The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1865-02-15

1T cLEw GARNET, y. o. N.

kill Park--Diamond dtto--private ditt
1.-The grand fun--men on skates, boy
on skates; splendid sylphides in scan
skirts. steel-sbod and skirring away owe
the Observation-Disclosures! the very
reading gave me the ice-lever consequen
upon the sudden attack, / resolved upor
taking an ice-cruise myself.
Why not? What was to hinder?
had never navigated that sort Of craft
tits true. But then I'd been on The wat
er, and undor water, all my life--and on
ice, too some. Hadn't killed seals, and
chased white bears, for weeks together,
on ice?
Women could skate--eo the papers
said. 30 did everybody else, when in
quired OF 'em. 1 could ekatsl What
was the reason l couldn't? The only
things I'd ever seen woman do that /
couldn't. was to hook her own dress aft,
and carryingsi eet breadth Of orinoline,
sail through a twenty-inch door way. Yes
sir--I could skate; and was bound on
an ice,cruise.
There was nothidg to prevent the OK
pedition from being fitted out at once. |
was lounging about the Navy Yard. de-
taohed from everything-all acquantsn-
ces Misunderstanding orders. Disgust
cd with bar rooms, detesting theatres,
what was l to do? Why, aEots, of coursel
Ah, yesl--the very thing, by Jovel Why
hadn't thought Of that before? Id
have cruise directly; or sooner if posi-
BILE. No--I must have the tools first, and
started off up town to find 'em.
brought up in front Of big window
on the starboard side Of Chestnut street.
going towards Schuylkill, where they had
more different rigs of slding-machnes
than you can see national flags in Gibral
tar. Knowing about as much Of The
qualifications Of the different patterns as
cow does Of chronometer time, went
inside. and asked for pair of skates
"What kind do you prefer sir?"
"Oh, | have no preference. Give me
The best article you've got"
Eyes, sir" and the clerk passed ou.
for inspection pair Of brass-clad, steel
clippers. with more gilgies and running
rigging to 'em than there 10 to a French
sloop. .ofwar
"These are the best are theyp"
eyes, sir-decidedly! Just get on to
them. cir. and you'll go everywhere and
anywhere. like patent lightnin9l If you
don't find it so, bring 'em back, sir, and |
III return your money"
whats the price?"
"Fosrtsen dollars! Very cheap sir" |
Didn't believe that, of course but in
vested the amount and made sail Tor
Fairmount.
Found superb skating. Everybody /
said so-only those that called it elegant
splendidl magnificent There was
regiment Of men, battalion of dimity,
and whole brigade of small craft, on
skates-shivering, scooting, and cutt;ugl
all sorts Of fanoies on the ice; everybody |
laughing, chattering, whooping, skylark
ing and fitterng in all directions! and
didn't wonder newspapers, and every
body else, called skating glorious fun.
"Have your skates strapped. sir? ssid
au itnersnt boot.black about the heighth
OF a walking stick.
"Do you understand It. Dub"
"oh yes, sir. strap all the ladies'
skates for 'em.''
"Ah, he! Do ell? Must have a Jolly |
time of it! Would like the berth myself. |
There you are. Go ahead, boy!' and |
sat down on Blackie's box, about coup /
le OF fathoms out on the ice.
WhiEl like rocket, went by a great
atrapping long-legged chap. with olgsr
flying iib-boom, and swinging his arms
like frigste's headyards in a hurricane.
with the braces all adrift.
"sc, ho! So they can smoke on skates
--eh, hoy?" \
"lordl yes SIR. Everybody smokes OF
the ice."
Exactly" So I fred up on prin
cipe, and shipped it for the cruise.
Z Urchin announced skates all staunto.
and took fifty cent fractional" fee,
"Here, boy yl--here' another fifty. Just