The Shasta courier., 1865-06-10
SHASTA COURIER.
Highjinks on Skates.

Park-Dlamond ditto private uitto-'no
grand fur-men on skates, boys on skates ;
splendid sylphides in scant skirts, steei-shou'
and skirring away over the ice-the-thun-
der! The very reading gave me TIE Ice le-
yer, and in the delirium consequent upon
the sudden attack, l resolved upon taking an
ice cruise myself.
Why not? What was to hinder hau
never navigated thai sort OF craft, is trae-
But then I'd been on the water and under
the water all my life, and on the Ice. TOO,
some. Hadn't | killed seals and chased
white bears for weeks together on ice.
Women could skate-so the paper sag.
So did everybody else, when inquired OF
'em. | could skate. What was the reason
/ couldn't? The only thing d ever seen
woman do that | couldn't was to hook her
own dress eft, and carrying six feet oreaoth
crinoline, sail through a twenty-ineh door
way. Yes, sir-I could skate and | was
bound on an ice-cruise.
There was nothing TO prevent the expe-
dition from being fitted out at once. l was
lounging about the Navy Yard, detached
from everything-all acquaintances included
waiting orders. Disguised with bar
rooms detesting theaters, what was | to do
for amusement? Why, skate, of course!
Al. yes the very thing. by Jovel Why
hadn't thought Of that before? I'd have a
cruise directly; or sooner if possible. No
i must have the tools frst-and | started
off up town to find EN-.
| brought up on a big window on the
starboard side of Chestnut street, going to
Schuykill, where they had more different
rigs of sliding machinery than you see national
flags in Gibraltar Knowing about as much
about the qualifications of the different pat
terms as a COW )es of chronometer time, |
went inside and asked for pair of skates.
"What kind do you prefer, sir y"
80, have no preference. Give me the
best you have got.
Yes, sir !" and the clerk passed out for
inspection pair of brass clad steel slippers,
with more gilgies and running rigging to 'em
than there is to French sloop of war.
:. These are the best, are they'"
"Yes. sir decidedly just get on to
them, sir, and you'll go everywhere and
anywhere like patent lightning. If YOU
don't find it so, bring 'em back sir, and fll
return your money"
whats the price ?''
" Fourteen dollars. Very cheap, sir.'
Didn't believe that, of course but in
vested the amount and made all sail for Fair.
mount.
Found superb skating. EVERYBODY said so
only those who called it elegant There
was regiment of men. battalion of dimi-
ity, and whole brigade of small craft, on
skates-skivering scooting and cutting all
sorts of fancies on the ice: everybody laugh
ing, chattering. whooping. skylarking and
skittering in all directions And | didn't
wonder newspapers, and everybody else,
called skating glorious fun.
"Have yer skates strapped. SIR" said an
Inherent boot black about the hight of a
walking stick.
"Do you understand it. Bub y
go, yes. sir, strap all the ladies' skates
on for 'em."
"Ah hal do, eh? 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 couple of
fathoms out on the ice.
Whiz like rocket, went by great
strapping long-legged chap, with cigar
fying .jibhoom, and swinging his arms like
frigate' headyards in hurricane, with
the braces all adrift.
"Oh. hol so they can smoke on skates
eh, boy!"
Lord-yes, sir. Everybody smokes on
the ice"
Exactly" So fred up on Principe,
and shipped it for the cruise.
Urchin announced skates all ataunto, and
took fifty cent . fractional" fee.
- Here, boy !-heres another fifty. Just
allow me to sit on your box few minutes
till get the run of navigation"
= Yes, sir you can set there till l git
somebody else to strap"
So | sat there studying ice navigation by
dead reckoning, till directly little petticoat
craft in yellow trousers, skirts to her knees,
red belt, Russian cap, and arms akimbo,
swooped down, and checked up right in front
of nae There she hung minute, auiver-
ing-iike, and balancing. Just as a fish hawk
does over his prey; and ali the time eyeing
me with ajolly twinkle in her dancing black
eyes.
" A challenge for race, sir, Catch me
if you can, sir.
Little Dimity lifted her left foot a trife,
bent right knee slightly, made a graceful
curve the bottom of her skirt Just brushing
nv nose, and off she went like a flying fish
re. ee e-e-st-- zit l-swinging from side to
side. her tartan skirts swaying hither and
thither. like the folds of a spanker brailed in
with the ship head to wind.
% So ho. That's a challenge, is it? And
that's the way to skate ! Thunder l eau
skate ANYBODY can skate"
But l couldn't though, whatever anybody
else could do. l accepted Dimity's chal-
lenge, however, and her practice on Ice. So
/ bounced up from that blacking box, lifted
lef. foot little, bent right knee. and struck
nv arm akimbo. But | didn't cut curve.
| did the next best thing, however, and cut
a "spread eagle" Port foot slipped due
southeast. and starboard one northwest, till
realized those spreading pictorial inpossi
bilities on circus bills. | wondered If my
boots and skates would ever become ship
mates again.
Halo. mister, you must n t try to skate
all over both sides of this ERE pond at once !!
growled an old commercial looking chap, as be
checked up long enough to put in his remon
STRANGE against my icemonopolY.
"I say, Mr.. Saltwater; couldn't yer lift
yerself amidship bit, so we can sail tween
yer legs? piped a young scamp, file leader to
astring of twenty Juvenile skaters.
Don't try to skate on both at once, my
dear siri advised a sensible, Christian look
ing young man, who came to my assistance,
and set me on an even keel once more.
When you lift enc foot. sir, you must throw
all your vigor and muscle into the other
limb. And. remember to sway your body SO
that your weight will always be upon that