New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-18
CENTRAL PARK SKATING
Old and Young Take Advantage of Big
Lake Being Frozen.

Superintendent Murphy OF Central Park said
the ball the Arsenal did not go up yesterday
TIL noon. but at the lake itself the policemen de-
clareo that II went up at 10 o'clock The important
thing. however. is that IL went up, thus formally
opening the skating season the park for I9O3-O4
and bringing pleasure to thousands OF youngsters
Of both sexes from six to sixty years Of age. De-
cennber ls is the earliest date that skating has
ever been possible in Central Park.
Ten o'clock one hundred boys and
young fellows skimming around on the frozen sur
face Of the lake
Amt il bully they demanded Of each other
as they circled around and around. darted
hither and yon with the swift flight OF swallows.
Sometimes they changed their adjective ripping"
but everybody seemed to think the new sensation
that was theirs after all the months OF spring and
summer and autumn was either one or the other.
As school let our and the good news spread, the
skaters began 70 arrive faster. They came by ones
and twos and in lunches Of from three TO a dozen
The paths and driveways leading in the direction OF
the lake were kept hot" one Of the park men
expressed it, with happy looking people carrying
skates. Often trey extra pair Of boots
sluns around their necks or knocking against their
sides and Tam o. Shanters. blazers. stocking caps.
fur mirtens and short skirts were as thick as
huckIeberries IN an August pasture. Skating came
TOO early and too suddenly for the girls TO have
got out their regular skating toys, but they mad
their rosy cheeks with them just the same, and
their eyes snapped and grew mischievous with the
witchery Of the crisp air.
say Tom" said mig policeman laying his
hand arectionately on a comrades shoulder. what
6,vo1sa say 10 running home for our skates and
dofn' stunts with the rest Of the boys
Sure replied the other. but mall he real mad
- .i-,- rer mum fer o'clock supper. The TWO
Mo hovg disappeared around a bend IN the drive
S-a ~ the most picturesque figures on the Ice
ms IIr+Ie girl Of perhaps nine VINO Wore a sage
Traar accordion pleated skirt scarlet jacket ana
: 49, Tam ~ Shauter. Such Joyous Splash OF
CoIo- IS she made the middle OF the lahe-
Es-ir in the game people began 10 patronize me
chairs Generally there was a baby II theIn' buL
z-~-erir7es in was the best girl OF the young man
who pushed the chair -. - ,o-- 1,--,--
SC75ev-rar more restrained. but not less happE'
-bsr the college boys and high school girls VINO
-i~o17e-re5 and pigeon wings ana olC Hs1Ie
sjarrs N ever the lake were the elderly skaters
IKE haired men. for the most part VINO, dIleE
1cl,irirp On for a while. with their hands cIasped
EeEf-5 their backs suddenly put on tneIF skates
- TI-,nrad into the merry crowd Inc oeIlhs
- h0-fered with spectators OF the mt ll leilt
~ - watched and walked and walked and
s-au,- mn here and there in colgns OF vantage
81 No. VS. one tot Of five all in white; VINO
80 skates fastened 70 her my IeeL- anu "aS
1900 about between two young women =
re- Tsrk employees at the northern eNLIeII4lly u
b i4tG whose business IL is to break the ice JWlce
. 5av 60 that the ducks ana swans can 81
TaTb bazarded the opinion that the sIHatlIe Slsol
- o-,e-ed with fewer spralned ankles anu ulTs1
&C. 60 ltgag +hsr usual But you wait ne ADDED
Liz -f,11-- r IT'S night and ten or WE'VE lnoL-
.15s gifs to skating all together, ana lLeh n W
5-s+ ace a LOT Of collisions and tuInDnAss uO~4''