The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-03-31
European Correspondence.
Social Life i'm Aaermamy.
FRANKFORT ON THE MAIN,
MARCH Ctr, 1876

EDITOR TELEGRAPH -
L have heretofore remarked that one oil
the characteristic traits of the German
people is the love OF outdoor life To
this, together with plain living, may be
ascribed ir great degree the robust and
full developed psysiques as well as good
health of the people.
Among the amusements and attractions
of the people in winter
is skating, Kinks have never
been heard of and will not be for many
generations to come The fields and
meadows that skirt the river Maine form
the best kind Of Kinks, and everybody Is
privileged to go on them These meadows
afford fields of ice for miles in length,
with but few Interruptions On every
pleasant day in winter may be seen great
throngs of persons of all degrees in life,
from the peasant boy to the prince, enjoy
ing this favorite past time. A great many
go to see the crowd of skaters in this
sport upon the ice. Here the old and
the young, the we'll dressed and the poor
| ly clad are all on one democratic plat
form, and enjoy the carnival. Very many
of the young ladies are expert skaters
and among the young men few are found
anywhere their superiors.
At all these places there are persons
who are supplied with large quantity
OF skates, who rent them by the hour for
a trif1e. They have seats for their GUS
toners to sit in while they fit the skates
on. There are others who have nicely
cushioned chairs fitted to steel runners.
In this may be seen an old lady of eighty
years, or budding damsel of sixteen,
who feels that the effort of skating her
self is too much of task The nimble.
skater takes his place behind and away
they go with the swiftness of the wind.
The biographer of Goethe relates a
pretty incident IN the life of the poet.
This was his native city, and the house
in which he was born is not an old one
yet, and his room ls still shown to stran-
gers. He was extremely fond of athletic
sports, and none more than skating. On
one occasion his mother rode down to the
river In her carriage to see this sport
which has almost become national, wear
ing rich ermine cloak lined with red
velvet So soon as the young poet saw
his mother, under the pretence of being
chilly he borrowed the cloak, and putting
it on wrong side out was soon among his
companions, passing in and out of the
arches of the old stone bridge that spans
the river. His movements were so rapid
and graceful that the mo
theirs heart was filed with
JOY and pride. l have never seen
a painting of it, bot the anecdote itself
furnishes rich subject for the artist
That was at lesst a century ago.
The last time was on the skating park
/ was with the American Consul, Mr..
Webster. 1t was beautiful warm day.
and there were about two thousand per-
sons present. never saw more beau
tiful sight. The field of ice was in the
form of bow. Some fifty rods in width
and at least one mile in length. Mr.. w
had engaged pair of skates, but the
panorama before us seemed to intimidate
him from putting them on The skaters
both gentlemen and ladies, were shooting
on their steel in every direction, and it
seemed more like the whirl of the " mai
zy dance than any thing else. Here
were maidens and married ladies, old
men, young men and boys. Rudy and
rosy cheeks were seen on every side, and
happy and joyous voices were heard in
every direction.
Inspired by the occasion, and remem-
bering the days of boyhood, when for
weeks hardly took off my skates when
l went to bed, looked around for pair
Seeing that the consul had some in his
hands, and thinking that either from the
weight of Official dignity or that of avor-
dupois, for he is a yankee that pulls down
the beam at two hundred, borrowed his
and soon had them finely fixed upon my
boots. The consul and two or three
young Americans were wicked and watch
ed with much impotence to see me come
down" Knowing this, I struck out care
full at first, and in half an hour began to