New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23
READY FOR WINTER SPORTS.
FUN THAT COLD WEATHER AFFORDS.
NEw.YoRKERs SKATING. ToBoGGAN1NG AND
sNowsHoEINa UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

NUwYoRKERs SKATING, ToBoGGANING AMI
sNowsHoEINa UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
That NevYork is fun-ieving city is apparent from
the vast quantities Of money laid out in providing amuse
ment for her people Lovers OF outdoor sports In summer
have ball grounds tracks, bathing pavilohs PARKS
summer hotels excursions by rail ana water shoouns
ranges and openair theatres almost at their ooots io
their indoor millions have been investor
in theatres concert halls riding schools gymnasium
swimming baths armores. racquet aud tennis courts
bowling alleys ETC., and the provision maze ior ou
door sport in this city is SMALL as IL certainty "
such state things is due rather to lack OF proper
climatic conditions than TO the want OF enterprise '"
the regular purveyors Of amusement
Nature provides more conditions for skating In this
ne,shborhoed than for any other distnctvey winter
sport the park authorities have not been SLOW 70 man"
the most Of the opportunities thus aneraed sha's
growing more popular here too year by year. ana In
weather prophets can believed when they promise ar
share OF good weather this winter after Christmas
the followers Of this healthy pastme will be more nuei
Gus than In this city In central PARK hieo anu
convenient waiting houses have been built on the eugc
of the lakes where be hired or kept ana "hec
many accommodations are furnished to make the ska
comfortable There styles In skates ibis sea-
am but many OF the patents the older styles have
run out and they being sold at so low nguieS
and in 90 large quantities make the demand Tor inc
latest and improved ones much less thsn somo III
ventors and manufacturers had e1pected-
attention s given to fancy skating inc cutting
OF intricate figures and evoluons upon the Ice and III
deed the crowded condition Of the park ponos "nene'o
the ice is good makes such performances wen'hsh LII
possible Further up the State on the HUDSON ast shaE
ing is greatly In favor and skaters are also endeaVorhs
70 .dant features OF the eboat the human figure
ia order to the wind aid the legs In PROPULSION
For this purpose small sail is carried over inc osch
extended by light spars which are held oy Straps
passed around the arms. The speed with when sAa"
can glide before the wind with this Device is only Limited
by OF the gale and the strength OF limo no co"
supply TO keep the sail taut.
good deal OF money spent last year IN PFoVuiiS
toboggan slides in this city, but 1t is thought the eAp'
ment will be tried again. The general vefuc' was
that sliding down was excellent put 'he cin'p"S
up again tvo severe task The season. 100 was
short and the expense so great, thaI 'hc in'o' w
with small profits, II any.
snowshoeng struggles against still greater odds here
for human ingenuity has yet supplied any arheia
aid to the sport, having. up to dste' taken ou'
patent on really satisfactory substitute for two or three
feet Of snow with light crust on TOD covering tract
Of land eight miles in extent And as these are
the only conditions under which snowshoeng can really
be enjoyed it ought to be. the sport is not iooweu
10 any great here The perseverance with "ch
members Of the Canadian Club eontrve to 90 niue
snowshoeing every winter without any snow 10 speak
Of saws much for their patriotism. II not for their APP
probation of the general fitness of things
yachting though carried nearer perfection In New
York State than anywhere else Is far beyond the reach
Of most people in the Of expense and the waters
around this city furnish no field for its exercise Hence
little practical knowledge Of It is possessed outside those
favored spots where has provided wide expanse
freely by the wind ana not SUD
ject to heavy falls Of snow that remain long
unmeted The Hudson around Poughkeepsie fulhls
these conditions admirably and there the principal ice
boating clubs have their headquarters The sport be-
comes more popular yearly and amazing stories are told
OF swift runs made by these big winged skates