The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-14 00:00:00

THE SKATING-ROOM.

The title of this article may seem as strange to many
as it did to ourself, labouring under the ordinary impres-
sion that skating would be associated with the natural
atmospheric phenomenon, which must imply the cer-
tainty of a sheet of ice sufficient to afford the means of
exercise of skating on all and every days, without re-
gard to times or seasons. Such were our notions when
we went to enjoy the view, by especial invitation. There
were many obstacles that presented themselves, we have
no doubt, even to those who had admired the amusement
for its healthfulness and the scope for the cultivation of
elegance of action which it affords; that, by any artifi-
cial substitute the skater could be permanently assured
of field for his sport •, and we went to view the skat-
ing-room under all these impressions in their deepest
dye. We, however, were agreeably undeceived ;we
left the place in the full conviction that the invention
was complete in theory, and demonstrated to be per-
fect in practicable application to the indulgence of
the graceful amusement of skating at all times. The
skating-room is not strikingly capacious, but has been
studiously confined to bounds sufficiently limited to show
that many premises are capable, without material archi-
tectual alteration, of affording all that is necessary for
skating parties. The room we saw yesterday, that bad
been fitted up for the purpose, on experiment, did not
exceed twenty-six feet by nineteen feet (-certainly not
more space than would be required for a commodious bil-
liard-room) ; and thus it appeared to us that it might be
applied to residences of ordinary magnitude in private
life—to public establishments on a moderate scale, such
as schools, and other establishments of different descrip-
tions. The room, of which we have given above the di-
mensions, was originally the seed-room of the late Mr.
Jenkins, of the Nursery-ground, New-road, near Dorset-
square, had of course been built without reference to the
purpose to which it is now so efficiently made applicable.
The floor the original fabric which once presented its
fair appearance, has now been transformed into a minia-
ture lake of ice. The lights are admitted through tran-
sparencies only, representing beautiful winter land-
scapes, tastefully contrived to harmonise with the in-
ternal decorations of drooping trees and snow-be-
sprinkled benches, or rural resting-places. The object
altogether presents a perfect panorama of still life, ad-
vantageously
and delightfully fitted-up for real life con-
venience and gratification. These remarks, however,
apply only to the external appearance of the apartment,
which may please, butnevertheless are of minor import-
ance compared with the principal object, namely, the
artificial ice, which composes the supposed little lake,
upon which the skaters are to have their play. The com-
position, in appearance at the first glance, is exactly that
of real ice, and in its use as here intended, has seemingly
every property which the experienced skater can desire.
It yields to and resists the skate in the same proportion,
so as to leave the previously proficient in the exercise
little or no practice to make them as much at home as if
on the natural surface to which they had been accus-
tomed. We saw several skaters of celebrity exhibit
their skill, and they afforded a great treat to the visitors,
among whom were a great number of ladies. One of
the skaters was Sir W. Newton, an artist of eminence,
and President of the Skating Club. Mr. Kirk, the in-
ventor, and one of the patentees, exerted himself consider-
ably, and put the artificial ice to the utmost test, far ex-
ceeding that which real ice is ever called upon to endure,
and the composition resisted all effort to daniage it, nor
did it mar in the smallest degree the display of Mr.
Kirk's superior capabilities. We left the view in the
full conviction that the invention, in all its professions,
was in fact perfect. The room was beautifully charac-
teristic in its appearance, and the lake substantially
sound for use. We were informed that the above was
only an epitome of a more extensive establishment, to be
entitled the Glaciarium and Frozen Lake. An interest-
ing thoelel of the projected building is to be seen on the
premises, the production of Mr. Bardwell, which itself
would repay the trouble of a visit to any one of ordinary
taste. It exhibits a lake of 30C1 feet by 130 feet, stir-
' ratinded by Alpine scenery. The lakei of course, being
preserved for the skaters, while the curious visitors may
ramble in fanciful reality through Swiss villages, loiter in
cottages, 101 l on benches, or take their view of the sports
below from romantic bridges, and make themselves be-
lieve in summer's height they are abroad contemplating
the beauties of winter. The distance is to be managed
in the exclusive admission of light through transpa-
rencies in all directions, above and below ; and, when
completed, the building, we presume, will be the largest
arena perhaps in Europe. The invention is capable of
vast recommendation to the lovers of skating, and may
be the means of creating a taste for the amusement on an
extended scale. Ladies may take lessons without fear,
and enjoy an exercise unexceptionable. There will be
no danger of ice breaking, nor any risk from expo-
sure to weather. The composition, we are told, re-
mains good at one hundred degrees ; and, when the
Skating Club gave their approval of it, they skated in
an atmosphere of 85. Seasons or times cannot affect the
lake; and the principle may be readily applied to col-
leges, club-houses, schools, and mansions generally, de-
scending to within the compass of people of very mode-
rate means. On the most extended plan it is certain to
prove an immense attraction to the metropolis as a pro-
menade. It may not be out of place to hint, for the in-
formation of our northern neighbours, that they are
,rling," when
likely now to have an opportunity of "cu
they are inclined, and that they may play
in Midsummer. We saw a number of ne
visitors of
"
of distinc-
tion at the view, all of whom expressed great approbation.
Among them we may name:—Lord Adolphus Fitz
clarence, Sir W. R. Newton, Bart., Captain Litchfield,
Captain Warren, Dr, eye
Smith, Colonel Gore, Duke
of Brunswick, Lady
Walpole,
friend from Buckingham Palace, Mr. Hardwick, and
many others of note.

• CHANCERY
friars-road,George Franks, of Black-
has Irately obtained an injunction in Dublin
against Joseph
Page, for selling a medicine under the
name of ranks Specific Solution of Copaiba." In
purchasing
patent meicines the public ought i
to be
cautious in observing that the name of the proprietor s
engraved on the Government wrapper that generally
covers the cork of the bottle.
Corpulency is often but a symptom of vigorous
health. Nature, to relieve the system of its redundancy
of blood, causes an increased deposition of fat. Good hu-
mour and good living are the most common causes of this
affection. Solomon remarks—" A merry. heart doeth
good like a medicine ; but a broken spirit drieth the
bones." " Laugh and grow fat," says the old proverb.
Sterne observes—" Every time a man laughs
.he adds to
the duration of his life." In alluding to the influence of
a life of ease in causing corpulency, Dr. Arbuthnot says
—you may see an army of 40,000 soldiers, without a fat
man among them, but I dare affirm, that with plenty of
rest, 20 out of 40 shall grow fat." Whoever saw a fat
post-boy ? Winslow, in the Polytechnic Journal.
A SCULPTURED CORPSE.---At Penshurst, in
Kent, there to be seen a strange little model of a
rave. All the circumstances of the scene
corpse in a g
are moulded with curious fidelity; the damp and slime
of the dungeon; the worms crawling in and out of the
putrifying carcass, the rats frisking and feedingupon it,
are all horribly natural, and in tha midst of the fine pic-
tures among which it stands, the spectator's attention is
often called away to it, although he is surrounded by
6 subjects that are far more worthy of remark.