Year: 1875

nues there is thrill OF pleasure in the breasts Of q
large portion Of Gothams community, and when the
cool days give way TO colder, and the various ponds
and lakes around and about city have put their
winter covering, young and old glad. II verges
even to the brink OF excitement when the skating
season is fully naugurated, as in the wake OF this
amusement follow many winter sports that in q
compensate for the loss Of boating and yacht
ing, which OF comes 70 standstill when the
mercury approaches the freezing point Tho tenn
peraure OF the past few days been of that nature
60 give the votares OF all the exciting outdoor pastimes
that crowd this the greatest encouragement
1t has made the ice good and sent the "ba" to the
head Of the fagstafs OF two private ponds with the
prospect OF its being displayed before Christmas at all
the lakes In Central and Prospect parks This fact is
alone enough Tor those who love the downright, ex-
citing pleasures incident to skating and curling while


il gives assurance the ice yachtsman that not many
days will have elapsed before the rivers are frozen
and an opportunity presented indulge his avorte
amusement which, than all the others, is the op.
posite OF indoent bliss with the continuance OF
seasonabe weather such as New York has recently ex
perenced, our many sports the ice will be under
pleasant headway the thousands OF the younger
people together with their older friends, will be glad
10 of the preparations made toreceive them the
following memoranda appended:-


SKATING


When the ''ball" is up the Museum nagstar at
Central Park II requires but brief space Of time for
the TO very general Last year, on the
26h Of December, at eight O'Clock A. NJ the announce
ment made that the ready for visitors, and
within four hours aferward, or before noon, the big
pond was crowded with cheery, moving throng that
remained during the balance Of the day and into the
night Then the ice of an interior character as
the frequent storms and the sandwiched periods
a. ID, & ,,
good skaters thoroughly dislike Yet with this the
opening the occasion OF gala time and 'the CAV
and festive scene then presented repeated during
the just sixty-four times. as that number of
skating days recorded the Park police station as
occurring last This year there hopes OF an
Improvement upon this excellent showing for ice
has formed all over the lake, and Monday it made
30 rapidly that the officers in charge had
the strongest possible faith that by tomorrow or
Friday, at least, the invitation "Come one come ALL"
could with safety be extended to the youngsters and
their parents to join the sport Everything is in
readiness for the eyentful day. Ali the rcfreshment
houses are being put in order and stocked and the
venders Of cakes and beer oranges apples cigars and
tobacco will be prepared to the old time styc
their many patrons. The man WHO lends skates for
consideration is also putting his place trim and the
Ice lights are all in position ready be used as soon
IS the occasion requires Plenty of seats will be
found TO accommodate the weary-in fact the con-
venences OF the past have been improved upon, and
whatever the crowds that may visit the Park they
will without doubt find everything comfortable and
pleasant One change, however, will be observed
There VIII be but one pond this year, the larger or
usually called, 'the lake +" That between the Fifth
and sixth avenue entrances has been filed up and will
never again resound with the music OF steelcad
be bright with the ceaseless panorama Of sliding hun
dreds enjoying themselves TO their hearts content
There is room enough, however the lake to accom-
modate all that may visit It, The formed is Of
the best possible description, being hard smooth
just Of that kind to last long while no matter how
moderate may be the weather. The rules posted about
the lake to guide and govern the skaters are as fol-
lows:-


not the ice except by the paths provided for


Use the foot scrapers the gangplank before step
ping on the ice


20 not df6B any tobacco cigar stumps paper, nut
shells or any other articles on the ice.


Avoid crowds Ice is liable to crack when Il is
thick, and persons crowd side Of cake OF
may suddenly tip and endanger the lives OF all upon


Do not go near the men engaged IN cleaning the ice


Cautions from Park keeper should be Immediately
complied with


The want Of civil attention or the charging OF more
than the prescribed rates at the rcfreshment chair
skate houses should be reported the Captain Of the
PARK Keepers or the superintendent OF the Park


ball will be hoisted on the flagstaff at the Museum,
and white flag with red centre, at the Bevidere,
whenever the ice Is 10 fair condition for skating.


req flag hosted on the flagstaff indicates that il Is
dangerous TO 60 upon the ice.


Over in Brooklyn the lovers OF skating have been very
fortunate this As early the LIST inst they
given the chance OF testing their skill and again
getting in practice that day the Capitolino pond
was thrown open and the enclosure well filled with rep
resenatves Of the better class or citizens Of the City OF
Churches. Since that time however. there have been
many annoying interruptions sport although ten
hull days OF skating already recorded by the propr-
hors-a very fair showing at this early period
1i the winter The latter part Of the week
past the open spots began TO freeze. and
saturday tnere was quite good surface which
again caused the gates TO be unlocked, and by
the hour OF closing fully 1000 persons had passed
through them and been on the ice Yesterday morn
ing the paners brought into requison, and the
rough places thus made smooth SO the prospects
excellent for heightened period Of excellent skating
at the Capltoine During the season there will be
many festive reunions, bands OF and all that to
enliyen the occasions Instead Of retrogradinn
Messrs Weed Decker think that the pastime il gain.
Ing ground, and in their opinion viii be more uni
versally observed this winter than before Last
Tear they had hy full days OF skating and have
hopes that this number may be improved upon the
present season The rules Of the Capitone pond are
As follows


J. All persons IN going upon and coming from the
Ice requested TO stand upon the platform


Persons without skates are requested to remain
upon the embankment provided for spectators


8 Gentlemen will please not to throw sucks paper,
pieces Of cigars, &C, upon the Ice


T. No sleds or skating chairs are allowed tho
pond and ali kinds of games racing forbidden


g. Dsorderly conduct reported al the Office Will re-
peve immediate attention and result in the expulsion
Of the offender.


No intoxicating liquor sold allowed to be drank
npou the premises.


T. The second story Of the buildings is more espe.
sally for the accommodation OF ladies, and positively
NO smoking viii there be allowed


B. positively no skating allowed after eleven O'CLOCK
p M. Whenever the ball and flag down and the
bell IS rung every person expected to leave the leo
without further orders


The other private pond across the East River where
lhe old time sport has been thoroughly enjoyed for
several days is the Union, the well known base ball
grounds in the Eastern District This was flooded on
lhe I'd inst and since that time full days skat
ing have been recorded Ever since its opening in
The fail Of 1861 this enclosed place has had excel
lent reputation and the present he proprietor,
Mr. William Cammeyer, intends 70 revive the old feel
ing among the skaters and again give some Of his old
lime carnivals. Upon one occasion February I, 1862,
he bad nearly 600 ladies upon the zee IN costumes and
The attempt Will be made 70 again equal that grand dis
play. The ice yesterday At this place excellent
Without crack or flaw II bad an average thickness OF
ave inches and could not be excecd for smoothncss


AT tho lake in Prospect Park there has been trouble


experienced from the breaking up Of portions Of the ice
Fhis particularly noticeable Saturday last In the
northwest gale and 1t will yet be two three days be-
fore the ball Is there displayed True the ice made
quickly on Monday, aud with continuance Of such
still cold, the hearts or the young Brookynites will
soon be made glad The skating house rapidly being
completed and will be ready fop occupancy In few
Tha Rran Cluh vvaa ami ixpd