The New York herald., 1879-01-03
SLEIGHING. /.
Splendid Turn Out to Enjoy the
First Days Sport.
FINE CONDITION OF THE ROADS.
Central Park Made Merry with the Tnk-
ling Of the Bells

more could have been made or the first opportunity
New York has had this winter to indulge in the eo,d
old sport. Everybody was in some kind of a sleigh
and everybody else was looking from pavement
or Park walk sheltered hostery's piazza.
The sun came out bright and almost after the
snow had ceased falling. The snow was hard and
packed" the road in the most satisfactory way.
The air not too cold and in the middle of the
afternoon anything was left to be desired.
Slow to improve the chance? Wclls no. De.
cidedy not. New York is slow, OF course; but
If there is thing which New York does with
dazzling rapdy it is to take advantage of an oppcr
tunity to go sleighing. One Sleigh early in he
afternoon, was seen in front of Broadway store
labelled "Tor sale,' but it was laboriously cacu.
lated by several enthusiastic experts that eve~y
other sleigh in the city fastened to some horse
and ION the road" The chorus OF bells.
that sweetest merriest music" in horsemans r.
filled Fifth avenue early in the day, and the
dark brown stone walls that line its sides echoed back
unceasing tinkle until late at night There was
the oldfashioned jingle of the of hollow spheres
our fathers used There the older fashioned ding
of the bells Of grandfathers. looking like cowbell
and hung like those that give the warning notes OF
the bold street steed. And there was the mclo.
dous tinkle Of the elaborate silver and gold Russien
bells that young New York affects All blended to.
gether with merry laughter and pretty womens
screams Of mock fright and genuine joy. 1t was
gala day on the and far into the Park the
groves rang with music.
The variety of turnouts amazing. and it re.
quired no great stretch Of fancy to imagine Madison
square q peep-hole and the avenue above the tuhs
of kaleidoscope. The majority of vehicles the
favorte cutters, of all colors, many of them being
Of fantastic and graceful shape; but the two and
three seated sleighs out in numbers, well as
the ponterous solvent looking family sleghs al.
ways black. always polished, always large and al.
ways drawn by solid carriage horses driven by Eng
lish coachmen
DAsHrNe sLEraHs
WHIT! they oil went across the grand circle, past
the astonished Park policemen who looked colder
than in their gray uniforms. and who tried to
look unconscious Of the fact that six miles hour
unlawful to drive Whiz! they went along the wind
ing smooth roads of the Park between brown trees
their aS snow robes to an eager wind Whx thew went
past the old Mount st. Vincent House in Joyous
scramble for tine best place Then little pause going
down the HILL for safety's SAKE and out on the road
beyond. Here "whiz" becomes feeble sound made
qate express the breathless rush along the level
space on ST. Nicholas avenue, where anything under
a mile minute is legal, and anything better than
that would be done il possible. Here the humblest
nag that had shambled along through the park con-
tentedly allowing anything on four legs to pass him,
shifted the excitement. and feebly stretched it's legs
in abortive attempts at speed. For. along with the
elegant cutters and sleghs of the aristocratic
drivers were all sorts and conditions OF boxes. ANY,
thing that could be fastened on runners from dry
U
Dressed into service and fell into the ranks With true
THE NorABIEs OUT IN FORCE.
The familiar faces were almost all in place. Along
the park drives and for little distance up the road
u scoro or were noted. Mr.. Perry Bradhurst
ter. Mr. Wright sandford followed fast with his
team. Mr.. Benger more modest and drove one
horse only, but good one. Mr.F. w. Savin speedep
Arctc satisfactorily. Col. w. Il. Van wyck was out
with his favorite gray mare. Mr.. Briggs drove q
sorrel team Mrs. Ben. Gregory sat behind pair. Mr.
Il..x ,v..tM ~ ~ Shuu urnaRh 1p,.y tr,aov
Mr. Griswod of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, drove fast
bay and had brisk tussle for the lead with DR..
