New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-07

A PLEASANT DIY IN WINTER
BRIGHT SUNSHINE AND BRACING AIR

|
| AND TIRE BAY.
| The weather during the present winter has ho.
an unfailing subject of conversation. There ba.
| been hardly day when there were not some yara.
| tious worthy of notice. There has been no fma 3
| however when 1t has developed such pleasant a.
pects az had Yesterday The sky as cloudlsssa >.
| it would be on one of the balmiest DAYS in earlv
! May The air was full of bracng vigOr, witbo,
| being cold. The warm genial sunshine penetrated
almost every corner in the vast city. The icices
which have so long decorated the cornces over win
dows and doorways and have hung in long rows
from the caves of the roofs, began to drip early In
| the day, and, long before the sun had begun liz
western descent were things to be remembered but
| not seem The streets, it is true bore ample evil
| dence of the long, unbroken reign of Indictment
weather, and walking was attended wthno little In
comy but tins did Lot prevent the great ave-
| nues and thOrOughlares from being crowded with
persons anxious to get breath of fresh air.
| lie rivers on both sides OF the city were stlll
| choked with ic. but it plain that the general
| thaw was doing its work. The vast blocks, which
have so mpeded the progress of the terryboats for
| some time, were fewer and more scattered. Tho
general character of the Ice in the rivers yesterday
| was that of mass of sush. Here and there large
cakes sailed slowly down toward the sea- but they
were rotting fast and were easily broken in pieces
the rivers were not pie isant sight. They are a.
WAYS except during long spells of dry summer
weather. more or less INSTRUCTED by heaps of mud
Yesterday they batled in filth The piles of ice and
snow were melting fast. Streams Of foul water ran
from them in every direction. flooding the sidewalks
Al we'll as the other portions eff the street. The
trail portion of these streets was covered with vile
black paste, which furnished the urchns In the
lower districts with glorious material for mud
pies Broad-st, Nassau-st.. Pine-st., and the ad,
Joining streets were in ptiabe state in the mid
die of the day. Later, however, the cold evening
wind frozc the semi-qud matter which covered
them and they ceased to be rivers OF mud. In
Broadway and in Fulton-st., which have lately been
cleaned by Captain WlIamss men. the state OF AZ
fairs was very much better. The sidewalks and
payements were almost dry and, with ths exception
of an occasional bad crossing, the walking was
good Above Union-square, however, the streets
were in a very unpleasant condition. Inc side
walks were fairly dry ; but the snow and Ice
mingled with mud, which have 50 long encountered
the centres of the streets, made the crossings Oh
most impossible. No could cross street up
town without running the appearance OF his shoes.
The streets running across town, which III not get
a great deal of sun, were in comparatively good
condition, as the snow did not melt much But the
streets running up and downtown. upon which the
during the greater part of the day, were very muddy
Broadway indeed, was better than the others cut
Third. Fourth. Lexington. Madison, Fifth aud
Sixth.ayes we're in a deplorable condition. What
existed in the avenues on the extreme west aud
East sides OF town. especially from seventn-4ye TO
The North River would better be lett To the lmag
nation OF those know something Of usual con-
ditlOn of those thOroughfares. In FIitl-aye the
mud flowed In every direction IL gnted down
Murray Hill with a steady and Irresistible move
ment It meaudered laZiy around The Worth
Monument, which looked like a lighthouse in sea
Delnonicos and the Brunswick feel something OF
the mscrieS that are the dairy experience OF Mul-
brrry-st and the Five Points.
Int despite this mud il seemed as if every one in
the city was OUT of doors. Unlon-square and Mad.
isOn-square were crowded with cniidlen Nurses
we're wheeling babies in their little carriages IN
every.lirectiOn. ROllcking bows and blithe little
girls enjoy ed all the outdoor games the day al
lowed. The seedy philosophers, who lind the COM
forts of u summer resort on the hard wooden
benches in the parks, made their appearance early
in the day. They iozed ndOlently III the grateful
sunshine aud recognized with feelings OF pleasure
tine nreezes laden with odors of mud. They were
loath leave their tavorte ounging spots out me
chilly air OF the early evening made ITS way too
easily through the numerous breaks In their APP
par ami they slowly took their departure withtle
ttmh.1ye. was we'll filed with pedestrians.
MANY carriages out. In tue Central Park
sleIrhs were living every direction. Ii was mol
EASY 10 yet to the Park but there the sleighn9
was excellent. In the streets aud avenues beyond
the Park 1t as line as could be wished Inc
thaw had only made the snow lay CLOSER Wnlle tue
warmth of the all made riding III open vehicless
genuine pleasure. Large numbers OF persons rode
ont 20 the Park IN the street cars TO SEQ The crowds
OF seIgls, and the walks III the ctys great resors
were lined with pedestrians. - a..
Skating also was III full blast. The opp0rtunitee
for ENJOYING the sport have never been better tuan
during the present winter. and yesterday was dsy
to please ali. The lee was. perhaps, niue soias
than sunle of the most fastldous would have wsledi
bur tho comfort of being able TO skate wltnou'
suffering from cold more than balanced any snort
commgs. That every appreciated the advantages
fn, ttlV
gong ND town that did not carry some skaters. VI
non The ice was literally covered with flying
hpures. Many women were among the skaters and,
by the br ghtness and pretty style OF their COSTUMES
added To the general brllliancy OF the scene.
yreat many experts were the ice, and those who
did not wish to skate amused themselves III watch
ing the graceful aud intricate e'otlons Oh THESE
CapI1in Williams had force of men at work
cleaning the crossings IN some or the parts 0f tue
city where the travel Is greatest. Many crossngs
were thus made comparatively clean before evening
| No very decided attempt was made 10 clean tue
centres OF the streets, owing 10 the tact tnat ne
sllsh and the mud were in SUCH liquid state tnat
they could not be easily handled. The weather IN cue
evening was considerably cooler than IN me earlier
part OF The day and the pools OF water whicl naa
! gathered irOZe hard, making snootn anu ue"en'
| eruus surface for pedeS rams. mood
| the vessels when arrived yesterday encountered
some trouble inside the Ho9k as tue ICE me'u, vel
| a foot thick. On the Sound the steamers snneleo
little DELAY, because Tree passage uas oech tnau9
| through ihe Ice All the sound steamers arrived
| here Yesterday but they were from lures W nse
| honrS late Both the Upper and Lower Bays; tine
| Narrows, aud III fact al the way to SANDY HOOK s,
were filled with heavy floating Ice yesterday greatly
,mne,IIuC navigation. All incoming sailing vessels
ns, 70 be towru up to the c.ty. The staten Island
ferry-boats mad some difficulty IN making their trps;
The ice IN the Staten Island Sound appears 70 oe 20
| firm IA ever Tho steamer White Fawn. running
across the Kills from New Brighton TO Bergen Point;
| n - WAS 80 uadly damaged by the ice as 70 conpei
her to lie up fr repairs OWING 10 tae tToHU Rail
ITnrr Bly the last trips on the staten Island nan,
| VAN Ferry are made al p. IN. from tine island. anu
| 7:l5 D. H. from New YORK. limo :,
| mere have been forty-three days OF skaiing ~
| prnsnrrL PArk BrnOklyn. this seasOn. ana teo