The New York herald., 1878-12-30
ON THE ICE.
Fifty Thousand Skaters Enjoying a
Days Good Sport.
LARKY, BUT GOOD NATURED
Disappointment Caused by the Park Commits
Soners' Early Closing Order.

to test the ice, until halpast five in the afternoon
when some fifteen thousand men. women, boys
and girls were compelled to stop skating un-
fasten their and start for home.
1t may be safely asserted that no Sunday
in half dozen years has afforded greater
sport than was enjoyed yesterday by-n the estima-
tion of superintendent Dawson and other expers-at
least fifty Thousand people. 1t is sometimes said
that only poor people avail themselves Of the lake
privileges in the Park but il safe to Judge by
external appearances, there was but small repre-
sentaion OF the very poor classes the ice this
occasion. The morning cold with keen, bitter
wind that whistled through the trees ard
over the ice. making 1t SO very cold that
the we'll clad policemen shivcrcd and shook
and prayed that snow storm might come in
time to spoil the sport and give them rest. Pre-
cisely why the Park Commissioners permit skating
on Sunday and shut down at half-past five in the
afternoon, while on other days people permitted
to remain until ten eleven o'clock is one of
the municipal mysteries that no fellow can
find out. With the knowledge that there
o time limit to their pleasure tho
youngsters Of New York started Parkward very
early in the morning. As rule the chilled cars of
the elevated road avoided and shanks' mares
utilized. though thousands used the surface
roads, and many patronized the elevated roads, moro
especially those who started from down town. The
gatekeepers accustomed they to public demon
strations and to great popular displays were amazed
at the turnout rather the turn-in very soon
gave over an attempt to count the visitors.
ICE AND ITS HosprrALrrrEs
The entrances at the Fifth Sixth and Eighth avenue
terminatons and especially that Of the Eighth were
literally crowded The Park wagons shut in by
glass coverings, found constant and most remunera-
tive employment more particularly by the ladies',
OF whom by ten O'Clock there were scores en- route
The several lines OF drive and walk leading to
the lakes-great and lttle-had been carefully swept
and clean the traditional floor Of
Dutch kitchen Hurrying to the pond wore all sorts
and conditions Of people, with lunch baskets skates
seaskn sacks. woollen tippes overcoats red cheeks
redder and brilliant anticipations At
the lakes there was equal hustle and ex
ctement Even the venerable President OF the
Board in fur cap. ulster and acrtics, was
on hand. ordering this. directing that and in
a perfect fever concerning the thickness Of the ice
and its sustaining power. Superintendent Dawson
directed Captain Corkoran, with twenty men, be at
the lakes early in the day They were there properly
posted and ready for emergencies The old refresh
ment house, with warming apparatus and resting
seats. was put in order. and Mr.. Ryan, to whom
is left the catering for the multitude drove down Mt
seven in the morning behind his famous gray mare
and cast wary eye great kettles of coffee huge
piles Of popcorn and immense trays OF ..bolivars
Bolivsrs hard, tough cakes. greatly affected by
the small boy, who in turn, is generally affected by
the bolivars.
It had been swept clear of leaf and stone and
stick aud lump Of dirt No profano foot Of police
man tramp had touched it. Not skate had cut
its glossy surface. 1t lay as pure and bright and
shining "a a lake at MONDAY until precisely seven
teen minutes past eight when little Master Johnnie
Mathews slipped past Policeman X and swung out
for his life
THE GATHERING.
From that compa rativcly early hour the streets of
fha acity DOurpu forth their fhouaanfa Mr. RVan
who has been connected with the Park in various
capacitos than thirteen years. said that had
doubt there were at least seventy Ave thousand
persons and about the lakes during the day. His
duty kept him there from eight A. NJ till eight p NJ
So was good nay, il better than good il was cx-
cellent. Indeed, until in the afternoon, when the
gathering became a crowd and the crowd became an
unmanageable creature that cut and carved and
mangled the surface of the ice, the skating as
good as IL has been at any time in years There
an unusual number Of men. some OF whom were
accompanied by ladies', and many acted as guides
and teachers of boys Interesting trials OF skill at
tracted considerable attention. for although Sunday
Is bad day for experts on account of the crowd,
there were q number Of professionals present, and
they seemed to take pleasure in causing the eye Of
the small boy to open with wonder Among these
were Charley Isaacs, the gold medal skater OF
Hoboken; Willie Miller, of Newburg; John Finne-
gan. of Buffalo and George Howard. Of Catskill. The
these fellows cut eagles figure eghts. fancy de-
vices, monograms and faces In the ice as inter-
esting to the adults 1t was marvellous to the
youths.
THE RESTAURANT
Interesting as the skating was there spot
more fascinating. where the student OF human nature
might well stand and ponder. The Park authorities
have provided restaurant. In which two
rooms--one for the people Of leisure aud cash.
key and solids. and another in which long
counter Is spread for the patronage and convenience
Of the hoi polioi In the rst Charles Augustus
and Melinda Jane partook of refreshments in q
decorous and gerrtcel manner. In the other Tom.
Dick and Harry mudged pushed. hauled yankod and
gobblcd in true American picnic STYLE The bill OF
IL ample and economical. The authorities have
brought prices down to the anti-war level.
cotiee, with milk and sugar ad hbi'um, five cents.
Pic, with plenty OF crust and liberal flling five
cents.
style and kind of New Years table provided.
prices were equally low. and thousands availcd
themselves Of the chance for cheap lunch. In
the larger room ut one time, the human strugglers
stood six deep, hundreds ut time, eager
in their purchases Of bolivars, popcorn. candy.
cigarettes pie coffee and cakes. Now and then
poor hoy would stretch his hand and through
the crowd. grab cake or an orange. and then he
to the ice. II was positively touching 20 see the
ragged clothed boys watch their more fortunate
neighbors as they munched their apples, peeled
their oranges or crunchcd their crusty cakes
Eyerything was not bright and CHEEKY.
There were many heavy eyes and sad hearts on tho
lake
good half on foot. They went to see the show.
Some went TO look at the people, others hoped for
chance 10 borrow skates others because they had
ing to do and that something might turn up or this
class very few adults. The great majority
boys--some rough and rude and vulgar. some gentle
delicate and wstful. They stood the rcstau
rants and watched their happier companions put
their skates eat their bolivars and smoke their Gig
arettes while they had neither sweets Tor their pal
ates or steel for their feet.
Cigarettes?
Yes The demand for small cheap cigars and
cigarettes is such that the restaurant people keep
for the one purpose of selling cigarettes at n
penny each. Boys OF all ages them. Boys hardly
tall enough to look the top of the counter plank
down their nickel and order their penny cigarettes
with the afr OF patron Of Delmonco ordering Nic-
toria liegina From every part of the lake small
clouds smoke ascended. and the cigarette brigade
was largely in the ascendant.
GOOD ORDER UNIVERSAL.
Although in great crowd there neces-
sarily scallywn and rascals the good order and
dcccrum maintained were almost universal. The
police, who by the way are the most amiable
OF men. say that they have never known
day when tho people behaved better. There
not single row, not q solitary disturbance TO
vary the monotony Of good behavior. Considering
the intense cold, the considerable discomfort in
sequence. the novelty OF the and the crampcd
accommodations--for q part only of the lake was
iisable--it IL quite feather in Gothaus cap that
there should not have been single arrest.