The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-05

Wcl us dioue tho eiiPPSiy iSS. lucsc Ciuuo sio's
ling attachments were something between the mod
ern snowshoe ana the primitive skate IN use hun
dred years ago. But the real inventors OF the SKATE
and the authors of its scientific use the cava
ers OF Holland who 500 years since began 10 dispor
upon the extensive fields Of ice OF their frosfayoret
latitude 1t Is found recorded in the quaint diary
Pepys OF December Is, 1862 as foows--
ITO the Duke. and followed him into
the park, where though the Ice was bro
ken, he would 60 slide upon his skaits
which 1 did NOS like, but he slide,
very wen." Swift in I'LL, speaks in his pm
pears OF q dedicate walking weather, and the cana
and Rosamond ponds full OF the rabble sliding and
with skaits, II you know what that Is" In late
years fashion took hold OF the gay and healthy exer
cise and in lS14 Hyde Park, London, resoundet
with the shouts Of thousands Of the peerage anC
landed gentry mingling their dextrous turns on til,
Ice with all the hllary in the nature or an enthus
astic Englishman. The ladies' the brightest hues
and most attractive costumes partook in the enjoy
ment. From those days 1t became settled fact that
ladies' could skate, and skate We'll In this coun-
try skating has long been popular; but as
elsewhere stated, has been until recently
In its infancy. Christmas begins the skating
season, on The average, and figures indicate that 1t
closes some TIME in February. Much, however, de-
ponds upon the atmospheric conditions but in rigid
winters the season ID always prolonged. There are
many astute scientists who believe that the winters
In New York are growing milder. The determlna-
ton OF atmospheric currents toward the Atlantic
seaboard freghted as they are by the mild tempera-
lures OF the Gulf Stream is good reason why this
theory may be true. Certain 1T is that practical
exhibit shows a general decline in severity during
the past few years. AS the season is embraced in a
period prior to Lent, the religious community are
mot ron ho la
ard masquerades; and hence. while the era is short
1t has everything to make 1t sweet
LADIES AS SKATERS.
II the mind OF man runneth not to the contrary
when skating was first introduced on this sphere,
the elastic faculties OF woman need little exercise TO
determine the date when she was first bold enough
to ensumDer her hardly visible organs Of locomo-
tion with the feet and polished STEEL Her assump.
ton OF this mailed panoply Is OF recent day; but
IN doing 1t she showed that If she consulted her
pleasurein seeking Inc company Of the ugly men
she is wont TO term them-in one OF the most de-
nRntfu OF sports, she also sought boon which Is
contained o healthfui ana muscular excitement. If
not abused, that caa never cause otherwise
than the most favorable sanitary results. The
only Thing to be deplored in this recreation
Is that too few and not too many OF the far sex en-
gage In Its myriad OF lasting and increasing fascina
stiUuS. CoiuS bpuiu uctuusc tucy complain on
weak ankles; but weakness Is often the synonym OF
ieanness. Especially regarding skating must this
philosophical equality exist though 1t is to be hoped
as the popular belief is that no such subtle distnc-
ton could be made to apply to the ladies OF New
York. 1t is SAID that fashionable enjoymenls among
the ladies OF the city are largely controlled py the
imperious mandates OF foreign bellies who settle In
upper tendon. Now, whether absence OF de-
velopment-rather an absence OF artistic outline
characterizes what nature has bequeatned to these
leaders or not as regards their pedal heritage, one
must be in the dire extremity OF ignorance because
the problem has attained sufficient dignity from its
importance to have engaged the attention OF the
socialist and statstcian and these worthy function
aries have declared that the subject OF ank-ular de-
yelopment necessitates an investigation that would
terminate in the accomplishment OF q feat OF too
enormous proportions to satisfy all interested. No
doubt It would. The result would be fatal; for the
popular belief If not fallacy, is that no gazele Is
ftIed for the union OF hearts and hands without her
feet also enter into the compact and as this is
but brief paradise-a small Illusion, at least-few
are willing TO have their walk In life defaced by
enlarged or heavy footprints. II they submit to 1t
and young lady in the market is selected because
she Is game in this particular the result generally
turns out that the foot becomes game with
we are considering many bone might
be picked. Hints like these are only no
tons and should not be translated literally,
lest some believers should fan into the hopeless
ror that an ankles an ankle for all tnat True 1t is
Some ingenius inventor over the water-probably in
Pars-has succeeded in making up the unjust dis
parity which has been found just above the shoe In
many LADIES, much TO their Datural disappointment
So that now, did Phidias live, his skilled touch
could hardly cut from the choicest Carara inns
Of more wondrous symmetry and beauty than
those with which high degree OF the art has flooded
New York. \ ct there IS q certain something that
always betrays certain nothIngness. For instance,
1t ID fair to conclude that a scrawny arm and an
emaciated wrist aud hand do not accompany a
rounded and tapering neither extremity. Then the
foot Is so compressed, Its flesh so punched up that
few can walk, much less SKATE. From all this we
conclude that somebody Is responsible for the small
number OF skating ladies; but alasl too often that
somebody Is poor. unjust nature.
People doubtless eyy disposed declare emphau.
cally that skating has not been mothered by the
fashionable women as it has been fathered by the
fashionable men, for the reasons given.
"a gust OF wind on the ice would destroy many q
young ladys chances OF marriage said O fashiona-
Die lady the other day, more frank than honest
How go, Madamegn
"Gentlemen do not admire number fours, which
would become apparent on all fours, you KNOW
yertable poser, a precious BIZ of philosophy,
an acute female suDtlety, real sumner.
prude was interviewed by the HERALD reporter
to discover the prevailing sentiment among her
siserhood, the average age Of whose members casts
q deep shadow from beyond the thrties.
'Do you skate, Miss -rr
NO. SIR ~ emphatic monosyllables).
III presume you, ike other young ladies'. do think
OF making graceful figures on the Ice this winter "
mo- sir'' with indignationl; "the exercise is com
mon, vulgar and indicate, and Is patronzed by
fash society alone"
The eyes OF our reporter wandered into space, O
deep sorrow gathered on his countenance and hi
utterance ceased. Is 1t stranger Among all the
objections which have been urged to tle gentle
graceful evoIutions ON the Ice none WIN strike the
reader as more indecate than those which proclaim
skating TO be indicate, TOO masculine TO
Tom -llken Is the cry. The fact Is, that ytn
that is robust that is muscular In its effects braclnl
IN It's consequences and beneficial In It's direct In
nuences upon the constitution Is not too masoulln
for ladies, 70 long as IL mas been so extensively an
30 successfully practsed as SKATING has been by th
tar sex. The only obstacles to Its more general en-
joyment In New York, as now In most Oh the West
ern cities, reside in the weak. dull, insane spirit
constitutions worn by dissipation and decayed b.
fashionable vice, and III the affected nicely tina
everything modern Is vulgar, and everything vulga
modern.
There are many kinds OF skates In USE but the