The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-02
SKATING ON CENTRAL PARK.

In the grim. gray light OF the early dawn yester.
day the Central Park wore anything but cheer.
full aspect The walks and bypaths were deserted,
the shrubbery barren and robbed Of it's verdure.
and the trees, with their leaness branches, stood
out against sky OF ashen hue, mere skeletons OF
their former glory. The north WIND sobbed and
moaned as it hurried along as though mourning
for something 1t had lost; the Mall, which IN the
golden summer time is the chief pride and beauty
of the Park, was wrapped in the snow which yet
remains from tie last snow storm, and 1t seemed
as If the old year, upon its deathbed and before
being hurried 'ntO the infinite azure OF The past "
had dropped its shrOud upon that erewhile
emerald carpet.
But there is brighter side to the picture than
this for when the sun was high up in the heavens,
and when ON the cars which run along the various
avenues was put out the signal which indicated
that the ball was up and there was skating in the
Park, all was changed
At first they came Dy twos and threes, but by
noon an apparently never ending stream OF hu-
manly thronged the paths leading to the Lake,
and so 1t continued ali day The youthful portion
OF the community were in large majority, with
Q fair representation OF men, boys OF q larger
growth and sprlnkling OF the fair sex to relieve
The ice was In excellent condition, only one or
two-of the danger" signs being deemed neces-
sary, and during the day at least 10000 people
figures on the ice. Sorry enough figures many OF
| them cut too, Tor the white patches on their
| backs told plainly enough that III an attempt to
! -grind the bar backward" or to .'spread the
eaglc'' their ieet had hown from under them, and
instead OF spreading the s eagle ahey had spread 10
| the loaning or skates could scarcely supply the
sudden and Unprecedented demand MADE upon
| them, and long line OF impatient and ardent
lovers OF the SPORT anxious to be on the ice were
constantly in waiting. An army OF would-oe pub
| lie servants besleged and imp0rtuned each fresh
arrival with ''Have your skates put on Only five
CENTS ;" and even at this moderate lee the young
sters reaped a rich harvest.
At the reireshment Dooths at which ''hot lem
| onade" and shot sherry" anything but hot were
ladied out lively business was done, and, Jug.
visitors repeated, it Ii fortunate nothing stronger
was sold.
which invariably occur on crowded skating
pond. troop OF merry children are hauling
papa or mamma In chair on runners. An ex-
quislte swell, with skating cap and sealskin
| gloves, natty cane In his hand comes sailing
along. The eyes OF his dulcnea, who Is standing
on the bank, are upon MIN, and he Is anxious to
make an impression. He mas not seen the party.
| or else has mscalculated the distance, ior sud
denly collision occurs. His feet ny up and his head
goes down, and he Is instantly aware that some
thing has dropped. He inwardly curses the fates
which placed him In such ridiculous position and
at such an inOppOrtune moment; therefore he
takes solemn oath never to get caught IN such
The new beginner was there confident before
| his skates were on That he would create sensa-
tlon as soon as he got on the ice, and ne sue
sensations as well.
AS the sun went down many OF the skaters went
home, but they were not missed, for their places
were quickly filed by the new arrivals. The pond
was brilliantly lighted up alter dark, the immense
renectors making 1t light enough to see WE'LL even
to the hooks and windings which abound on the
remote edges. 1t was scene OF animation and
merriment seldom witnessed on the pond IN the
skating season. The lights were exttngulshed
shortly after eleven O'Clock, but 1t was midnight
before the sounds of mirth and laughter which
rung out IN the cola, clear air were hushed. The
ponds were to have been swept and scraped last
night and those portions which needed 1t hooded,
SO as to have new Ice formed for to-day.