The Indianapolis daily herald., 1865-12-23

\ ldfu Win n region ~ WY tfutf ihftsof$s anu
wrapped In n frosty attire gocs about nipping
everybody who ventures away frum within
the four walls q home. and incautlously gocs
out into bis cold embrace. And yet with all
his noise and bluster hi. curt manner and
frigid treatment-who shall say that this same
Boreas Is an unwelcome visitor. II i true,
that In the last DAYS Of winter. We long for the
son breczes of spring 20 blow again. over the
fresh awakening earth, and for the languid,
enervating breath Of summer. 10 soothing In
lulling into rest the senses. Man can not be
reconeiled % monotony. He II himself The
most variable and moody Of all things And
by the economy Of Providence, the outer world
i adapted with exact harmony to this condi-
ton 81 humanity.
d" The earth was made 30 various
That the mind Of dcsultory man,
Studious 81 change. and pleased with nos city,
Might De INDUCED"
Dyspeptics NAV shuddcr at winter aud hug
the fre-dogs ondearngly. but the healthy in
diyidual, healthy In mind and body, heods
not the chilly north-westor, but iinds In the
crisp air Of midwinter life-dving element.
But we started out to speak Of " skating" and
tho reader will please consider these
fugitive reflections A. preface. "a the
winter suggests 10 the inhabitants Of the rural
dstriet. sleigh rides where.
..Swift they 20 DER the ieecy snow.
While the moonbcams sparkle round
20 10 the citizens Of the city II fll, the mind
with thoughts 81 skating. II sets the mind all
ag0w with Visions Of gay crowds curveting
and gyrating on the ley surface Of the skating
park. where he she enjoys the sport most
who i most skIlnll In the scientific accom-.
plishment called skating. Notwith standing
the ease with which skating seems 10 be done.
Il i nevertheless not the smoothest thing In
the world to manage. Iii very exact science,
and Is easy Of performance anybody can
skate when he knows how. Every rose has
It, thorns," and " there i no good without al
10y" skating has lis cups" and " downs"
it, &" slip ups " and its " bumps" and whoever
would achieve excellence In the science,
must be- content 10 go through trial 20 fri
umph."
II i not the easiest thing In the world 10
maintain graceful and digni6ed eauipose on
skates. Before any one can become an adept
he must consent 10 many solf-inflicted hui
si,ts in a series Of lofty tumblings, spreading
out NJ full length upon the ice, balancing ON
the tip Of the nose, attempting to discover
which j. the hardest substance-thc back Of
! the head or the ice or breaking through the
treachcrOus crust the lee with the thermome-
ter far below zero. when there l. no assurance
that YOU viii ever get out again; all this and
much more unpleasant experience must You
undergo If YOU desire to become proficient In
the art Of gliding along upon the lee on steel
shoes. with grace and immunity from invert-
/ Ing the usual posture and standing on the
crown instead Of on the feet.
our citizens have always cherished lively
appreciation of the art, but up To the time
that our enterprising and progressive friend
Moses opened the Skating Park" the pleas.
ures Of skating were INDUCED in by very
small number compared with this winter,
/ force of skaters. II j. true that We had the
canal and the river. presenting sufficient ex
/ panse IL accommodate al army Of skaters, tut
in the absence Of the proper regulations pre-
venting the enforcement Of order and polite
ness, it wa. not a proper place for ladies
Now, however the Park is in excellent order
plishment.
We have come To believe in exercise in the
open air. and scout nj the idea which would
deprive Us Of wholesome and rational enjoy.
ment and exercise 30 necessary Ia our health
and well-being. Let the lounger in the tropics
luxuriate i'm the cnervating atmosphere, and
amid the dainty orange groves and the per-
4 fumes that freight the air. Let him laugh nj
the pleasures Of US mortals in these more frigid
realms Let him regale himself with figs and
oranges, and shiver at the thought OF Boreas;
/ but he could sooner expect 10 stop the world
| from revolving upon its axis than TO convince
Us that skating \ not a rational and healthful
enjoyment.
! But let Us not be arrogant and conclude that
skatingis an institution peculiar 10 Us as a ma
ton. Skating is very ancient. Itcomes down
| 10 US through the vanished years and ages OF
the past, recommended by many Of the most
progressive and enlightened people Of the
world-indeed, il has outliyed many contem-
poraneous institutions. In Greece, the especial
patron of the Arts and Sciences, il was AL.
vcrtisement second in interest only 10 the
Olympian and Isthmian Games. and was fos-
people on n scale of extensive grandeur Prize,
were contended for. and high value set upon
successful competition. The victor was com
plimented with the fattering distinction OF
having his name and the particulars Of his ex-
plot inscribed conspicuously in the market
places.
Among the Hcllanders skating i. u very an
/ cient and honored institution. From time so
/ far back that the memory Of man runs not "a
I the contrary, skates have been used there by
/ all classes Of people. because Of the more easy
mode Of progress afforded thereby, along the
canals and rivers in which that country
ab0unds. In most countries, however. skating
i mentioned a. an amusement, and healthy
practice. The Icelanders are fond Of the ox-
/ ercise. and history records that in the 0lden
+ time they made their skates ..of the shank bone
+ Of deer or sheep. about a foot long
/ In the description Of ancient customs in
London, by Fitx stephen, that author
remarks: Some I've bones 10 their heeles, and
shoveing themselves by little picked state DO
slide a. simply bird flyeth through the air.
or an arrow from erosse-bow."
But this articlei is growing too proliN and we
must tkt>t. I-lNt4-A Has RttA tA1tSa - cuNN
that skating is peculiar 10 no nation.
In these modern days there Is q great i'm
proyemcnt in the pedal equipments for skating
IL l. no longer necessary TO tye bones 70 the
heele-, and then shove alonge" on the
A." shanke bone q sheepe" bat merely step
into some Of the extensive establishments in
this city. where improved skates are Kept, that
are very ornamental instead II being cum
brous. All tha; YOU have TO 60 l.. for instance.
10 step into Baldwins Fancy BazaAr and 81
lect pair Of skates that combine utility with
neatness Of appearance There 4, pair II
skates for every individual N town At the Fan
cy Bazaar
The recent cold weather has placed ska,er>
on the qui rfre. Every thing i in readiness
for the Ice King, who j. reported L. he On his
way. The following translation from the Ger
man will serve Ia give -onie idea q n hoary
old mans PERSONNEL
TIN ICE KING.
Down frem the North with heary be4rd.
-. . - ia ,,,au A., ~ ..,a.. 49,. ,.t.-7