The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-01-27
PLEASURES OF SKATING.

/ We fluh in the New York Times an edito-
rial enthusiastically favorable to this 'ele-
giant and manly amusement From its
con amore article we clip the following, of
interest to those concerned:
And first as 10 the skate. This should
never be grooved or 'guttered except for
, little boys and women, if women a0iU skate.
The edge Of the groove cuts deeply into
the ice, and so impedcs rapid progress, and
is almost fatal to graceful movement For
the same reason, ,hc edge Of the iron should
not be straight, but more or less curved,
that the point Of resistance and friction
may be rs small as possible, and that back
ward movement may be as safe and as easy
as forward. A boy in his first season may
well have grooved, straightforward skates :;
but if he gets on tolerabIywell, lie ought to
be upon smoo;l, irons in his second, and
on rockers in his third season. The rocker
pattern is. however, sometimes overdone,
ana within a year or two skates have made
their appearance without the right angle at
the heel, by pressing which into the ice the
skater can suddenly arrest his motion.
These do very well for the most accom-
pli>hcd ard hollcst skaters, when all is plain
sailing and there is no danger ahead but
in case OF IN impending collision, lrc.k
in The ice, n sudden loss of balance, or any
! ,f tI,., ,>,,riic ,rhi,h tl,n
skater needs instant protection they cannot
be relied upon. Nor do they, as our obser-
vation extends, afford advantages either for
rapiditv or freedom Of motion, even back
ward. to compensate for such great def
ciencies in point Of security; and we are
! inclined to doubt whether they are in any
respect better than welcurved rocker
! Qlaving an arc for instance Of from twenty
inches TO two fec, radius) with a right-au-
gIcl heel.
Tie iron should be MS narrow as it can
be, and keep the feet well from the ice !; for
the Higher lie foot is raised the greater the
strain upon the ancle.
The simpler your strarping is, the better
in every way. Two straps-a long one TO
90 round the foot twice and buckle, with a
return over the toe, and short hecl.strap
are quite sufficient. But do not use
skates with laced shoes for straps your feet
will shift and roll in them. Let your own
shoes, which had better he boots, and be as
snugly fitting as perfect comfort will allow,
and rs light also. If you need protection
agains, mud or snow on your way TO tie
ice, wear ovcrshocs, not loubIcsoled boots.
The skaters feet need to be winged, not
weighted.
The skating dress should be warm, but
as compact as possible. Thick woolen
under clothes, a trick waistcoat and trow-
sers, with a heavy, short-skirted coat or
sack, and soft hat or cap, form the best
skating costume. But overcoats, of what
ever nature, should never be retain
ed upon the ice, though they should
be worn on going to it. and, above all
Immediately when the skates are taken off
and it is better, both for health and comfort
TO walk home, or at least the first mile TO-
ward it, than to ride. Indeed, the sever,
old to which the skater is frequently ex-
posed requires more consideration than it
generally receives and no petty bravado
or assumption of. manliness should prevent,
him from protecting himself we'll against
it. Above all, if he skate in cold, cut
ting wind. and be obliged to go with and
against it. he should, in the latter case
never skate, right in the teeth Of the blast,
but beat, makiag his tacks as possible. A
neglect Of this precaution may cost him an
inflammation Of the lungs;a malady quite
common in countries, where skating is an
ordinary mode Of winter locomotou. Let the
skater also. before he starts of upon long
rapid stretch, move slowly over his skating
ground, and see if it have holes, or, what
is almost as bad, soft places, through which
lis irons may cut when he issih full career
and throw him dangerously. And now
reminding him that ifthe ice cracks under
him, it will bear him in horizontal posi-.
ton when it will not if he stands, and that
the lack of extra strap in his Pocket ina ,
cost him his days enjoyment, we commend
him to his noble sport, Wishing him, when
he next goes a skating, black ice, sharp
skates, and still day.
A Court DREss.-At the last Presi
dents lrvse in Washington, con siderable
amusement was created during the evening
by the rather strange strange conduct and