Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-16
THE ICE PALACE.
HOW OUR CANADIAN NEIGHBoRS EN-
JOY THE WINTER.
What Has Been Done in Montreal to Make
Life Worth Living Toboggan
Slides-The Condora-Ice
LOn-Hunters' Camp.

been used to complete this gorgeous creation
the ice paiace-which has a weird ajesty
peculiarly its own, and, when illuminated by
the pure electric flame mingled with red
fire and discharging volleys Of superbly-
colorei fireworks. one might fancy that the
builders had 70 rnd their quarry Of ma
terials in Sinbai valley Of jewels About
twice the number Of rockets, Romano can
dl S, and such snowy ammunition used last
y, ar will be employed this season.
THE TOBoGGAN SLIDES.
Hils d zan slides are built in as many
diftegeHt suburban quarters. Advantage Is
gearrr":' t1kel of the lower slopes of the
riuU 5l'.,. u: the descent is aided in most
saScs -. Al artificial platform at the upper
-. n III which the shoot of twenty feet or
more extenls. This will probably be thirty
tws by twenty-five feet in area This space
hnuntifu!ly clothed with snow coated over
with ice will afford room for four Slides
eaci four feet wide The actual run on
some of the slides is 1000 to . 500 feet, upon
Others rather less Most of them are roman
tically situated, with the beautiful noun
tain behind them This same mountain is
one of Montreal's gods, and, though not as
high as Chimborazo, gives an air of dignity
and protection to tine noble city which clus-
tiers around it that accounts naturally for
the admiration universally accorded to athe
mountain"
The slides are free all the week to any
who choose to participate in these meteor
like excursions, and at night the beautiful
moonlit snow, the gay and appropriate
blanket tuque, sash and moccasin of the
club men, the same style of dress adopted
also by many others, the steady radiance of
the fixed electric lights, the flashing glare
and movement of the torches, marking the
icy lire of road upon the steep declivity,
the pealing laughter Of the mirthful crowd,
rejoicing in the happiness Of youth and
strength, unite to make up a scene OF exu-
berant life and splendor thoroughly carni-
val in all its manifold features.
THE CoNDoRA.
This heather temple, or cairn, as it Is
sometimes called, stands upon the Champ
de Mars, an open square Immediately behind
the city hall and courthouse can not
well see why it Is called q cairn, though pos
sibly its original builders and worshipers may
each have brought his contribution Of
treasure toward its completion; but the
structure is too artistically conceived to as
sociate itself readily with the ordinary idea
Of cairn. That it had a sacred character
there can be no doubt, and though its origin
Is clouded by the mists OF antiquity, the
temple is evidently Of Indian or Egyptian
design.
The Condora in this northern world Is
built Of blocks Of clear ice. 1t is circular in
form and Of a pyramidal character. It's
constructed in seven stories or terraces,
pagoda fashion. diminishing in circumfer-
ence as they reach the pinacle. upon which
stands a figure fifteen feet in height-a man
of straw coated with ice, in the picturesque
garb of lie Trappeur Snowshoe club, ling
in his right hand an electric light, which
sends a shower Of rays upon the populous
scene below. The base of the temple is en-
circlei with eight turrets, from which wave
the flags Of various nations At the inaug-
uration of this beautiful edifice. the MEM
bers Of LIE Trappeur Snowshoe club, in cos
tune, stand upon the outside of it, at stated
points, on every available block Of ice. each
man with a lighted torch in his hand. As
the interior Of the Condora will be ill-,min.
ated with electricity, I need scarcely say
that the effect will be one of singular splen-
der. Is it not suggestive of modern innova-
tion to Sc, Canadian snowshoer mounting
guard over the symbolic affairs of an ancient
mythology
ICE LION.
On Place d'Armes. commonly called
French square, in the eastern quarter Of the
city, is a stone fountain, around which has
been built hollow circle Of block ice This
is surmounted by gigantic lion. composed
principally of closely pc "ked and frozen
snow. This material, being more plastic
and Opaque, seems better suited to the COM
pletion Of such a design than ice, the hard
and chilly luster Of the latter being at var.
ance think with the successful represen-
tation of an animal whose every line is
char cterized by the potent force and tame
less blood of savage royalty.
The carnival 7, n of Place d'Armes is very
unlike the rual monumental type of his
race, these artificial beasts more often re-
sembling some alf-starved, unkempt and
ill-tempered domestic guardian than the
maie site lord of the desert or the Jungle.
But this one promises to be grand figure.
His attitude is fine, couchant, but watchful,
with the possibility of an instanteous spring
in the expression Of the mouth and fore
limbs as palpable as the flow of his shaggy
name. An electric light will be placed in
side the pedestal, making the statue very
effective at night
The Victoria rink is the largest in Europe
or America. 1t has roof Of one semi-circle
span fifty feet high at the center. 1t is $50
feet long and 100 feet wide A promenade
extends around the ice Besides the music
stand there is gallery for spectators. The
Victoria is under fashionable management,
and a colossal group in snow sculpture
stands in the center OF the rink On each
side of the bust of Queen Victoria. which is
three tines life size, are figures of a girl
skater and snowshoer. These are placed on
an ice pedestal in sitting attitude. The
whole group attans a height of fifteen feet.
1t will be unveiled the first day of the car
nival
ST. HELEN's ISLAND.
The East-end people have shown much en-
terprise and a spirited conception of carni-
val attractions in their portion of the pro-
gramme, st. Helen's island, the Condora,
and the ice lion, besides minor matters, being
in their hands
& hunters camp, completely equipped, will
be one of the best features of the island ex-
hibition. 1t is gotten up under the super
vision of the Fish and Game Protection
company" and the production will be as ex-
act as possible. A log house with large
fire burning in the middle, and every variety
Of apparatus used in trapping wild animals
and all sorts of weapons employed in hunting,
will be displayed Trophies Of the skill and
success of the sportsman will hang upon the
door-posts and walls. Game in all forms
fish, venison, birds, squirrels, and, Of course,
the beaver, as that ssgacious creature Is one
Of the most prominent emblems in the Cana
IN coat-of arms The mems beds will be
made up around the interior Of the hut, pre-
eissly as such matters are arranged in . for