The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-23
THE ROMANCE OF SKATING.
The Belle Of the Park-Her Dress
and Flirting and CO.
quetting on lce-HInts to the
MoVlces, Etc.

We are not disposed 10 concur with those who
are complaining of the cold weather, much less
with those who find fault generally with the
winter as q season. Abstract the pleasures and
comforts of the winter from the schedule of our
happiness, and we should find that we had SUI
fered q far greater loss than we could readily
have imagined. The winter is the season of
manly sports without and freside delights
within. Are there any boyish memories that we
90 back to with keener zest ami relish, than
the recollection of the traps that were set
in the snow for hares or quails, the sled
that was brought iu at nightlall and so
carefully stored away, the nuts that were
cracked before the great ruddy blaze, and
the historical tale or goblin legend that whiled
the hours away? In warm countries where
they have no snow, the home feeling is
hardly known. 1t takes the storm that beats
against the panes and the winelike glow that is
reflected upon them from the genial fire to in
spire love for home its broad hearth, its secure
roof its fond faces But it is not alone the
apDle-cheeked boy, with his fur cap and woollen
mittens, who is privileged to find enjoyment in
this fine bracing season. Go to our skating
pa ks, and see the men and women there al.
aglow with generous exercise, speeding along
the polished surface of the ice, and describing
figures more aerial and instinct with grace than
the choicest measures OF "dancers dancing in
tune" and confess that here is amusement far
more captivating and hcalthCul than the sum-
mel's promenade or the fashionable dissipation
of the watering place.
Sundays cold snap made splendid ice at the
parks, and yesterday and to-day tney have zen
crowded with the graceful and pretty skat ers
Every park IN town has its acknowledged "be le,'
or "skatorial queen,n to employ a new term
coined to meet the emergency of the new
fashion.
At the Philadelphia Park, Thirty.f an
Walnut streets, Miss S. wins her own lame.s.
and wears them with all the grace OF queen.
Attired in a crimson silk sbirt, velvet oasquine
trimmed with ermine, and iaunty skating cap,
her personnel is attractive in the extreme-at
once model OF simplicity and good taste. Her
evolutlons are natural graceful, and in perfect
harmony with the music. When she waltzes
around the enclosure, hundreds of gloved hands
beat applause. There is no assumption on her
part; no skating for favor. She glides over the
icy mirror ike fairy, without effort. Her
pirouete excels that of the trained ballet girl
upon the sanded stage It is statuesque and
beautiful in the extreme. Unlike most proies-
sional skaters, she never misses a step. Her
''fgure eights" are done to perfection. If fault
she has, it is a lack Of appreciation Of her own
ability. She seems not to know what beautiful
gyralions she makes, and what classical postures
she assumes.
An enthusiastic writer has observed that no
more attractive picture than that of graceful
and beautiful woman on skates can be conceived
The assertion viii be agreed to by all who ever
saWha bright-iaced, 1.-the formed girl or woman
swinging over the smooth surface of a frozen
lake or stream. The skirts, which at first might
be thought to be hndrance, are by no means
so, because one loot is seldom or never perfectly
stationary while the other is gliding, Some
times they both move at once, in curves of beau
tiful freedom, under the impetus OF several pow
erful strokes. When fancy skating is INDUCED
in, the wide-swinging foot is not like the blade
of "a compass, with the other for stationary
perpendicular, but both move at once, only the
one with wider sweep or curve than the other
and thus the whole form is always gracefully
undulating never partially at rest.
But we must not proceed upon the assumption
that all who read this article have practical &C
quaintance with the GLORIOUS art" So far as the
gentle sex is concerned, there are great many
more who cannot skate than who can. For the
benefit of such, few hints may be appended
here The first aud most important point fol
the skater is to have skates of the best quality
Learners generally ruin a pair while acquiring
the art but it is much more difficult to become
proficient upon skates that are constantly gettinG
out OF order and requiring adjustment than i
is with those that, when once fixed upon the feet
are strong, firm, and substantial. The futed o.
shell skates, give better hold to the foot a
first, but the sharp edges soon become dull, an(
the beginner had better learn to balance himsel
on single runners, before he attempts motion
at all.
1t is not advisable either TO use skates tina
have 10 be strapped too tightly to the feet. /
impedes the circulation, makes the feet NUM-
and cold, and causes positive torture instead o
glowing pleasure. you use the wooden skates
procure those which have screws to tasten t
the heel, or, better still, get steel skates with
button on the hecl-plate. Either of these, how
ever, is better than the old fashion OF tlghtsraI
ping, and seems to fix the skate in the frmes
manner to the boot, inspiring confidence i
learners, and giving greater ease and efIicenc
to the adept
In putting on the skate be careful to tuck tn
ends of the straps away tor if they are loos
they are apt to get under the runners, and thror
the wearer. very useful piece ofturniture fo
every skater is a short strap, two or thre
inches long, with buckle at each end, so if
strap should break he only has to insert tn
double buckle at the broken parts, and he is a
fOht