New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-17
THE RETURN OF THE COED.
A WINTER SUNDAY IN CENTRAL PARK.

A WINTER SUNDAY IN CENTRAL PARK.
THE JINGLE OF sIElGHBELLs CONSTANTLY HEARD
THE LAKE ovERCROwDED WITH SKATERS -
MANY VISITORS ATTRACTED TO THE oBELIsK.
Central Park probably afforded smuch amusement
to pleasure-seekers yesterday as aI any le ist ~
mer. Early in the morning the avei.d' ainEto
the different entrances were crowded Win sleigls
on their way to the Park. ana througnout lhe Jay
the drives in every part were lively with thc jingle
of bells and tho shouts of merry voices lhe selgh-
ing was excellent the cold weather OF Saturday
having frozen the sufficiently to make SOLID.
Most of the sleghng parties drove up the east any
their return they took tho westdrive along Eighth
upper aTT, en- end ' Of the Park 70 the Harlem
River there apparently endless line OF sleghs
going in each direction Not carriage OF any kind
could be seem The seighs were OF every concelv-
able shape and make and very Few oil the handsome
ones that are seen in the Park every afternoon were
ont. The men of wealth, who have enjoyed the lux
ury of sleighng in the last week, remained at home
to AVOID the great crowd. There were, however,
many weil-knOwn merchants ont, VINO nrobapy
have been obliged to remain OF business too late to
enjoy the sport much in the last few days. Bnt tine
grocer, the butcher, the baker and the saloor-kecprr
were seen with their seighs on all the drives The
prosperous of these had fine urnous, hut there
were some who seemed TO be perfectly contented in
any kind of an old box drawn by a manned and
bony horse. Tine hotels on the road did thriving
business. Slcighing parties stopped Tor reireSh-
ments and hundreds of persons who had no selghs
visited the hotels To watch the long hue OF selghs
pass by There were comparatively lew scighs seen
the west drive Of the Park in the afternoon, but
in the evening it was crowded with those returning
after day OF keen sport.
One of the attractive features in the Park was the
skating pond. which was crowded at 10 o'clock III
the morning and Overcrowded all the afternoon.
" There are 80, 600 people here now. SAID oneOI me
police sergeants on the pond about p III. Tn
week days consider we have Il large crowd when
there are 10000 people present, but to-day there -
fully three times the usual weekday ATTENDANCE
The pond was black with skaters and the neiGhbor-
ing rustic bridges and the large hotel were crowded
with interested spectators There, were scores oi
people standing around who had visited the pond
with the intention Of skating but they saw
little pleasure in joining the immense throng that
filled every part of the large pond. Inc mouse
where skates are hired out was illed with persons
anxious TO obtain skates, but those that
remained we're old and of little use. The skaters
were principally those who are conilneu down town
all day during the week and have little opportunity
to enjoy sport OIL the Ice except on Sunday. There
were many working girls to be seen. Some live IN
the lower part of the cyand they went to the pond
in the morning. remaining there until evening.
There were on tho Ice lew, il any, OF the iancy
skaters who frequently visit the pond. The few
who made an effort TO perform their intricate eyou-
tiOns on skates were soon surrounded by an i'm
mense crowd which followed them everywhere.
BOYS were present in almost countless numbers.
They raced after each other from one end
in in and d0 out P0" Of ali the hooks and corners
The older skaters were compelled to watch
them 80 that they would not receive u sudden
knock and be thrown sprawlns on tho ice. The
weather was mild and the ice was in excellent con-
diiOn, except that il was covered with snow.
The paths IN the Park leading to tho principal OBJ
iects OF interest were also filled with people most Of
the day Tho walking was very bad. as the paths
were covered with ice. which made travelling disa-
ereeable and dangerous. Crowds went TO see the
obelsk. the whole of which is uncovered except
the peak. 1t lies in horizontal position on the
tramway, where it has been for moro than week
Ii has been jack-screwed down about nine inches
and is now within one-sixteenth of an inch of the
point at which it will be turned 10 an upright posi-
ton. The weather hndertd tho work last week.
II. 10, ha trnc fn.1l m
swung, will be placed in their sockets. The cradle
on which the obelisk has been drawn will then be
removed leaving the stone TO rest safely on the
trnnnions. IL is expected that everything will be
ready TO swing the obclsk on to the pedestal next
Saturday.