The New York herald., 1879-01-06
Central Park Lake Besieged by a
Mighty Multitude.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
One Hundred Thousand Atoms in the
Wnty kaleidoscope.


there on Saturday last greater sale than in all
the previous week. Indeed. 1t would almost seem
safe to say that there is not skatcless boy in the
city limits Unfortunately such is not the happy
fact thesad in the Park yesterday afternoon
abundantly prove. The fact is that the men and
women Of the present generation are indisposed to
leave the enjoymens of the pond to their heirs and
assigns. but hold to their ancient privileges with
a tonacity as exacting as it is, to some, amusing
PREpAnArIoNs AT THE PARK. ,
The skating OF Saturday night lasted SO long that
it was impossible to make preparations at the Park
for the multitude looked yesterday until early in
the morning. Consequently Superintendent Daw-
son, following the direction of the Commissioners.
ordered large force of sweepers and cleaners to be
on duty ut five in the morning, when in tho cold and
frosty starlight by the aid OF flaming torches, the
men found their way to the cut and rufied surface
and set to work with scraper, broom and shovel.
There was no loaAng. it too bitterly cold for
that. Every man worked with will. and in
quence by O'Clock the great lake stretched out
in the early dawn like crystal mirror. ready for
the coming Of the day and the crowd.
Forowarned by the tantalizing experiences Of
the preceding Sunday the parties in charge Of
the Lake House and the refreshments determined
to be prepared for the demands of the hungry devo
tees. Great wagons loaded with hams, tongues oys'
ters, bread, butter coffee, tea. cigars, cigarettes
cheese polivars. crackers. cider cake crulers Jock
ON balls and roast beef, whirled laboriously along
the heavy roads and deposited their burdens at the
doors, whence they exreditiously taken by POP
Ryan aud his busy men and transformed into tempt.
ing eata bles and drinkabes for old and young.
In reponse to question tho caterer said:-'Too
much? guess not Just look in for yourself about
three oclock. when it's all gone. and the youngsters
grumbling for more"
buvo of x0u
':Bless your heart, they worse than any picnic
you ever saw. They stand five and six deep. They
beat the crowd in cheap Sixth avenue dry goods
store the night before Christmas. I'm patient man
and have been for fifty years but tell you it just
uses and my patience up: They grab and eat. and
grab and cat like famished dogs; but - rule they
pay for what they GET
'.what do they seem TO prefer p
& "Bolivars and i cigarettes"
"Bolivar It's q cake of different shapes. but q
universal toughness A real tough bolivar. well
case may be, is much better to the average boy
skates than broiled spring chicken as you can well
"fut how can they afford cigarettes -
"What, ut q cent apiece?"
Are they good for anything?"
Certainly; by noontime the place is a cloud OF
smoke and far out the lake you trace the
skaters as they skim by the blue of their smoke when
TIE EARLY ARRIVALS.
The earliest arrivals came from Harlem. 1t seems
week days. made up little breakfast party in Har
lem, comprising fifteen young men noted as fancy
curriers' and skaters. They reached the lake at little
before eight and superintendent Dawson. who had
been invited TO join them at breakfast, granted
minutes Before respiaon time They STATED with
gusto until half past eight whom they adjourned to
the restaurant and refreshed the inner men with
oyster stews. beefsteak and coffee. by this tinio
nearly hundred boys had put In an appearance and
tho sun had deigned to cast an encouraging ray
upon the ice. Slo1r ut first, but more rapidly as
q
and long before the eleven o'clock parson announced
his text in tho sanctuary the outdoor congregation
the Central Park skating is good" yes.
terdsy il wns better than good" :. IL
be safely asserted there never was better
skating. The drives were busy and merry with
fringed from time to time by sieighng parties, by
papas and anxious for their scions upon the
here ana there bump, an alteration n harsh word
and threat might be encountered, the spirit OF the
scene was gay and full OF Joy
THE AFTERNOON.
In every way--thc temperature the ice. the multi
tuic-yesterdsy's development was better than thas
of the Sunday previous. The surface OF tho entro
lakc-both ctons--was thrown open to the public,
thus affording vastly greater field of exploration.
And well it that it for Ii there 75.ooo
people there week ago there not less than
i0o.OVo there this occasion.
Words utterly inadequate to picture the living
PANORAMA. From two O'Clock till hive there the
'.janlbdest jam In New York city. Broad
way has been denscly packed at times but it us
the PARK lake yesterday. Broadway crowds generally
move in unison; skating crowd is like the glass bits
each atom going it's own way and no two alike. in
shape, momentum. Accidents were infrequent.
because no one could fal Tar. Bumplnss entange-
nicnts and enforced alliances constant. kain
drops ~ window pane like skates pond run to-
gctller for sefprotection. 1t was bad place for
cross and place for cvil-disposed per-
SON fhe police say that they rarely called on to
interiors and that they rarely occasion to rcbuke
Offenders There were rude boys there always are
inf lpi ES "a
sional Instances only became objectionable rude
nesscs.
frcshnent counter were NJ unique and Interesting
any. As has been written the preparations tor tho
inner man a colossal scale. far exceed ~ the
preparations of the Sunday preceding. But after
all, where is tho caterer who can forcte with pro-
cision the stuniaclc capacity of the small boy OK
Gotham = The gentomen ut Central Park can come
it, but they aftor 30 cigarettes had been
sold and smoked were disposed to look a. oasn otnes
aud ask What next 2 Wei to do lads IN iurs ana
coffee and cigars with ncnchalance. Other boys
with worsted muiliers and three dollar skate:
cigarettes. Some ate = dozen bolivars without =
word. Somc smoked incessanuy. Othcr little boys
sue as Go psIi p sy ~ apou IN sd
ming. playing tag and py begging for pennies Bog
gns boys stood in groups with their visorless caps
tLer broken shoes. The genial warmth OF the room
they shared with the rest also the stimulating odor
Jolivara--but that was all Now and then. as Il IN
desperate defiance Of all that's great aud good,
ono OF thcm would break line, see that
his rear ives safe. make bold push
for the pile Of cakes, grab three
four and tcn protected by tho throng Of fellowship
about him, ny like lafnplightcr to the realm OF
safety ON the ice. great many tender hearted men
took compassion ON the little chaps who stood near
them as they purchased for their own, and invited
then, ,o test he park provcndcr. OF course such
invitation was declined aud tho charitable indvduai
was Ia yariaby glad TO boat retreat from tho pus
ing petitioners, whose holiness Increased on wnas
they ted.
.ltrIn BOMEwAnD BOUND.
The heart Of Q misanthrope would have warmed
Last eyenIng lad his oyc taken In tho great army.
The mighty multitude, M the merry masses
moved hvnicward from Tie Park. livery eye
uIistencd. Every red. Every cheek
bore glorious blush Rich and poor, all
alike nrraycd in the paint that nature bonntfully