The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-01-09
Our Experience in Skating.


amusements< We were not Of a sufficiently
mathematcaly turn 10 mark out paralIelo-
grams or circles, or write our name in large
characters upon the ice. The amusements
that we appreciated during theicy season were
rather different We were what might have
been called a mischerous urchin, and, there
fore, delighted in setting all kinds OF icy traps
on the streets for cross old ladies or tender
footed gents, in freezing up pumps by pouring
water in the caps over night, or IN fierce snow
balling combats to the destruction Of window
glass and plug hats.
Many night have we spent several hours
of hard work in building up a snow blockade
in front Of some cross old gents door, or in
fixing snowfall over the door to drop on him
the next morning. Thus we passed the win
ter of our youth, our pleasures occasionally
variegated by "licking' from our patelnal,
or a sound thrashing. from some one on whom
we practiced our jokes.
" We were on the ice good deal, and had a
great deal of fun on it, one way or the other;
but we never cared about skating; we never
put on the irons TO try it; and so we grew up
passed from boybood up through the soph
omore class of Black Jack Academy, and an
assistant clerkship in Spiffkins' dry goods
store, and have attained at last the top round
Of the ladder, and now sport note book and
pencil and pink moustache. We are news
paper man-the pet of ladies at the fair, and
standing deadhead into all the shows, par
ties, etc.
As we just said, we are a faVorite with the
ladies, partly on account Of our personal at
fractions, and partly because we WELD the
mighty lever that prizes this uneDlighened
hemisphere over every day: and we must ac-
knowledge that the ladies are favorites with
Us.
Last evening, as we passed along Chestnut
street, we deserted two lovely damsels walk
ing towards US, chattering like chipmunks and
eating peanuts The dears recognised US by
the ftfu glimmer of the street lamp and at
once LAYING hands on US made US prisoner
ooh, Mr. Darby" said one, 'you must take
us to the skating park" ooh, yes" said the
other, ''do; we were just going down to get
elbow, and wouldn't think of refusing"
Wasn't We a nice fellow, too? Guess we was
A ''stunner," if we may use the phrase.
So in an evil moment we consented to take
hem to the park, assuring them at the same
line that we couldn't skate step, and all that
We could do would be to 60 there and look on.
So they soon procured their skates, and one
lnder each arm, we took them to The cars and
out to the park.
Once inside, dazzling picture met our eye
The large pond was covered with merry ska
tiers, cutting, like wildire, in all directions,
and looking almost like performers in some
grand opera, a weird, unearthly light being
thrown on the scene from about a dozen large
lamps, that peered into the darkness like the
headlights of a locomotive. Our girls squeezed
our arm in excited admiration and anxiety to
get on the slippery play ground, as we led
them to the ladies' room of the hall, where
they tripped in 10 fasten on their skating appa-
ratus. In a few minutes they returned to
where we were standing, skates fastened on
and dresses Topped up, and after consoling us
on our ignorance Of the art, and trying to coax
us into trial of our skill, they started off with
a dash, and were soon whirng through the
moving crowd.
We stood on the bank, looking mournfully
after them as they disappeared, but they soon
came into sight again, each with an attendant
cavalier, gay and festive chap, with whom
they sped along in flying lines or whrled
around in dangerous circles. Twice or three
times they passed near US, and we felt mad
enough at ourself and them fellers To-. At
last they left their conveys and came over to
us. ooh, Mr. barley, do put on the skates;
DO try them on. We know you can skate.
Well walk easy with you. us very easy to
learn" etc, and thus instigated We hired
pair of the treacherous irons, and had them
bo
he girls one on each side Of us steadying US
~ holding our arms, and whispering words of
Encouragement in our ear.
Who wouldn't try under such circumstances?
What fellow wouldn't die for his fatherland,
NJ run the risk of breaking his nose or frac-
turing his skull for such reward as the ap-
Dreciatiye smiles of two such beauties? We
put our right leg forward, it made an attempt
20 slip away, but we caught it. Then we put
onward the left-it made side shoot, but we
erked it in, then stuck the skate heels firmly
under us, clenched our teeth, and-the first
step was made. The girls smiled approving
y, we took another step by ourselves. and ev
orything was progressing finely when, oh!
misfortune, one of them dcyilish boys came
>Fidding along like lightning, and in attempt
.ng to go between our legs, destroyed our
equilibrium, and down we went on our center
ct gravity with about the force and velocity Of
a aip hammer, on our ten dollar plug, which
slightly broke the shock, and kneeling, saw
/ ne dry doods> futtering above US, and then
limited.
Our girls put piece OF ice to our head and
We revived; got up and went 10 the bank,
where we sat down and Strengthened out our
lead gear, Vowing vengeance on the first boy
hat came near. We were mortified, and told
pur fair charges to go on and enjoy them
selves, that we had had enough OF it, on
they went at the word, grinnng, as I'm alive,
The heartless things, and there we were left
sitting.
We thought we wouldn't have fell if it had
not been for them boys. SO We determined t.
Try it again, but kept our eyes open this time. /
So we went up to the hall, borrowed nh old
gentlemaos umbrella, and returned. deter
mined to d. or fall We took q preliminary
nip from SMALL flask that we always carried .
on cool OCCASIONS, and thus encouraged VIC
started of agaI@. Slowly, calmly, and care
fully we moved OFT, using the umbrella 10 as
slst our progress, and were doing tirst-rate,
when along came Fompkns with Mrs. Boun-
Ger, her Ulcers flying wildly back at each
strde, and revealing such ankles, ETC. /
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