The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-02-02
Skating Kinks.


community OF skaters. A "BIue.nose'' or
II ''Canuck'' would laugh at such abortions.
In the British Provinces, where the Rink
exists in its full and sublime perfection, we
, find structures as spacious and graceful as u
! Worlds Far PALACE, whose crystal floors
are nightly renewed and polished TO sicam-
! ing by the biting frost. Each night the icy
arena is planed by y machine and flooded to
the depth Of an inch: and then, through
! every opened door and window, the Keen
air is admitted to harden aud glaze the sur.
face for the next days sport. From Decem,
Der until March, throughout the long aud
dreary winter. the Rink oHiords the chiefand
constant centre OF attaction; before ii all
other festivities pale their fires. 1t is the
Social Circle Of the Provincial elite; and tho
unfortunate in pelticoats or trowsers who is
not member tlxeof, might as well count
himself out of society altogether. Al! the
chief cities Of Canada boast their skating
RinEs. Montreal has model one but for
extent, adaptation to the purposes lorwhich
it is designed, and beauty Of detail, that at
st. John. New Brunswick, unlur3tionable
bears of the palm.
This Rink Is owned by an incorporated
stock company, with u capital Of $4,000,
Which paid an per cent. dividend the frs,
r'ycar. The main structure is oIcircular from
! $50 feet in diameter, and covers an area Of
%, o0o superficial feet. 1t is an immense
dome, resting upon perpendicular walls %
feet high and pierced with 30 windows, and
is surmountcd by graceful copola or Ian.
tern, the apex Of which is 50 feet from the
ground. This lantern contains q windows,
throwing light directly iato the interior of
the structure. Within, and girtug the cx.
trcme circumference, is aplatiorm, or prom
enadc, 10 feet wide, for the accommodation
Of spectators In the centre is Il circular
| frame. work containing IL spacious stand for
the band, from which IL spiral iron staircase
asccnds to two circular galleries, one above
the other, the highes! 30 feet from the ground,
whence Il birds eye view OF all that is pass.
ing below can be had ut Il glance. From
this focal point also spring the supporting
rafters that form the huge dome which con.
stitutcs the chief feature of the design, pro.
ducing an effect airy and graceful ia the ex.
irene: it can not be better described in terms
unarchitectural than to likcn it to fountain
whose waters, Spriuging from the centre,
fall in maics,ically- sweeping curves to the
ontcr perimeter. All the area bclwocn the
band stand and the circular promenade is
covered with ice, which is flooded daily from
! the City WaterW Works. The outside front
is tw1 stories high, with decorated entabla.
ture, and contains waiting and rcfreshmept
rooms, dressing rooms, and the residence OF
the ianitor. The whole ediicc cost about
$4,000. and is in every respect creditabe
| to its projectors, and an ornament to the
! city.
Nothing can be more lnspiriting than the
scene to he Witnessed here on II gala night.
! All thruHg h the spacious vault above hang
pendent clusters OF gas Jets, whose gloams
are reproduced and multiplied in the polish
ed surface beneath wrcalEs and coronals
of blazing lights encirc.e the central scailoid.
ing lights twinkle high up among the over
/ arching railers, and blaze along The whole
circumference Of the outer walls. In the
! midst Of the restless ever changing ihrong.
the regimental band di>courscs the liveIiest
strains. The fla Shng scarf. uniforms o'the
I Line officers mix and mingle with the more
sombre hues. Shapry ellin figures fit, van
I ISL and reappear. The scenes shift with
marvellous rnpdity, like the combinations
l T. Ill = IL
I ~ pair Gr anh les in the distance, with gas
light slis!,uing Ut the heels, Anon aneXper
glides swiftly into an open space, cuts II
figure on the outside edge, spins three times,
and again subsidies INTO the universal ring
The outsiders that throng the promenade
lool; on approvingly, and admire with en-
thusiasm. How charming young lady
looks ION ice!' Even the homcliest dam.
sells seem lovely on ice. .!aun,y hat with
plume, slender waist, skirts gracefully ies.
TONED, with crimson peiticoat pcepiny out
beneath, a very visible pair Of stockings of
any positive color, twin little feet delica,cly
poised on rercrp'ible nothing. an easy S,lph
like motion, tiny Gloved hand in yours,
masculine reader. and shawl sung carclesslv
over your uuincumbcrcd ARM These arc
delights that pertain 10 Kinks. There are
little mishaps as we'll, and many It slip-but
pleasant ones. A fall never breaks ANY
boucs, you know, and CT course your fore
Tending arm is ever ready TO intefposc be-
tween tho memorable ccanti the female form
divine And how radiautly she bushes al.
ter the al Wonder if Mother Eve did the
same \ little snow does no harm either,
and is brushed OIL il Il twinklnG. lTpacain.
the best foot foremost merry laugh, and
away We glide once more. No wonder the
Rink is popular, under the circumstances,
Why, love is won and lost there oilencr in
single evening than during a whole season
of commonplace ballroom monotony. The
music keeps ones heart in il constant ilutlcr
and OF course pressure OF the hand is
necessary to preserve Il proper balance. -
OF this we arc assured: and then we 20 fast.
cr round, and more swiftly still, until the
gas lights, which betimcs shonc down peace.
fully like stars, now dance and flicker. and
seem to chase each other in swift pursuit,
and the endless circle of spectators resolves
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