Sayre. Mr.. Burnham. OF the STANDARD" and Chan
dos Fulton OF the Broadway" were both out Mr..
Vanderbilt Cross drove horse that looked worthy Of
the Vanderbilt stables Mr Amos Litten drove his
tcam--a black and grsy-that was seldom passed.
Mrs. Belmont was also behind black and
Miller drove bay. Mr.. Philip Brown and MIR. Henry
wilkins were both enjoying themselves behind hand
some catt.e and Mr. Philip Williams drove by no
means the poorest team to be seen. Mr.. Henry Wal
lack drove handsome bay.
From the club house stoop the flyers on st. Nicho-
las and Eighth avenues could be plainly Many
as they passed badly balled." and slipped about
most annoyingy. Numbers had been sharpened, but
which prevents "baiiine" DR.. Corey had his little
pet Breeze with record OF 2:2A, OUT but when the
writer saw him he was carrying such masses OF hard
less trot fast. An application OF soap made,
which kept the snow out of the shoes for time.
The consequence OF the "Laing was that very little
speed was seen on the avenue, although the soighng
for first day was capital. both in the Park and on
Toward night il WAS intensely cold and tho strong
wind blew ths sncw so furiously that drivers found
it difficult keep their horses in the road the snow
Among the first to make their appearance we're
Mr.. william II. Vanderbilt, with chestnut gclding
IDoi bull followed I with his bay horse Manfred Then
Mr.. Simon Lchtensten. with his black team Of
mares No Name al, ana LADY Mnchn came me
Mr. william II. Harbeck with his black mare (reccntly
purchased and very fast). His John II. Harbeck.
Fanny Atwood. Mr. John salters drove his bay
horse Jerry Costar. Ed Kcarncy, Jr., drove black
Chestnut ana BAY Frank Work had Bill Thunder.
single. Alley bonner drove Music. and David
Bonner got up late with fast brown horse.
had q bay horse. and Mr.. Clausen a nice
looking gray. Gill Seaman drove bay and A. A.
Freeman his fast team, Star and Stilette. Mr. Bar
clay had the old chestnut mare and mate and Mr..
Warren drove OF his team. John r. Heald. mate
to the famous Sade Bell. MIR. Salisbury was out be-
hind his handsome bay team. with double sleigh.
hlcd with osy-cheekcd ladies and children, very
aristocratic turnout. Mcssrs. Watson and Thomas
Patten drove their hsys MIR. vgclus out with his
chestnut mare. and Mr.. Briggs drove his pony and
mate MIR. Bernstein sat behind his Messenger
Duroc mare Vanderbilt Allen drove his well known
team Isaac Copp drove team OF bays Mr. Reed
drove . gray and chestnut, and Mr.. Brcslin bay
horse Lew Parker appeared behind his brown stall
bay team. Fred Vanderbilt drove the brown horse
Dickens. Mr. Wright Gillies his bays Mr. Cori0va
behind General Iwccu. Johu Ah"sicbs uro'c -
gray Mr. Hiqpins' famous team ON the road,
but their owner was absent. Mr. John butcher drovea
rnounie Ell poccrnan who chased him, with what sue
cess is not known. Mr.. Hunting drove his well
known trusty gray. Mr.. Auten was behind MS
jefferson Patten drove q handsome young chestnut
hlly by Glencoe. dam Aodsiian which - very fast.
chestnut Mr.. walker had bay team; Mr.. Dewey
roam horse. Mr.. James galway drove his chestnut
driven by his owner, Bon Weeks. Dr. Bone drove his
splendid hay colt by Aberdeen.
nr.st many of tho fastest horses only got Jog
for exer,sc to prepare them for fine and fast work
to-day, and II the slcighing continues never in the
hc seen no much speed on the snowpath.
John II. Hapbeck had few brushes with Frank
work and othors, but what done to-day was only
skim milk TO the cream which win follow II the
sleighng lasts.
pan Mace said he had horses shod for snow
work and many others OF our fancy drivers were in
the same prcdicamcnt. which D few days will remedy.
and then the trotters will extend themselves to some