New-York tribune., 1912-02-11
FANCY SKATING POPULAR
Experts Have Lake in Park All
to Themselves.
MANY SEE EXHIBITIONS
Slower Plans improvements to
Keep Alive Interest IN
Winter Sport.

Figure skating has become 80 popular IN
this city, according to Park Commissioner
Slower. that & is now one OF the recognized
winter sports OF the park. Already tins
winter go permits have been issued by the
Park Commissioner TO fancy skaters. Last
year. when the experiment was first tried.
there were only $50 permits issued The
| Conservatory Lake IN Central Park. on
the East Side. above 72d street, is now ex-
clusively devoted 10 figure skating. The
ice is kept I'm first class condition by being
flushed every day.
The Conservatory Lake has come TO be
the meeting place OF the international Skat-
ing club, with headquarters at the st
Nicholas Rink. esth street and Columbus
avenue This club was organized this win
ter by Irving Brokaw. eX-champion figure
skater Of the world. Its purpose is to pro-
mote interest in ice skating. Mr.. Brokaw
and other skaters Of national and interna-
tional renown were able last year 20 get
Park Commissioner Slower TO open the Con-
servatory Lake exclusively to figure skst-
ers. It's success was so marked that 1t
was scheduled this year as a regular part
OF winter activity in Central Park.
Among the well known figure skaters who
are seen almost daily on the Conservatory
Lake are Miss Constance Wilkinson, daugh-
ter OF Mr.. and Mrs. Guy Wilkinson. of Bos-
ton and London. who has won medals
for fancy skating at Princes Rink. in Lon
don; Mrs Grace Chapelle. sister OF Miss
Billie Burke. the actress Edward Bassett
we'll known skater. Of this city, and Hal
lie Twombly. eight years old, who is the
youngest and best child figure skater on
the lake. The Baroness de Meyer, the
fencer. Is one of the latest recruits
For many years figure skating in this city
was confined principally to rinks. Last
year, however. Mr.. Brokaw and other skat-
ers appealed 10 Commissioner Stover for
the Conservatory Lake, and the appeal was
not without avail. The Park Commission
er realized that fancy skating was mpos-
sible on the big lakes. where as many as
twenty thousand persons skate at one time.
II would have been dangerous in that 1t
would have caused hundreds TO collect on
one part of the lake TO watch the exhibit
tons.
With few Interruptions there has been
figure skating on the Conservatory Lake
every day since the middle OF December
The skaters have attracted wide attention
and many persons journey to the park
daily TO view the experts.
To get permits to go on the lake it is
necessary TO go through what the park
clerks call the third degree" This has
been made necessary because a number
OF persons not figure skaters have this
winter secured permits under false pre-
tences. IN order TO remedy such a prob
lem Commissioner Stover appointed one
OF the park officials a censor OF skating.
and the permits were taken away from
those persons who had falsely secured them.
Commissioner Stover now has a plan for
the improvement Of the Conservatory Lake
which will cost $4,000 to carry out. In
the summer months the lake is the home OF
the miniature yachts, and thousands OF
youngsters Of all ages use II. There has
been danger Of drowning several times
when several toppled into the water, and
now Commissioner Slower plans 10 put a
two foot concrete wall around the lake,
raising the water to within an inch or 80
of the top Such a change, he thinks
would not only prevent accidents 10 the
youngsters. but would make for the bet
terment OF figure skating. The surface OF
the ice would thus be two feet above the
park level, and from the hills above or
around the edges of the lake it would ap-
pear as If the fancy skaters were on a
raised stage.
This has been the biggest skating year
for long time The sport has continued
almost unbroken since January 1. Last
year there were fewer than a dozen days
Of skating the whole season. Many were
out on the lake yesterday.
- he f....
skating by Mr.. Brokaw the Conservatory
Lake has been referred to in letters to the
Park Department as "Brokaw Lake"
request was made yesterday by woman
skater for permit to use "Brokaw Lake"
The clerk in charge of the third degree"
process said the lake had not changed its
name yet, and she would have to be satis-
fed with permit for Conservatory Lake.
There is a movement on foot to hold
ec,tre skating carnival here next year.