Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-01-22

SKATING RULES FOR BEGINNERs.-We
find the following rules in the Milwaukee
NeaDs, and reprint them for the benefit
Of the would be skaters in this vicinity.
We presume they will be found compre-
hensive and easy of practice:-
Rule /. Be sure and pay the small boy
who engineers hole in the heel of your
boot the sum of five cents (his profession
al fee); smaller donation will compel
YOU to listen to a chapter Of adjectiyes
not laid down in the grammer.
Rule 2. Having fastened on your
skates, axe determined effort to
stand up, and immediately thereafter fall
down-it comes so much easier when
you have made up your mind to it. In
going down, endcayor to Involve in your
fall as many Of those about you as eau
be conveniently got hold of; if possible,
place the person of one of. your friends
between yourself and the ice, as it breaks
the conclusion considerably. t5A" sl<-
Rules. In giving the backward fall,
allow the feet to slide gracefully from un-
der the body, in forward and upward
direction-thev may, indeed, entirely
leave the ice, which adds to the decision
and impressment of the general result.
If at the same moment the legs are
thrown upward at a right angle with the
body, superb somersault will be the Sc
quence; terminating in an apparent eft
fort to skate on the back part of the
head. This splendid triumph of ice
gymnastics invariably calls out the plaud-
its Of the admiring throng. The k nd
of skates known rs rockers arc best fitted
for this movement. t.'.
Rule f. The fall forward is best ac-
complished by throwing the body out, SO
that the center of gravity shall be beyond
the base, the feet at the same time thrown
carelessly in divergent and backward
direction Amateurs differ in their meth
DDS of reaching the ice some drop in a
quadrupedal manner on their hands and
knees, others spread out on the ice like
star fish. The nose bears no unimpor-
tant part in tho latter method of render
ing this delicate pas seat.
Rule S. The sprawi is.a handsome
and easy movement, obtained by allow
ing the feet to Tide away from each 9TH
or, whic: they will constantly be disposed
to do. TIE cal coup is effected by sit
ting down on the ice. The beauty of
the Performance depends upon The ra-
pidity and force with Which it is done.
Some of the moro pleasing move
men's in skating are obtained OIL Y by
long practice. To fall gracefully on the
knee-pans, wi bout facial distorting or il
liberal language, requires great practice,
patience, and forbearance.
Rule 6. Improve every opportunity
of being run over or trirped mp; a
grand tabIeau may be improvised by fall
ling in the way OF several IA skaters at
the same time, and thus precipitating
them into one living heap on the ice. By
selecting thin place for the above scene,
two very invigorating and healthfll ex-
ercises may be combined, viz: skating
and swimming.
Rule Z. As skat ting IS science, 1t
has its scientific terms, which the learner
should at once master. The forward
roll is that roll which, emerging from the
bakers oven at an early hour of the morn
ing, grows cold while we are yet folding
the hands to sleep. On the contrary, the
backward roll is the roll which comes like
Daniel Tucker, to late for breakfast.
The spread eagle is big thing on lee.
Rule s. AS soon as you can stand
alone offsr your services as teacher to
some young lady who knows as little as
yourself. She will have cause to be
grateful for your kindness, galantry, ease,
and charming insolence, and will doubt
less after one lesson take your hand for
a second trial with perfect reliance on
your manly and well-trained strength.