New-York tribune., 1903-02-01
SARANAC WINTER SPORTS.
AT THE, ANNUAL CARNIvAL-ALL FORMS
OF OUTDOOR ENJOYMENT

Saranac Lake, N Y. Jan. 81 (Specla!t--IhlS
hard frozen, snow blanketed icy hamlet Of the
North Woods thaws out for three days next
week to celebrate its annual winter carnival.
The palace of ice has been erected on Flower
Pond; the floats are decorated, and a score OF
racers are sharpening their skates.
The carnival begins on Tuesday with parade
through the village and meeting in the Town
Hall Wednesday is day of ice sports Thurs
day will resemble midwinter Fourth Of July,
when the ice palace is stormed by force
armed with fireworks When one considers the
size of the village the carnival is a considerable
undertaking.
The consumptives who in fighting death make
Saranac a place OF life will leave their porch
chairs for a brief span of something doing"
Out of months of doing nothing but rest these
carnival DAYS will be red letter ones.
The many persons who are here for health
have scattered invitations broadcast among
their friends who are able to live in busy cities
and sleep in steam warmed rooms. Scores OF
them will come from New-York. Boston, Phila-
delphia and other places, for in these days,
when railroads go everywhere, even Saranac
is easily reached
Hardworking lumbermen from the camps scat
tered through the woods will add color to the
carnival scene with their bright colored blanket
clothing. Many of them are French Canadians,
whose lives have been spent in the forests winter
and summer There will be host of visitors
from Plattsburg Malone and other upstate
towns Then there are the natives or Saranac'
the prime movers of the carnival, hearty whole
soued ard hospitable.
This is the fifth carnival which Saranac has
held, and the four previous ones were most sue
cessful. None was held last year, because n
terest seemed to have died down; but when
carnival time came every one was sorry that II
had been dropped, and the never asdin 70"
was made then and thare.
The centre of the carnival festivities viii be
Flower Pond. called because in summer II
is the finest lily ground in the vicinity Just
now it is covered with thick ice, which has been
kept clean for skating. AT one end of the lake
the ice palace has been erected. 1t is sohdly
constructed of large blocks of ice. which in this
country is clear as crystal 1t is shaped after
an old fort, with ramparts and battlements
On the closing night of the carnival crowd OF
jewellers will sweep down upon the CASTLE
firing roman candles. skyrockets and noisy
crackers The fort will be defended by VII
layers with similar ammunition and much red
fire.
Winter life in the North Woods for those who
are not taking the rest-fresh air cure is fun on
joys. In the first place the New-Yorker' shlFer-
ing in and out of cars. to and from his nome
and office, has not an idea what real winter IS
One day in the metropolis viii be as cold ana
stormy as the most winter loving person could
ask; the next so mild that one looks for ROB-
ms and other signs of spring But up here the
winter comes early and stays late, and more
than that it is continuous. 1t is not quite as
cold as il is in Quebec. where. according 20 MI.
kiplng's small boy:
When asked. Are you friz?"
Replied. Yes. / is.
But we don't call this cold in Quebec"
But il is cold enough for continuous ice and
s,ov for four- five or six months. according TO
the length Of the season.
There is no end Of winter sport in the Saranac