The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-21
STRAW RIDrS ~ THE CITY.
some IFaa In SI-ighing Here, SIN. When
the Srason Fayors.

Sleighing isn't what II used Ia 10 In New
York; no doubt about that. though there are
more poople here than ever. and they like Just as
much as ever to go sleighing. Various reasons
are assigned for.thls decline. Some folks think
we don't have so much snow as we used to: II
Is certain that the snow Is cleared away from
the streets more promptly aud generally than
II formerly was. and there Ia more and more
traiiic to cut np what remains. Two or three
days IL about tho limit OF It's duration now
aiays in most streets whore It il loft. so far
as its use for business sleigh:nR 10 concerned.
Still. when We hive downfall people get
out In sleigns. and In q wintry sort Of winter
like the present ono there Is some revival Of
sleirhing. For pleasure sleiRhinT The Albany
cutter. familiar forty years and less 20. haas
becn in large degree superseded by the Port
land cutter, with not SO many curves and
swells in lie form; but with more takishness
and dash. Tho old-fashioned big Lleixh. OF what
might be described as a inaenined Albany
model has, In this city, At least, given way al
most entirely 20 selishs OF very different
vastly more fanciful In design.
But there are still left. In the city some Of
or six. according to how tightly you pa ok peo-
pie In them, besides having room for one or
two more on tho seat wl:h the drivers. and there
are great bsrges that will scat, perhaps, some
twenty people. and which in snowy winters arc
brought out Tor slelgh!ng parties; In such
great box slcighs that may have been used
for business PURPOSES, and are provided
with seats around the edge. with per:
haps n cross sea- or two. These are used
for straw rides. such sleigh Hay DO intend
ed u carry, say, twenty; IL may no made 10
carry nearere thirty: but a team OF four good
horses can haul easily all that can got into IL;
aud with the big box full OF snow and ne end
OF robes for tho sleigSers IL Is quite possible
to have tho lolliest. sort OF straw ride right
here IN the city and.its immediately adjacent
suburbs.
IL may be that the straw riders 90 Just for
II n. or to revive, besides, pleasant recol-
lections OF straw rides In the country. per-
haps whe.. they were younger. And IL may
lie that the riders dwell np;own or down. Say
they live downtown. below Thirty fourth
street. for instance IL might DO that. right
after "A very heavy snowfall. the e; cat sleigh
would go alo"t and CATER up the people that
were going. but this would be unlikely. II
the party were held within two or three days
after the snowfall tho people might meet at
tho establishment where the big sleigh was
kept; there would probably be snow enough
yet on the cross streets to enable IL TO reach II
we'll covered road; but later than that. more
likely, indeed, at any time. a rendezvous
would bs appointed In Fifth avenue, where
the snow would be allowed TO remain for q
greater number OF days and the slelghing
would be better and more certain. To this
rendezvous lac big sleigh would be driven 10
take the party up all together. Once In Cen
trail Park and the rest woul d be easy; there
and In the country on beyond would 30 sleigh
ing TO the hearts content.