The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-02-04
From the Chicago Journal.
THE FIRST TIME ON SKATES.
How Went to Learn to Skate. How I
Failed, and How Felt.
BY A LADY.

a and fashionable pastime, however alIuring il
It may be, but | certainly have had a strong
S penchant for skates, only increased by intense
Il longing gazings into shop windows where
S those delightful articles are for sale,
# or tip-toe glances from car windows at the
skaters themselves who seemed to enjoy it
J. thoroughly--so that at last / concluded to ac-
. tually try the sport in pr0prio persona, and
''stiE live, to write about it.
d | actually bought pair of skates though
? it was the most difficult thing | ever did
j next to wearing them. The obliging shop
. keeper would insist on my selecting from
/ half a-dozen different kinds. as if could TELL
0 by miraculous intuition, the best but des-
/ perately took the best looking pair, and paid
for them, swinging them on my arm, as | had
4 seen ladies in the cars do Oh, that five dol
lats !
5 Well after tea l started for the park. Ny
escort had an idea that | could skate--so had
I |. Arrived there, we found an immense crowd
dispersed through the warm building, getting
! on skates, chatting socially, and
t changing about, Kaleidoscope fash
on-some in plaid boomers, with tartan
scarfs and gay little caps with streaming rib
bons and jaunty rcd feathers; others in fur
hoods and common attire; young ladies with
: long curlS, attended by smart young cavaliers,
displayed the daintiest feet imaginable, as
!, they We're shod with steel and amable ma
mas talked housekeeping to each other at the
stoves, while p0tsr watched Serapbine from
the corner OF his eye, as she airted with young
titz Allen ovpr her muff. 1t was pretty, sug-
/ gestlve scene and Thought skating must be
a fine thing.
When my turn came, sat down, and sub
mltted my feet to a Colored Individual, feeling
very much as one does who mounts dentists
CHAIR, IN happy ignorance of the fate awaiting
them, 1 tried to act naturally and inditfe
emily, and when the last buckle was adjust
ed, sat unconcernedly looking at the stove, in
no hurry to move. had dismissed my cav
alier, telling him [ would meet him on the
ice, though had not the faintest idea how !
should get there.
Al last stood up-I mean intended to
stand; but the floor stood on was 20 narrow,
| concluded to sit down again, which did, |
wondering if the clogs our grandmothers wore
were anything like skates
have no idea, now, how | got to the ice !!
think it was by putting one foot forward, |
and planting it firmly there then dragging |
the other W to i. By ,lpeating this | final |
| ~ reached the iea. aud saw my gallant waltz
ing with tar aallsel IN plaid. 1 concluded |
/
the moment | touched ice, ] should he all |
right. did not attempt to make display |
at first; my skates were new, and ratbsJ stiff |
so stepped carefully from the PLATFORM let /
ting both feet come down at once sat a lit |
tie, to begin with Then [ started forward |
knew | ought to keep my arms going, to |
maintain my equilibrium. and was doing
nicely, when some one must have touched |
me, for | fell fiat on the ice, merely saving
my Glove OF bonnet by hardening" both |
elbows
got up gradually-indeed, am not sure
that | should have been up yet, all the way, |
bat as a stout lady came past, caught fran |
tlcatiy at her dress, and assumed my perp6n- !
dicuiar. She looked tieroely at m2, a3d | btyG 7
no doubt electrified homeaudience that night I
by relating how narrowly she escaped having |
her pockets picked by that dreadful woman |
My escort now sought me, to say that the !
Champion Of the World was going t.. per
form circus, on the ice, and volunteered his |
assistance to get me there. hung on brave
~, aud firted my skates as if we were on the !
best of terms, till the band struck up a lively
air, and / essayed to take step 10 the mn-
sic. The step took me.
Ice is cold, particularly at this season of
the year-it is hard, too, and liable to iniure,
if taken in large quantities; but it seemed
to have an attachment for me, and rs | went
down, enjoyed delightful view Of the star
ny world, and it seemed as if [ could almost
grasp the clipper by the handle | got up
and concluded to rest while.
The champion was staring it, q ID Cnbas
on the surface of an ice theatre his skates
were good for something-he could go back
wards and forwards on theu sideways and
/ !
dance, and do all sorts of gymnastics with
them, as easily and gracefully as possible
He attempted to show off novice, bat he
failed there ! could have beat him at chat
| think should have stayed there till the
18th of July melted the ice, if / had kept those
skates on. could not stand ON them nor
walk, and was miserable ii sat down. Il
felt like a chinese.
Skating is not my fort. It may do for
some people-perhaps they like it; but felt
like new creature when took them otf,and
waved" again on terra .fr1D 1t is a comfort
to be able to stand alone, and on good foot
ing, and not feel creation sliding from under
you, and the sky colapsing like big unbrel-
Skates were great institutions when broth
er Sam went TO see Deacon Hoit's daughter,
q long time ago | was sixteen.then-L think
I must be about that now
| Well, hopethe dear creatures who delight
in that imaginative sport will not catch their
! death Of cold nor sprain their delicate ANGLES
CT ag:na beyond repair | think, myself,
house cleaning is much more rational amuse-
ment and vastly less perilous, but then it isn't
so fashionable, by good deal
! ldy bonnet has soft crown, nova style
/ that's little out Of date, but no matter-I
ata glad it wasn't my head.
! 4 presented my skates to our Grand boy,
! Pat, the moment | reached home He turned
4 somerset and pronounced them "'bully," !
think
But this morning capped the climax
made my appearance at nine, in coluforta
bic delaine wrapper, with q plaster 1T my
side, and my face sweIed out Of recognition
with neuralgia; enc eye was totally obliyious
OF the light, and nad blue spot under it, that
made me think Of Heenan. felt strong
inclination for the hottest side Of the stove
and had an adnonition Of ague. did not
heed the door-bell when it rang, and when
Bridget informed me that the "dagezne
man was in the parlor, / wished him at the
North Pole, or the Skating Pond. But want
ed Godey, and H0TpeT, 80 | walked resoIutely
IN, though my gait was still Of the skates
skatery. Good gracious Young Nolan
i guish, an exquisite Of the choicest Broadway
style, rose to meet me with the AHaDttc still
uncut, in his hand. It was his first call since
his arrival, and he was got up dazzngly.-
His handkerchief waited subtle perfumes Of
Ifrangipanni mine smeled strong Of cam
phor
Well, it's all over ! went to the Park
and skated-somswhat 1t may bs very de-
lightfuI very healthy, very intensely fashion
able, but | fail to observe it. If there IS but
one step from the sublime to the ridiculous |
certainly took that step, and no other
TWINS.