Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-02-09

lS related by milwaukee editor: a
Right beneath one OF our windows, from Morn =,
midnight we see youngsters and oldsters twstipp a..
legs into all conceivable shapes, skating ND and ~
the river, as merry as lambs. We cannot pick m
per but On article on skating meets our eve Evprvs
says its fun, and that's all everybody knows about i
we have tried it. Last night, about gas light time Y
ter reading glowing description of life on skates
prepared tor our first attempt, and sailed forth tn =;
the merry crowd. We had Oh pair of stopa Ivy
trowsers legs tucked inside robert-tailed coat "
white haJ. We went down On the ice, and gave ~
two shings in good coin of the realm for the n.s
his implements. We have confidence, even as Dot.
faith We with the assistance of friend fixed IN :.
skates, and stood erect like a BARRIERS pole EuooN
aged by the sight of some ladies the bridge who W.
just then looking at the skaters, we struck out J
to the right with the right foot, slant to the left ~
the left foot-and just then saw something on thu
and stopped over to pick it up! On our feet apsS
two slants to the right and one to the left acconm
with loss OF confidence. Another stride with thSI
foot and we sat down with fearful rapidity, and "
little if any elegance! What set down it was, S
made dent in the ice not unlike Connecticut %E'
bowl
Just then one Of the ladies remarked, Oh look n.
that fellow with the white hat amt got his skap
the right place." Ditto, thought we. Just then ~
ged little devil sang out as he glided past u.s. HI
old timber legsT' and we arose suddenly and ont ~
him. Three slides to the right-two to the left sS
away went our legs, one to the east the other to the S
causing an immense fssure in our pants, and aDos
picture of butter-tray in the coid-Oh, how cOH
ice, Then the lady-we knew she was one by Sa :.
mark she made-again spoke and said, Oh, look No.
that chap with a white hat has sat down on bis bn
kerchief to keep from taking cold p We rose aS
as graceful as saw-horse, when Mary said, "G"1
faint handkerchief, jane" and Mary was right II
- Il
friend came along, and proffered US bis coat TAIL
" steadier." We accepted the continuation of bis
ment, and up the river we went about ten rods, vb
shy to the right by the leader caused as, the whelA
to scoot off tangent, heels up! But the ice w.
cold this season!
We tried it again A glde one way-a glide Al,
half the other, when whack came our bump of pbins
genitiveness on the ice, and we saw million Of NJ
dancing around u.s. like ballet girls at the Bower
atre. How that shock went through our system
up and down our spinal column. Lightning cmR
have corkscrewed it down CREASED saplng with Us
er speed or more eXhilerating effect. BoardinpImA
butter nor warranty deed could have struck sdns
than we did-and dozen ladies looking at v-S
our assured pants.
Halo, old cock" sang out the ragged imp uii
and we there helpless! Soon we got up and mad n
other trial, with better success Perhaps we had S
our peculiar style, fifteen feet when blunderiw On
| came up behind, and we sat down with our tired y
pillowed in his lap, and he swearing at us, when hp
all his fault How cold the ice was there, too Er
spot where we made our debut on the ice-oh, how
it was! Our bear-skin drawers were no protecta
all We tried again, for the papers all say it's fun
down came our Roman-Grecian nose on the tcoh
material, and the little drops of crimson ran dow
shirt bosom, and on the cold ice.
Once more we tried skating for the shor,
down and counted damages. Two shilings in
thrown away. Seven lateral and one fronteral "b
on the ice. One immense assure in as handsome
OF ten dollar casslmeres as man ever put his legs
One rupture in the knee, extending to the bone.
buttons from our vest, a fragmented watch cr
and backache, big enough to divide among the
dren of Israel If you catch US on the smooth, ID
chilling, freezing, treacherous, deceitful slippery
slip-uprey ice again, you'll know it If any one
hears OF our skating again, they will please draw
| at sight, tor the bivalVes and accompanying docuw
1t is a humbug. It's vexation of spirit, of bUn
of flesh, and tearer of trousers It's headbun
back-aching, leg wearying institution, and we wan
pie against skating We tried it, and shan't be a&
walk for month. Skating clubs are humbugs. VI
the rascally youngsters wish to get the ladies atm
they may see-if they don't say, " the ice is dread
cold" It's nothing to US, but the ladies would G
to let skates alone, unless they are younger and
elastic than we are. Oh how cold the ice is-R1
feel it yet!
G. P. R. JAMEs.-The Philadelphia Bulletin, dG
complimentary notice OF Mr.. James last novel, A
Man in Black, says:
We have no reason to believe, by the way, tbsta
is truth in the report that Mr.. James intends laI
Venice and returning to his former Office, Of BID
Consul at Richmond, Virginia. There, perhaps BEL
carry out his purpose of writing an Autobiography
has much to tell, for he has travelled widely and
many people of political and literary emneuee