The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-12-14
How to Skate.

Skating is probably the healthiest ant
most exhilarating of all outdoor exercises
and amusenents. 1t is also becoming fash
ioaable, which is good thing, because many
young ladies will find in that magic word ar
inducement to making the exertion, which
they could not find in its inherent excellence
I'd healthfuness.
All the large cities have = NV their skating
ponds, and through the winter their skating
carnivals; and a fine sight it is to see the
gEttering eXpanse of ice, lit up with thou.
sand lamps, and thronged with skaters Of
both sexes, in every variety of picturesque
costume.
American ladies', however, have not as We,
learned to thoroughly enjoy skating. They
are too much afraid Of the cold, and too de.
sirous of looking pretty, to dress comfort.
ably. A fancy skater, in tight CATERS, wide
skirts, short sack, and little round hat, just
perched on top OF the head, is about as pit
liable an object as one can imagine; and the
l. .al suffering under these circumstances is
such that one is not surprised so many are
disgusted, and, after few trials, relinquish
it entirely.
Skating is defined as the art of balancing
the body, while, by the impulse of each foot
alternately, it moves rapidly upon the ice.
AS the tread ofthe skate should correspond
the wood Of the skate should be of the same
length as the boot or shoe. If the skate be
TOO long, the stroke will be feeble. and the
hack of the leg painfully cranlped if it be
too short, the footing viii be PROFESSIONALLY
Il nsteady and tottering.
The iron should be about quarter of an
inch thick and the more simple the fasten.
ings Of skate are, the better.
Before going on the ice, the inexperienced
skater should learn to Tie on the skates, and
may also learn to walk with them easily in a
rom, balancing alternately on each foot,
The dress of Il skater should be as close
and Aforementioned as possible. Large skirts
get cntangled with the limbs, and annoy
every body about you. Moreover, all full.
ness of dress is exposed to lie wind, and
the hoop skirts, therefore, very wide around
the bottom, should be avoided in skating
,stume.
Warm under clothing is of course essen.
tiaI. Flannel is best next the skin, as it
prevents any sudden chill after the perspira-
lion produced by violent exercise.
The best dress for n lady is cloth suit
dress aud paetot edged with a very narrow
band Of fur Balmoral Skirt with a scarlet
border. scalloped ont, Just reaching to the
top of the Polish boots, which are also edged
with far; dress skirt same length AS the
Balmoral and slightly festooned, Just enough
10 show the scalops; Polish cap, with band
Of far and plume; muif suspended from the
neck by cord, and narrow collar, both to
match the fur trimming.
lady trying to skate for the first time
should take hold Of the hand orsome gentle
man friend until she has learned to keep
her footing; but she will find it necessary
10 reinquish it before she discovers how to
balance herself properly. A fall or two,
and little awkward scrambling, should not
discourage her; the difficulty once surmount
ed pays for the trouble.
elfpo@session is the great secret of sue
cess. Don't be afraid, and don't be in IL
hurry keep the feet pear together and the
ankles Grm. Do not attempt TO gain the
edge of the skate by bending it, because the
right mode of getting to either edge is by
the inclination Of the whole body in the di
rection required; and this inclination should
be made learlessly and decisively.
Simply mechanical directions, however,
are not of much use. Skating is somewhat
of n gift, and only those are adopts who are
born to it. Practice and little persever,
ance will, however, make any person re.
spectacle skater, aud we should certainly
advise all to try.