New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-24

MERRY SKATERS WHO THR0NG THE

MEkRl SNATENS WHO 1tiINr '"b
LAKE WHEN THE ICE IS GOOD
The winter carnival has begun earlier than
Usual this year. and the clip Of steel has already
been heard on the hard smooth ice in Van Cort-
lnndt Park. The laughter and shouts OF the
skaters All the ar. and the rosy cheeks ana
bright eyes indicate how keeny the sport Is en-
joyed. The carnival of snow and ice in New
York is not a fixed feast People have learned
~ know how churlish and uncertain fellow
Winter Is and while In more northern clines
the ice palace and the skating season are an
nounced weeks or months ahead in famboyant
posters. New Workers take their skating when
ever it comes. and are thankful to nature for
providing the means at It's own leisure.
The first snowfall however. marks period OF
hope. and lovers ~ outdoor sport get out their
skates. watch the fakes as they fall specializing
upon their promise and wondering If they be-
token cold lasting enough to cause freeze
over. Then after DAYS NJ doubling and hope
deferred the flag 20, up over Van Cortlandt
PARK. and in ones and twos. o. In greater num-
hers the skaters betake themselves 10 this
winter playground
A glimpse OF the park in rnidwinter is dag
cling on either side mounds % snow piled
nigh. and the silvery mirror Of ice reflects at
night the lights which culver in the winter
wind The surface of the lake is crowded with
men and women. gliding along with an undu-
Iatng motion. which In many cases approach
the perfection ~ grace The ring of the steel
makes music in the frosty air Hundreds OF
young women. pretty or appearing To he 80. with
the warm color mounting in their cheeks, sway
ana MI and glide through the crowd Some
tlmes they form a chain. and hand in hand.
sweep all before them They gowns Of
brlght, clinging stufs. toned and harmonized
with sort .urs Eur IL everywhere encircling
rosy cheeks and coiiing around white necks and
wrists or peepng out above neat. natty boots
Eyes sparkle and Cupid laughs in the midst Of
the crowd
Now and then there is thud and a peal Of
langhter announces slight mishap When a
man tumhles the rnirth Is uproarious and he
gets up with sheepish expression and at
tempted explanations # his awkwardness
occasionally some especially fine skater ap-
pears and the lines divide while the graceful
ngure passes along the foe. performing difficult
nsures WITH listless. languid air as II !, were
the merest chlds play Then as the skater
passes the crowd surges forward. and the frolio
begins all over again
Ihis season the game Of curling is coming in
tor large share of attention The game calls
for smooth, level sheet OF ice of good dim.n-
sions ~ IL played by eight persons four on
eacn side provided with rubber shoes and each
having pair or curling stones. In general tho
purpose OF the game Is 10 so propel stone that
II shall. az distance OF forty Yards or more Iie
tee 49, mn '"'ru
Inc requirements for curling in the plaver ara
d Ciear eye sound head and steady hand
The sport has been called "the roaring game"
proDaply from the fact that the stones as thsy
slde over the ice make a roaring or whizzinr
sound. The game is SO engrossine tha, nravars
nave been known TO have their ear. fro,a, 80
over was ''e''