The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-01-07
BEAUrY ON SKATES.
Something for Gentlemen Exclu-
siYelY.
From the Round Table


A pretty girl on skates, if any girl
on skates can be otherwise than pretty,
clad in one of those jaunty, fur trim
med pelisseS that Cupid himself must
have fashioned, the 1.-THE form bend
ing to and fro in undulous and rhyth-
mic motion, the glowing cheeks and
radiant eyes kissed by kindly Winter
into tenfold beauty, is such a sight as
Che holiest and hardest anchorites
might be pardoned for falling in love
with. And if she be, on the contrary,
a poor skater, the charm is, if any
thing. heightened, at least to her cava-
Ier. There is such an irresistible fas-
cination in herabsolute dependence on
his protecting arm; there is such a
charm in her pretty terrors, her delic-
ious helplessness, her graceful tum-
bles; such music in her little shrieks
of dread and her self accusing laugh
ter; and then it is so delightful to
pick her up after each cOmical upset,
aud she is throughout so good-natured,
and so grateful, and so provOkingly
pretty, that she is, if anything, more
adorable than If she skated like
champiUness. An ice pond, too, on
bright, still night, with the moon and
stars all IN their places to smile en-
couraglng approval, is no bad place to
make love in. When the most adored
OF her sex. asks you, for example, as
you 60 gliding like the wind over the
CLASSY surface, " if this isn't heaven
y" and says she could go on so
forever, what Is easier or more
natural than to press a little
tighter the tiny hand that mes
ties in your own, and suggest
that it is heavenly, and that it will
be her fault if you don't go on for
ever? Or, if she be one of the tum-
bling kind, she is quite as likely to
observe. when you pick her up (not
too quickly for the fifteenth time,
that you are dear, sweet love, and
what can she ever do to repay you,
whereupon you have only to murmur
In her blushing ear that she can be
yours, and the thing is settled at once.
Then there is. all that business of
lacing and unlacing skates, and but
toning and pnbuttoning of tippets,
and thousand other delights that
only the initiated know; and last of
all, the brisk walk home (no sensible
skater ever rfdes) under the mild ben
ediction of the starlight. If there be
any of our readers whose memory
does not hold better picture of this
Winter joyance than any words can
give, he or she has our commisera-
ton and our counsel to be wiser here
after.
There are one or two drawbacks,
however, even to this delightful exer-
else. Skaters, and more especially
those of the gentler-and shall we
add?-giddier sex, are in the habiG of
making too little provision against the
risk of taking cold. After getting
into a violent glow on the ice, they
will rush precipitately into the sitting
heat of the waiting-room to coax back
the circulation iRto feet which have
been numbed by the tightness of
the skate-traps, retaining and so
practically neutralizing their cloaks,
aud furs, and wraps of all sorts. Then,
with lungs debiliIated and system gen
orally weakened by that pestilential
atmosphere, they ride for miles
(of course we are speaking again
of New York, but the analogy
holds good of most other places) In a
vehicle which admirably illustrates a
truth, not recognized by most people,
that air may be uncomfortably cold
without being fit for breathing. Mex
day, as natural consequence, there
are inhuenzas and rheumatism and
neuralgias without number, and cor
responding blasts from paterfamilias
against the folly and wickedness oil
skating. But this danger can be
averted with reasonable care and
prudence, ald by the use of skate
which dispenses altogether with
straps. There is such a one, we be-
lieve, In use, which can be attached
to the sole of the boot, with screws
but it demands very accurate fit In
the boot, and considerable skill il
the wearer-
THE "GREcIAN BEND."-A devote,
of the "Grecian bend, travelling from
Queen Victoria's to Uncle Sans do
minions over the Buffalo and LAX,
Huron Railway. came to grief
few days ago. The damsel was richl
attired and had the bend so bat
as TO unfortunately attract the atten
ton of the revenue officers on tn
American side. Have you any bag
gage2" inquired custom house Of
fetal, eying the bend " suspiciously
Only this, replied the young lady
displaying a small valise She wa
invited into the custom house. "Wha
is this here, ma am? 2" asked the of
ficer nasainO HIS hand over +ha hac'