Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-01-20
HINTS TO sKArEiss.

The following suggestions by an old skater
belonging to New York Skating Club, will
be found adapted to the season, and we aro
sure can DO read with profit:
would advise beginners, in selecting ice
skates, to commence with slightly groovcd
runners, as the smooth kind, though best
adapted Tor proficient skaters, are somewhat
dangerous at Grst They may be readily
adopted after the rudiments arc acquired,
and any cutler will grind pair Of grooved
runners into flat ones for l5 cents.
a stout boot should be worn. laced high
on the ankle, and furnished with heel On.
pahle Of admitting the heel peg, il required.
The sole of the skate should be Of the same
as the shoe, and all supertluous strappiny
shoul be avoided, as ii prevents circulation,
and the bcnunbed feet may be frozen before
The skater is aware. A light stick or pole
held in the hand will be found useful at first
but the sooner it can be dispensed with the
better. Choose ice which has been slightly
roughenod hy ska ers and begin learlcssly
but not in hurry. Deliberation will insure
grace, but speed must be attained by prac.
ticc. Keep the feet near together; the ankle
of the right foot firm, the knee bent, and tho
body inclined slightly, throwing ts weight
on the forward foot at starting In striking
out, the left foot should start at an angle Of
ninety degrees from the centre of the right,
which in turn, must strike out from the left
at the same angle in an opposite direction.
Each stroke should he slightly carved, aad
az tong as possible, as the great aim in skat-
ing is, while moving to balance the body on
one foot at time. Care must he taken to
strike out evenly and equally with each foot,
or n jerking and awkward motion will DO &C.
quired.
The arms should not be s,rang, but gently
raised alternately with tho feet, and even
then as mperrcptbly as possible. Some Of
the best skaters keep tho arms folded in front
of the body,
We do not believe that any more directions
are necessary, for after The feat Of skating
at all is accomplished, the best instructors in
the world are smooth ice, pair of good
skates, and tho attraction Of gravtation.
No exercise can be more delightful, or if
scnsiby indulgcd in, more hcalthful than
skating or bottcr calculated to make Young
America broad chcstea and strong legged,
and 10 turn the girl phantom Of the day into
graceful rosy and well developed woman. II
is the abuse and not the use Of art which
has served to create prejudice against II in
the minds of so many parents and Guardians.
| 1st. BE careful not TO have your skate
straps too long, for they are too apt to slip
Down, after a while, and in that case will in
cvitahly get under the runners, and tell tho
ice one Of those secrets Of which We were
speaking.
ID. Dress warmly. Boys clothing gen-
orally affords amplc protection from the cold,
but girls should never go upon the ice with.
out wearing Turkish or gymnasium trousers.
3d. Never kneel or sit upon tho ice. es.
pcc;al'y when warmed by exercise, without
using cushion or some intervening sub.
stance 10y way Of protection.
4th. Keep your mouth closed as much ~
possible while in motion, breathing through
the nose only.
9th. Do not ait down Immediately after
skating without having nm extra garment to
throY about your shoulders.
9Th. IT. you are to ride homo, before start
ing walk about for few moments after your
skates are of. When the distance is not too
great, however, walking is always preferable
on such occasions to riding.
7th. Don't attempt, to appear brave, ut
the expense ef common sense. by vynturieg
upon thin ice, or near dangerous or suspi.
cious looking air holes
Sth. And lastly don't GO skating at Ill
whenever by SO doing you neglect home or
school duty. for that is "penny wise and
pound foolish in the happiness line, Ms you
will one Of these days find out to your hearts
content