St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-12-22
Misttllanp.
The Art of Skating.
To Old Skaters and New Beginners
BY AN EXPERIENCED SKATER.

Skating is truly fascinating pur-
suit, and seems to have been invented
to serve as rccompense for our ina,
bility to fly. Indeed, as long as we
have skates on our feat and good ice
under them, we do not envy the birds.
which at other times we arc apt to
do.
Non-skaters can have no conception
of the fascination which the art exerts
it but If they wish to find simile,
they may do So in the dreams of fly
ing that we all have experienced, in
which we only have to flap our arms.
glide easily along, and wonder why
we never found it out before.
Such mode of progress is attained
by the accomplished skater, who needs
no powerful exertions to propel him,
but sails about as if by simple voli-
ton.
Ice ought not to be knobby or Gov
cred with ripples, as is often the case
wien frost aud a breeze set in sim
uliancously. Also, there should he
none of that thin, superficial coating
called "cat's ice,' for the skates break
through and trip up the wcarer. Care
should also be taken that stones and
sticks are not frozen into the ice.
But the very worst substance tina,
can find its way on the ice is sand
1t is SO insignificant in appearance
that the skater cannot see it, especially
when he is skating backwards anC
few grains Of sand, that together
would not more than equal a mustard
seed in size, are sufficient to upset 6
skater. 1t seems to have the effect o
suddenly arresting the progress, anC
cannot be knocked ont of its bed like
q stone, or cut through like stick.
PREPARATIONS.
Besides his skates, Alumnus shoult
have with him small gimlet, tina
screws into u wooden guard, or in dc
fault, thrust into large cork.
The gimlet should be at least on,
size smaller than the screw Of tn,
skate, as otherwise the screw will no
hold fast, and after the same boot ha
been used once or twice, it becomes
what is called "screw sick"
An old dustcr, or any old piece o
stuff, is useful. in order to wipe th
skates after removing them, and so t,
guard against rust. A pocke, knif
will of course be in its proper place.
1t becomes every good skater t.
keep his apparatus in good order
The skates should be wiped clean am
dry, as soon as they are taken off tn
feet, more especially if they have bee
used on salt water ice. In case @
rust, little powdered emery is tn
best thing to use, and with this
good pair of skates may be kept a
bright and handsome as when the
were new.
THE SKATE AND STRAPS.
A beginner generally damages
good pair of skates, so it is as we
to content himself with an ordinar
pair. Those at 81 so will do well t
learn with. and when he has attaine
some amount Of skill, he may get
right good pair.
do not at all recommend the flute
skates, i. c. those which have a groov
running along the steel. 1t is tru
that they give better hold of the ic
at first, but they are very apt to b,
come blunt at the edges, and beside
they cut up the ice into little shaving
which collect in the groove, and b
degrees project beyond the edge
the skates, when the wearer is sure t
be thrown.
As to the straps, let those eros
straps over the insteps be discarded
they are quite useless, and only col
fine the foot.
Very little strapping is required, q
the only use Of q strap is to preveI