The New York herald., 1872-12-15
SKATING.
"a Fancy Fellow" Presents His Case and
Talks Back.

ssA Fancy Fellow" Presents His Case and
Talks Back.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
1 have never troubled the columns OF the
best paper in the country with any comments
upon any subject broached therein but your
article OF yesterday upon 1.-THE Skating Sea-
Aonn contains such garing error-although un-
doubtedly arising from the ignorance OF your re-
porter-that beg leave to correct the mistake for
the benefit of the skating fraternity and a
more correct understanding Of the position of
affairs. Having been closely connected with skat.
ing-never, however, with any hope Of gain-devot-
ing years OF my time to the advancement OF the
art in an humble way, may possibly feel more SEN
stively than many others the ofr-hand insoence Of
your reporter in his reference to "a few fancy fel-
l0wsr who, he says, "want the Commissioners to
set aside portion Of one Of the lakes for their ex-
suppose am "fancy fellow" although not
connected In any way with any club or Organiza-
tion, for, although had not the opportunity Of
doing so. would certainly have joined with others
in making the request as above, for good and suii-
cient reasons
ponds without invariably drawing crowd OF peo-
pie, particularly boys, who. II the skater
be lady, almost always indulge in yul.
OF the skater The consequence or the formation
OF these crowds is . grufi order from some police
means and device strive to avoid these persistent
crowds, and nnOcently skating well, because they
cannot help It, driven from the Ice or told that
they must not skate.
.Second-To these fancy fellows' the community
owe nearly all the advantages presented In the
many Improvements in skating facilities in skates
and in the advancement OF the art; and 1t is their
due, outside Of other reasons, that they should
be shown at least as much favor as the
ice-carvers who bestraddle the ponds and
hunt good skaters away with such pertinacity.
Must skater be tabOoed because he has surfiCient
persistence in the art coupled with adequate brain
to work out new and graceful movements, and
enough enterprise to desire to elevate the sport or
skating to an artY Must we always con over the
school "Reader' and never rise to the magnincence
OF Shakespeare and the classics ?
Thtrd-AllOw me to ask your reporter II he is
served every year for the occasional practice by a
very few OF Scotch game and every facility
offered them for their enjoyment OF the sport OF
their "native heathY" and permit me also to ask,
In view OF this fact II he ever read that consist
ency Is a jewelr
Some years ago small portion Of the lake, In an
out or the way part, was given to the New York
Skating Club-then the only organization OF the
human being was deprived or any enjoyment be-
cause the ladies and gentlemen OF that club were
out OF the reach OF insulting remarks but the con-
trary, as worthy emulation was manifested by
those who indulged in this noble sport, which has
exhibited itself In the progress they have since
made.
The question seems to resolve into this:--Have
good skaters any rights at all on the ponds Ger
tainly not, as they have been regulated thus II
they may have, In the future, II must be by the
granting OF such simple favor as the reservation
irrespective OF organizations, may skate In peace
and where ladies may be protected from the in
science OF men or the obscene epithets Of raga-
mufflns.
am, very humbIy, a .fancy fellow who, as your
reporter politely says, skate without breaking my
villanous neck.o. MARVIN X. CLARK.