Daily national Democrat., 1859-03-23
1ailp NatlOnal 4emOtrat.
Yankee Girls Skating.

Many of our readers says our contemporary
Of the North San Juan Press, know already
to what an extent the ladies of the eastern
States have this winter pursued the exhilerat
ing and healthful sport of skating, but the
following lively picture, which we have been
permitted to take from the letter of friend
and former citizen of this town. will prove
very amusing. 1t represents scenes on the
ice ponds of Cambridge, Mass. Our ex Cal
ifornian says;
al was interested in reading in one Of the
numbers of the Press about the desperate at
tempts of the men of San Juan to skate upon
the old reservoir; but no mentirn was made
of any trials by the fair sex. With us the
women skate as much or more than the mem:
and every pleasant afternoon when the ice is
good, there can be seen on Jamaicr or Fresh
pond sight which l fancy would set the
California miners perfectly crazy: from two
to five hundred persons darting about in eve
rv direction on the ice, and the shores lined
with spectators in carriages and on foot. The
costumes of the ladies add much to the pic
turesqueness of the scene. They wear what
nre termed the Balmoral pettcoats, or skirts,
made of wooden with stripes of bright scar
let or blue, or drab, alternating with gray
OF course, such skirts were made to be shown;
and their dresses, which they wear short lest
they should get entangled in the skates. are
carefully looped up in front or all around
displaying their pretty little feet and giving
glimpses of charming anlles--f one will per
init his eyes to wander in that direction
Moreover, the dear creatures like to have
their brothers, cousins or beaux put on the
skates for them-which of course the young
men are delighted to do-and in their first
essays need a rotecting hand or arm to sus
tain them, and assist them when they fall
for they UW fall sometimes which affords eX-
cellent opportunities for displays of gallantry.
OF course, with such indictments, skating
has become highly popular The young la
dies declare it is charming" ana the yonng
men swear it is "heavenly." Some of the
Young ladies don't stand in absolute need
of a protecting hand or arm, but can
skate extremely WELL cut circles back
ward, and perform all kinds of fancy evolu.
stions. | saw n bevy of them the her day
amusing themselves by jumping over their
rnuffs on skates one mutf was laid down on
the ice, and others were place on top of it.
Quite a number jumped over two and three,
and two cleared four nicely. One of my
classmates says lie saw one of the same young
ladies jump over seven last winter
Those Buckeyes, Hoosers, Wolverines,
Pike county menet III oDene genns who think
Eastern women are pale, delicate girls who
sit in the parlor thumming the piano, or
reading sentimental novels all day long,
might perhaps see reasons for modifying
their opinions, if they could only look upon
one Of these ponds some fine afternoon when
it is covered with people, full one-holf Of
them women with elastic frames, sparkling
eyes aud cheeks rivalling in color the Grim.
son of their petticoats--there's new com
parisoR for you--swifly darting hither and
thither, or sailing gracefully and coquettishly
along,
Skating has come to be an indispensable
part of a young lady's education here, and
heard it mentioned the other day, as the
eapston Of a beautiful girls accomplishments
tbGt she was the best skater on Fresh Point