The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-04

A MANTLE OF SNOW COVERING THE PATHS AND
LAKEs-ENJoYMENr OF SLEIGH RIDING.
Central Park is the only place IN tho city where
be seen IN all It's native purity AZ fresh and
bright when 1t falls from heaven. Falling In the
streets and market places its better qualities
darKcned before they BIO fairly Il is not Of
that pepper-ano-salt solored mixture which be.
smirches the sidewalks and makes filthy pool Of the
streets poets wrte about but rather Of thai
light and downy mantle. The snow, then. TO DO
in It's greatest beauty only in the country,
mote from highways and the haunts Of mon. while
in our great city Park the the ground
never wholly conceals tho natural beauties Of the
landscape and what takes away from variety OF out
line and OF color II rcpaysi quetgracc Itisonly By
means of It's great diversity OF surface that II 10 able
TO stand the monotonous effect OF uniform robe Of
white; but il Is the Park, even when snow-cad. 10
an object of remarkable beauty, aud on fine day IN
winter IS almost much sought after for fresh sit
and exercise the sultry summer months.
CAT WINTER SCENE
Yesterday was no exception TO this rule Betwssu
the hours OF sunrise and sunset at least 600
sons visited tue Park, whether on foot or driving
With the bright shining on II from cloudless sky
the clad grounds sight worthy of all ad.
mira,ion. From thor heavy robe tho rocks, bushes
and trees peeped forth as though loath TO expose
themselves 10 the winter air. Tho branches Of the
trees except those OF the evcrgreens. looked bare
and cold, while the leaaess shrubs presented
a rough, brown surface TO the nipping wind.
The lake ana pond partially frozen
over, aud the leo deeply covered with snow.
This prevented The hoped for enjoyment from skating,
but away nothing from the picturesquoness Of
the sceno 1t was not however, to admire the beau.
ties andscape sky that tho park yesterday
niisd with gayly dressed and bright looking crowd
from morning till night 1t was rather 10 breathe the
fragh AIR untf Uat hpnIth ~
sLEIGHING
Of this sport there more than thcre had boon
more walking than there HAD been before since The
nne weather OF last TALL The sleghs began TO arrive
to The Park were crowded with dashing vehIcics The
sidewalks, too wore darkened with long lines oil ladies'
girls and Infants Them again, the horse cars carried
unusual loads, and all LIE IN The upper part OF the
city seemed to tend In the direction OF the greas
brcathng place oil the metropolis
Tho main entrance AZ Fifth avenue and Fifty ninth
street was the centre OF attraction to pedestrians and
crowds gathered there TO see the cright array OF
dash after the other in endless succession
INTO the widc East Drive Hugo sleighs drawn BY
somewhat cadaverOus steeds ST God ut inns point and
as last they filled started of the customary
route followed by the Park ariiages In summer.
there was 90 lack OF patronage at that price. Though
q greater number OF sieghs entered the Park at tina
gaze Than a. any other yes there was no . crush a.
which leads the West and Centre drivos
Then too, tho Farmers Gate, as It Is called,
out the DAY. In fact all the entrances put to
the test aud all the principal drives and walks
throughout the Park were crowded ono time or an
other. Drivng was not confined to any one class OF
society. The slegts were OF every sizc, shape and
color There were tandems and four-h0rse toams
big seighs with only Two riders aud little ones
with three four Tho DRESSING too, was AS rich a.
The drivers and promenaders could aitord for when
the tho ground there no lear OF damage
from dusty roaas. Heavy robes and SKINS were iol
lowed and preceded by blankets and common shawla
THRoNGs OF VISITORS.
Tho DrOmeDaders confined themselves almost ex
clusivey 10 Tho main WALKS, as being IN better con-
ditoD than the narrower byways. The greatest
crowd OF tue day at from three to four O'CLOCK,
and II is estimated that throughout the twelve hours
iron eleven A. NJ. to eleven p. NJ as many as ID, 900
sIeighs visited the park On Saturday there were
l,705 sieigns and q, S57 1901 passengers
On Saturday night az eleven O'Clock o horse be-
longing 10 u gentleman living in Harlem ran away,
upsettng the occupants OF the sleigh. but doing no
serious damage. a similar accident occurred 70 .
small ono-scated slegh yesterday.