The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1865-12-29

righ6 aud IL will be found that the mere
swing OF the foot aud leg il suffisieatly
powerful TO urge the skater backwards.
The greatest care should ne taken 20 aSoId
too great an impetus at starting, and ina
short time the skater wiz find hiaselfabi
TO glide over the ice In this manner with
perfect case. .raslrm r.u
The heraldic bird from whose contour
the figure spread eagle derives its, name,
is anything but graceful in aspect Nor
does the ice figure redeem it's character.
But as the 0ccompr rshment OF sbe iigufe
is thought necessary by most skaters %
just mention it here. In this figure the two
heels are placed nearly close together, or at
all events in the same line and gthe skates
turned in exactly opposite directions, $50
that one skate goes forwards and the other
backwards. The attitude that is aseumed
10y the, skater while performing tsis ma
nNuvre is nightly like that OF che. spread
eagle on armorial bearings. In this figure
the kuees of the skater are to be bent,at
right angles, The usual mode of ''spread-
ing the eagle" is to skate forwapls rapidly
for some distance, and then suddenly 10
spring into position The line Of direction
must be very accurately taken, and tho
weight thrown rathrr on tue back foot or
the skater will mako series or awkward
plangos, something like those OF an illbal-
anced kite, Instead Of gliding forward easily
and quietly.
Waiting is very pretty figure, and of
course requires two persons. lk hley can
he a lady and gentleman an much the better;
if not, one must euact the lady as well as
he eau. The waltz step is pertOrmcd by
cutting very small 3. and Instead Of COM
ing around on the inside edge, finishing tho
Al. 4. 4 III
Exact step is required, or down SO both
parties. ..a..seC
When four good skaters get together,
they generally manage q quadrille. which it
wei danced, is about the most attractive
OF all the figures. One is appointed leader,
aud he gives notice Of the many changes of
step just as the leader Of u peal OF bells
gives notice OF their changes. The hgTe
that is cut in the ice is composed of Eve
circles; one in the center, and the four others
ranged orosswise OF its outside. Zach
skater stands at the further extremity of
one of the outside circles, and when tho
leader gives the word, all start at opce with
the s step. They thus approach each other,
| and as the central circle forms the top of
an common to oil, it follows that all four
skaters are going round this circle at the
same time. When they have gone round
their circle several times, the leader calls
the next change. This time, instead Of
simply making their &, the skaters cut 3
when they come to the center circle, and so
20 round it backwards. Next change brings
them backwards on the outside edge, done
by rapidly changing the feet as the 3 ia
formed. There are ihnnerable steps IN
this pretty figure, which is almost as yaTia-
BILE as y cotilou, which name wonh bo
quite as applicable as that of quadrille, II
is beautiful sight 20 see the dancer ssiraut,
taneously approaching one point, an rap
idly following each other around a hNlc
circle, with only u foot or two between each
person; then diverging upon their several
tracks, and again meeting in TIE centre.
Let the reader believe one who can speak
from experience, and understand that any
amount Of labor and perseverance, will be
well spent if ho is only qualified To Join
such a ootillon. or even TO perfectly ap-
preciate its beauties. ..