The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-07
SKATING AND CURLING.
Yesterday In Central Park-The Lake
and Ponds ThrOnged with Pleasant
Faces.

and Ponds ThrOnged with Pleasant
Faces.
Although there was cl0uded sky and chilling
wind yesterday the pleasure inclined OF this m ost
Cosmopolitan city sought the Park for an hour or
Two OF the exhiarating pastime or sKating to be
ionhd In TINS great breathing place. other
ponds IN this vicinity set apart for like
amusement may be sort of speciaties-
may be exclusive private in their
way and character-but the representatives of all
classes and nations make the lakes at the Park
their skating resort. II such a study was desired
in such place 1t would be fond one OF the finest
nelds In the world for the chronological student
Here you can meet when the ice is good
and the atmosphere bracing beside native
Gothamites medtative Germans. Flooding Dutch
men, hght-haired Bavarians, sturdy John Bulls,
mercurial Frenchmen with here and there sable
African and perhaps, now and then q long haired
immigrant from the Central rowery Land. Nobody
would be surprised at encountering o Kahr or
Polynesian looking on at the sport In fact moth
ing surprises anybody at the Park 1t Is so full OF
people-or rather the ponds are-on bright skating
days. What a spectacle does the large lake pre-
sent In the afternoon when 1t is gay with skaters,
the ladies, with their lovelness and rich attire,
making the Ice seem like parterre OF nowersl
At noon yesterday the ponds began to assume
busy appearance. The little girls with attendants
were first noticed trooping down on the
with smiling faces and Tiny skates, either dangling
at their side neatly hid by pre:tlly made bags.
Then the boys came daShing along, and then again
the ladies and the men, until about four O'Clock
the lake was world ITSELF All en-
jOyed themselves, or seemed to, and the bright
eyes aud glowing cheeks told the story OF the
health giving exercise. The ice was In very lair
condition, the officers good natured and courteous
and wide awake, and the frequent accidental col
lstons OF the most amusing character. Little boys
would now and then step plump into Old gentle
mems arms, PINK laced misses stumble against
mOdest lads, while stalwart young men fell roughly
against others OF their KIND; but there
blush or an apology only and the matter ad-
jhsted. There was no MISUNDERSTANDING was in
good humOr and the occasion one OF real en-, oy-
ment
But he who knows not the lake at the Park by
night loses the most striking half Of It's pnysiOg-
nOmy. 1t must be seen and studied when the ice
is blaze OF hight, when every face can be seen by
the gltterlng illumination and the whole tnrong
give themselves up to the amusement OF
resembles a carnival and Is most es
senrialy New YOrksh in its character. Every night
since the 'ball'' was displayed the lake has been
thronged, and 1t has been difficult matter to
the throng to leave at the hour OF putting out
the lights-eleven O'Clock Last nights storm was
batted manfully against 1t Tor long time, the
snow proved the cOnquerOr, and one by one and
then by scores the visitors silently lett the scene
Not alone was the lake full OF animated people,
but the curling pond, near Seventy-iOurth street,
contained large delegation OF the admirers of the
game from which 1t derives its name. Several
contests took place between members OF the
which continued until nearly dark. There were
but lew spectators, but this evidently did not de-
tract from the Zest with which the players entered
into the amusement.