The New York herald., 1876-12-26
THE SLEIGHING CARNIVAL.
How Christmas Was Enjoyed on
yne Roads and Avenues.
A DAY OF FUN AND FROLIC.
The Flyers That Were Out For
an Airing and Dash.
SKATING IN THE PARK.

Christmas on the road Matrons laughing maid
ems, handsome sieighs, slnshng trotters smiles on
every face and merry jests on every lip Twas a
sight to rejoice the heart This was the merry Christ
mas OF the Park and the roads beyond CHEEKY and
fresh the scene and numerous were the incidents
OF the festive OCCASION From the Fifth Avenue Hotter
10 Lambert's Club House ST. Nicholas avenue, deep
among the furs and robes, brighteyed beauties.
All day long panorama OF dainty before
the eye, all day long the longitudinal Kaleidoscope
OF snowy hung before The vsion and all day
and all night long the sound OF tho bells told Of the
happiness that marked the season.
Long before the Christmas feast OF turkey and geese
pariaken OF tho Park and roads were alive There
was uncertain air about the crowds "'Tis the
time for reo!cing'' was marked every face, and
high and low worked themselves into a fever heat
under the agitation OF tho surroundings. From the
sleigh light basket work to the manufactured sled,
heavy and uncouth, the occupants alike made merry.
Though the accommodations IN some were cramped,
and they had no immediate expectation of getting TO
their journeys end, II was all the same. No laugh
ter could be hear,ier than that in the demo.
cratic turnouts, though great comfort
seemed to mark the rough board seat and
straw covered bottom of the mprovised establish
ment OF runners. Everybody was out. Here is the
regular driver behind his ast-scppng team 1t is not
strange HIM the road, tor rain shine dust
or snow he is be there Here is the fresh look
ing clerk in his Ulster and fur gloves giving his mother
or sister, sweetheart, sleigh ride and endeavoring
to explain how climate is changing, and how long
it has been New York treated to the amusc-
ment they enjoying thus early in the winter.
Now comes the merchant, tall and precise with
his two from college, showing them the road.
Here a we'll known hotel proprietor driving his PAIR
of clipped chcstnuts by himself, MS bachelor friend
whom he expects to dine with following after seated
bchind stylish roam. Here are ladies with glecful
youth or two escorts, prudently wrapped in furs
and sscouds' to resist the nippng air. They are
smiling and chatting as If 1t was Christmas time with
them always Then we have the iamiliar face and
figure OF the sporting gentleman in his cream
colored overcoat, chirping TO the bays that
We now have the important mother, who drives out
with her daughters and son IN magnificent family
sc,gh and liking the crowd ut the upper end cf
the Park tells her rensman to turn his horses home
ward. Again, we have the gay young boys, with
gorgeous collars and coats and tail hats, hoping that
they may alight upon hospi:abe party of acqualnt-
ances willing invite them to dinner on the road.
Last ana perhaps not least we have tho professional
trainers trottlng horses airing some OF the cnkers
nnder their charge and who are out see the fast
stock handled by others
To give the names OF all the clippers that were
the road during the day would be impossible, yet few
those observed on St. Nicholas avenue are as fol
lows:-
by Waikiki Chief and one by Tom Moore that are very
fast and promising
Mr. A. r. Phyie, the owner OF the last nOrs06 Gen.
eral Tweed and Lucca, was out behind BOTH With
Tweed he made them all lny over, and went as fast
running horse. This gentleman also owns very
speedy bay colt by Mddlelown that he has been very
shy about but which BIDS fair to equal any OF his other
horses
Mr.. VI. II. Bengcr sat behind the bay gclding Jcr.
Mr. phGnix was out with his gray mare Charmer.
Mr. Charles Z. Rand drove his magnificent Edward
Everett marc and his chestnut Clay geldng. II - a
fast and steady going team.
Mr. Wright Ghes handled the ribbons over his well
known and fast stepping pair Of blacks:
Mr. John Marshall drove shark the favore and
speedy Hamb!etonian gelding.
Mr. Harry Hamilton showed several OF his fine. fancy
nags. among them Lavender. Billy Button, Harry On
ward and Cocheco Belle. During the afternoon he
also brought out that nvincibc team Unknown and
Winsome
Mr. Isaac sonnberg had out his speedy bay gelding
MIR. Frank Work drove out single behind his bay
Mr. W. H. Harbeck sat behind his Ethan Allen and a
young brown mare recently purchased. They spceded
last.
Mr. John II. Harbeck, Jr.. and the famous brown
gelang Windermcre attracted much attention. As
usual this tro;ter stepped over the snow very FAST
Captain c. H. Mcdonald was out with his fast team
Billy Greer and Winsiow
Inspector Frank Speght allowed the public to note
what cnker his stallion ny Wilkes Is getting to be.
He goes along like whriwind
Mr. Frank Ferguson was driving the bay gelding
Billy Lamberson and chestnut geldlng Waxy. They
very speedy, indeed
Mr.. Jesse Marshall went up and down the road with
his grey gelding, well known The road stopper
Mr. J. Y. Flendcr shot along ST. Nicholas avenue
with his fast gray mare Susctte.
Mr. Coo sas seen by everybody behind his sorrel
and bay team.
The large pond at Central Park crowded to It's
utmost limit all day yesterday by lovers OF the cxhil-
araiing sport OF skating, and hundreds who went
there prepared TO don The "ironsn were reluctantly
obliged TO turn away unable join in the sport because
OF the i'm mense crowd already on hand The cloudy
condition of the weather proved no drawback. and
The cut up state Of the ice detractcd nothing
apparently from the pleasure OF the skaters Every
the days enjoyment, and iun and hlarty
were carried to a high degree The ladies were out IN
full orce and, as rule successfully competed with tho
lords OF creation in their exhibitions OF skin as
skaters. Several remarkably expert skaters were
present. but the crowded condition OF the pond pre-
vented tooircc indulgence in difficult steps, the
irreprcssble small boy invariably darting about re-
gardless OF consequence. IL was remarkable consider
ing the immense concoursc engaged in the SPORT that
no more collisions occurred than actually took place.
Falls took place to be sure, but vcrybody
In lively spirits and took every msnap good
sn sSa could
the observer from tho bridge dividing the
pond To the right and left were thousands OF men,
women and children gliding here, there and every
where. Here, sweeping down at locomotive speed,
comes accomplished skater, darting through
aperture in crowd avoiding with lightning cecrity
by means of quiet, yet graceful curve TO the left,
pas: iaterng young woman, dashing to the right of
urchn and coming within an inch OF telcscoping
curving and twisting. going backward and forward,
until from a want of breath he checks hts
The usual number Of poor skaters were,
OF course, present and apparently enjoying thcn-
selves as much their accomp shcd companions,
despite their tumbles.
when darkness began to set IN the IN welcome an.
nounccment that the Park police were about
to clear the pond Looking at the throng the
ice and gancing nj the small Gordon of police, such a
result appeared impossible but the mandates OF the
man in gray we're oocycd without murmur, and by
O'Clock the ponds were comparatively deserted.
A MISSOURI CONVICT RECAPTURED.