
out until the eye became daZZled observing their
ceaseless and incessant movements.
The best OF humor prevailed-it always does on
skating ponds-and skill and awkwardness made
merry over many toss and tumble. The pond at
sheets Of ice afforded excellent opportunity
for beginners who could happily come grief unOb-
served-a luxury which must be experienced to
be appreciated. On the lake the fancy skaters ap-
peared in force; this charming panorama being en-
hanced by the presence OF many ladies' whose
upon the Ice lent additional interest to the scene
Not single accident occurred, and when at even
ing the snow began to come down handsomely,
the economy OF the system was not
was fun OF lie and animation, and many jest
and jocose criticism went far to heghten the en-
j0yment OF the scene Indeed one yOungster,
whose reverence for the dead was not at all salts
factory expressed his regret that the Slamese
Twins were not on hand to demonstrate their
ao'l''y on skates THE STORM
But It was at length evident that the expected
pleasure OF skating at night was an i'm
possibility. The Wind Increased, and at
were covered with snow: The sport was
1mpeded on every hand, and when Six O'Clock
came the dag went down, not because OF the weak
ness OF the Ice, but on account OF the permanent
obstruction which the heaps OF snow began to pre-
sent. The sport of the day was declared to be at
pointment, for the hope was universal that before
morning rose the storm would cease and the ball
would go up again. Workmen immed
ately set out to clear the ice and
prepare 1t for the widely expected fun to-day.
AS the shades OF night began to fall q
rOusing snow storm set in. Small boys
and tall boys, with glistening skates slung
over their shoulders hurried from the Park, MUIR
murlng at the caprcous ways OF the weather
clerk and vowng to renew the sport to-day. Not
was
A CURLING MATCH,
under the auspices OF the Caledonia Club which
created good deal Of interest and excitement
Altogether, yesterday Will long linger in the minds
OF the many who participated in the rare sport ia
the Park
THE BROADWAY CIGAR MERCHANT.
Yesterday afternoon Coroner Croker concluded