, 1885-02-22
THE ICE PALACE.
HOW OUR CANADIAN NEIeHBoRs EN-
JOY THE WINTER
what Has Been Done In Montreal to Make
Life Worth Living Tobogsan
slsde.-The conaora-Ics
Llon-IIuntsrs Camp.

the ice palncs-which has a weird majesty
peculiarly its own, and, when Illuminated by
tho pure electric fame mingled with rel
fire and discharging volleys Of superbly-
colored fireworks. one might fancy that the
builders had 70 und their quarry OF ma
tsrials In Slnbad ; valley OF jewels. About
twice the number Of rockets, Roman-can-
dos, and such snowy ammunition used last
year will be employed this season.
THE ToBoGGAN SLIDES.
Half a dozen slides are built In as many
different suburban quarters. Advantage Is
generally taken OF tho lower slopes Of the
mountain, but the descent Is aided In most
cases by an artificial platform at the upper
end, from which the shoot OF twenty feet or
more extends. This viii probably be thirty
two by twenty-five feet in area This space
beautifully clothed with snow coated over
with ice will afford room for four slides,
each four feet wide. The actual run on
some Of the slides Is 1000 to 2, 800 feet. upoa
othef3 rather less Most Of thom are roman
tically situated, with the beautiful noun
tain behind them This same mountain IL
one of Montreal's gods, and, though not ms
high as Chimborazo, gives an air OF dignity
and protection TO tho noble city which clus-
ters around it that accounts naturally for
the admiration uniyersally accorded to "ths
mountain"
A hnuc1 III AItt ul Tue Ntbh 70 huI
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 mon, the same style Of dress adopted
also by many others, the steady radiance OF
the fixed electric lights, the flashing glare
and movement Of tho torches, marking the
Icy line OF road upon the steep dscllvitv,
the pealing laughter Of tho mirthful crowd,
rejoicing in the happiness Of youth and
strength, unit, to make up a scene Of exu-
berant life and s7lendor thoroughly carni-
val in all Its manifold features.
THE coNDoRA.
This heather temple, or cairn, as IL Is
sometimes called, stands upon the Champ
de Mars, an open square Immediately behind
the city hall and courthouse. can not
we'll see why 1t is called a cairn, though pos
sibly its original builders aud w~orshipers may
each have brought his contribution OF
treasure toward its completion; but the
structure Is too nrtistically conceived TO as
sociats itself readily with the ordinary idea
Of u calrn. 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. 1t is
constructed in seven stories or terraces,
pagoda fashion, diminishing in circumfer-
ence as they reach the pinnacle, upon which
stands a figure fifteen feet in height-a man
OF straw coated with ice, in the picturesque
garb Of 10 Trnppour Snowshoe club, holding
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-
Af.11,1 18th -t-14 ..--A. F---. Lit -
the flags Of various nations. At the inaug-
uration of this beautiful ediace. the mem
bars Of Ls Trnppsur 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 illumin-
nted with electricity. l need scarcely say
that the effect will be one Of singular SPLEEN
dor. Is 1t not suggestive Of modern innova-
ton to see a 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 a hollow circle Of block ice. This
is surmounted by a gigantic lion. composed
principally of c~losely-packed 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 vari-
ance, 1 think, with tho successful Yepresen-
tation Of IN animal whose every line is
characterized by the potent force and tame
less blood OF savage royalty.
Tho carnival lion of Place d'Armas Is very
unlike the usual monumental type Of hin
race, these artificial boasts more often re-
sembling some half-starved, unkempt, and
n-tempered domestic guardian than the
majestic 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 in~stanteous 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 a 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 a gallery for spectators. The
Victoria Is under fashionable management,
and a colossal group in snow sculpture
stands I'm the center OF the rink. On each
side OF tho bust of Queen Victoria, which Is
three times life size, are figures OF a girl
skater and a snowshoeE These are placed ON
an ice pedestal In a sitting attitude. The
whole group attains a height OF fifteen feet.
1t viii be unveiled the first day Of the car
nival.
ST. HELES'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 leo lion, besides minor matters, being
In their hands.
A hunters camp, completely equipped, will
be one of the best features OF the island OK
hibition. 1t Is gotten up under the super
vision Of the "Fish and Game Protection
company" and tho production will be us ez-
act as possible. A log house with a 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 tho
door-posts and walls. Game In all forms
Aoh w~ulnru lf-Iu ~-.t.-f. -