The New York herald., 1876-12-26
How Christmas Was Enjoyed on
she Roads and Avenues.
A DAY OF FUN AND FR0LIC.
The Flyers That Were Out For
an Airing and a Dash.
SKATING IN THE PARK.

Christmas on the roadi Matrons laughing maid
ems, handsome seighs, sashng troiicrs, smiles on
every face and merry jests every lip! Twas
sight rejoice the heart THIS was the merry Christ
mas OF the Park and the roads beyond CHEEKY and
fresh was the scene and numerous were the incidents
the festive occasion. From the Fifth Avenue Hotel
10 Iamberts Club House ST. Nicholas avenue deep
among the furs and robes, brighteyed beauties
All day long the panorama OF dainty cutters before
the eye, all day long the longitudinal Kaleidoscope
Of snowy hung before The vision, and all day
and all night long sound Of the bells told Of the
happiness that marked the season.
Long before the Christmas feast Of turkey and geese
was parakeD the Park and roads alive. There
was uncertain air about the crowds "'ris the
time for rejocing' marked every face, and
high and low worked themselves into fever heat
under the agitation OF the surroundings. From the
sleigh light basket work to the manufactured sled,
heavy and uncouth, the occupants alike made merry.
Thou h the accommodations IN some were cramped,
and they had immediate expectation Of getting to
their journeys end 1t was all the same. No laugh
ter could be heartier than that in the demo-
cratic turnouts. though no great comfort
seemed to mark the rough board seat and
straw covered bottom Of the improvised establish
ment OF runners. Everybody was out Here is the
regular driver behind his iast-scppng team II is not
strange HIM the road, tor rain shine dust
or snow he be there Here is the fresh look
ing clerk in his Ulster fur gloves giving his mother
or sister, sweetheart sleigh ride and endeavoring
TO explain how climate is changing, and how long
it beon since New York was treated to the amusc-
ment they were enjoying, thus early in the winter
Now comes the merchant tall and precise, with
his two sons from college, showing them the road
Here is well known hotel proprietor driving his par
Of clipped chcstnuts by himself, MS bachelor friend
whom he expects TO dine with following after seated
behind stylish Here are ladies with gleciul
youth or two escorts, prudertly wrapped in furs
and ..clouds' TO resist tho nipping air. They are
smiling and chatting as if 1t was Christmas time with
them always. Then we have the familiar face and
figure OF the sporting gentleman in his cream
coored overcoat, chirping TO the bays that
are extending themselves to the tune OF 80.
We now have the important mother, who drives out
with her daughters and son IN a magnificent family
Sleigh and not liking the crowd Mt the upper end cf
Park tells her reinsman TO turn his horses home
ward. Again, have the gay young boys, with
gorgeous collars and aud tall hats, hoping that
they may alight upon hospi;abe party OF acquaint-
nnces willing TO invite them 70 dinner on ~ ,ne road;
trainers trottng horses airing some Of the clinkers
under their CHARGE and who are out to the fast
stock handled by others
To give the names OF all the clippers that were on
the road during the day would be impossible, yet few
OF those observed St. Nicholas avenue are as fol-
Mr. David Bonner was driving our-year-old ally
by Waikiki Chief and one by Tom Moore that are very
Mr. A. r. Phyie, the owner Of the fast horses Gen.
eral Tweed and Lucca was out behind both. With
us a running horse. This gentleman also owns a very
speedy bay colt by Middleown thar he has been very
shy about but which BIDS fair TO equal any OF his other
Mr. H. r. Belllngcr sat behind the bay gcldlng Jcr-
sey Sam.
Mr. Charles E. Rand drove his magnificent Edward
Everett marc and his chestnut Clay gcldng. lisa
fast and steady gong team.
Mr. Wright isilhes handled the ribbons hts well
known and fas. stepping pair Of blacks;
Mr.. John Marshall drove Shark, the 1avorite and
HambietOnfan
Mr. Harry Hamilton showed several OF his lne. fancy
nags among them Lavender Billy Button, Harry, on
also brought out that invincibc team Unknown and
Winsome.
Mr. Frank Work drove out single behind his bay
horse Hail. He tro,ted well.
Mr. W. Ii. Harbeck sat behind his Ethan Allen and
young brown mare recently purchased They speeded
last
Mr. John II. Harbeck, Jr. and the famous brown
gelaing Windermcrc attracted much attention. As
usual this troser stepped over the snow very fast
Captain c. II. Mcdonald was out with his fast team
Billy Greer and Winsiow.
Inspector Frank speght allowed the public TO note
what "A clinker his stallion Dy Wilkes Is getting to be-
He goes along like awhirlwind
Mr.. Frank Ferguson was driving the bay geldng
Billy Lamberson and chestnut geding waxy. They
very speedy, indeed
Mr. jesse Marshall went up and down tho road with
his grey gcdng, vel known on the road stopper.
Mr. J. I. Flendcr shot along ST. Nicholas avenue
with his fast gray mare Sus-tte.
Mr.. coc Gas seen by everybody behind his sorrcl
ana pay team
PARK
The large pond at Central Park was crowded to its
utmost limit all day yesterday by lovers OF the cxhil-
arating sport OF skating. and hundreds who went
there prepared TO don the "ironsn reluctantly
obliged to turn away, unable to JOIN in The sport because
Of the immense crowd already on hand The cloudy
condition of the weather proved drawback. and
The cut up state OF the ice dctractcd nothing
apparently IRON the pleasure Of the skaters Every
one seemed bent on making the most OF
the days enjoyment, and fun and hilarity
carried to "a high degree. The ladies IN
full force, and, as rule, successfully competed with tho
lords Of creation in their exhibitions Of skill as
skaters. Several remarkably expert skaters were
present. but the crowded condition of the pond pre-
vented a tooircc indulgence in difficult steps, the
rrepressible small boy invariably darting about
gardless OF consequence. 1t was remarkable, consider
ing the immense concourse engaged In the sport that
no more collisions occurred than actually took place
Falls took place to be sure, but everybody
In lively spirits and took every msnap good
humoredly more picturesque scene could
scarcely be imagined than that presented TO
the observer IRON the bridge dividing the
pond. To the right and left Thousands OF men,
women and children gliding here, there and every
where. Here, sweeping down at locomotive speed,
comes accomplished skater, dartng through an
aperture in a crowd, avoiding with lightning celerity
By means OF quiet yet graceful curve TO the left,
pas: faitcrng young woman, dashng TO the right Of
an urchin and coming within an inch OF telcscoping
with a corpucnt German. yet continuing his flight,
curving and twisting. gong backward and forward,
until from a want OF breath he checks HIS
course The usual number OF poor skaters were,
OF course, present and apparently enjoying them
selves much rs their more accomplished mpanons,
despite their tumbles.
When darkness began TO the unwecomc an.
nounccmcnt made that the Park police about
to clear the pond Looking At the throng the
ice and glancing at the small Gordon of police, such
result appeared impossible, but the mandates OF tho
man In gray oucycd without n murmur, and by
SIX o'clock the ponds we're comparatively deserted
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A MISSOURI CONVICT RECAPTURED.
From the Lebanon (Mo.l Anti. NJ Monopolist1