Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1883-02-19
WINTER SPORTS.
How the Carnival Was Celebrated In the
Canadian AetrOpOlis-A Palace Made
or $4,000 Cubic Feet OF lce-Etc,

Montreal, Canada, is the proudest,
happiest city in the world. Every
winter the sports of the ice-bound cit,
are grand beyond the power of pen to
describe, but this winter has surpassed
all former efforts. Money was law
ished with unsparing hand, and the
realms of fancy searched to the utter
most corner for devices Of mirth.
They erected palace in the center of
Dominion Square, its four walls 100
feet on side, composed of massive
blocks of solid ice; the roof, sheet of
ice evoked from showers of spray cast
over cedar beams and branches, until
solid translucent arch and ceiling
was formed; it's corner spires of up
right icicles towering far aloft; the
central tower, Il hollow structure of
ice 3? feet On every side, and stretch
ing over 100 feet toward the sky, and
around its broad aisles, bearing such
Delightfully."- cooling and suggestive
titles as Jeanette Corridor, Hudson
Strait, McClintock Passage and Wran-
gel Land Foyer. The front of this
remarkable structure, which required
$4,000 cubic feet of ice, was adorned
with national statues, sculptured in
ice, and on either side the main en-
trance was an Arctic hut. At night
this boreai palace of thick ribbed ice
was lighted by 100 electric lights, and
bathed in the red glare of crimson pv-
rotechnic fires. AS these were sud
denly lighted the gllttcring walls gave
back millions Of dazzling diamond
flashes, and invested the scene with
respondent beauty. The multitude
welcomed the opening of this magic
structure with cheers for the Queen of
England, the President and the people
of the United States.
With the Inauguration of the ice
palace began a week of unbroken rev.
elry, attracting thousands of people
and dollars to their city-for the Ca
nadians well understand how to enjoy
the maximum of sport, and at the
same time turn an honest penny.
They had citizens procession Of
1900 sleigfs, 1000 horses and quar-
ter of a million of merry bells; 400
curriers' from 20 clubs played before an
audience Of 10000 people, who gave
but grain of thought to the low
spirited thermometer; hundreds of
skaters filled the great Kinks on the
river; there were snowshoc races, stee-
pie chases, ice trots, hockey matches,
barrel races, skating matches, obstacle
races, backward races, tandem driv-
ing, and score of sports of like ma
ture, including some excellent racing
between some fine horses and gentle
mems teams. There was, on one
night, torchlight procession by 1000
clad in white, moving in
a weird, waving line up the steep
slopes of Mount Royal. There was
coasting down billy streets, closed to
traffic for the week; tobogganning was
engaged in by thousands, that seemed
to have completely fascinated the Wis
iting Americans; there were fancy
dress balls and masquerade carnivals
on the ice, said to have been wonder
fully brilliant; there were banqucts in
memory of Burns; banquets by the
corporation to distinguished visitors:
balls and receptions and
skating carnivals on the river at night
beneath the cold, white rays of many
electric lights. Not the least interest
ing Of all these features were sham
fights on snowshoes: fine exhibition
Of fish; excursions to points of inter
est; and, lastly, the running to and fro
Of a l.-ton locomotive with a long
train of passenger cars for excursion
sts across the river, the track being
aid upon the icy bosom of the stately
st. Lawrence. And the people of
Montreal snatched pleasure from the
biting days when
Leaves are sere,
And flowers are dead and fields ar e drear
And streams are wild, and skies are bleak
When winter rules the year.
TOBOGGANEING.