Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-02-19
A Nasqueradc In . Rink.

now THEY ANusE THEMSELVES on SKATES IN
MONTREAL.
The Montreal Gazstte. OF recent date,
gives the following description of fancy
dress entertainment given under the aus
pieces of the Victoria Skating Clnb, at the
Victoria Rink, Montreal:
Three thousand five hundred people were
admitted last night, this not inclusive OF
some seven hundred or eight hundred
skaters. To many strangers witnessing the
scene for the first time came, no doubt, the re-
Election that if we are tor long time
..buried under the beautiful snow we
know how to turn our Winter into adyan-
taee. and rival Paris, Rome, and Antwerp
in producing pageant during that merry
making time which precedes Lent. The
decorations, consisting mainly Of flags in
terspersed with Chinese lamps, were taste
fully disposed English, French, German,
American, Austrian, Russian. Turkish.
Italian, and Spanish standards all blended
together in harmonious unison--the Union
Jack and our Dominion Tag. of course, pre-
dominating Facing the entrance dals
had been erected FOR the convenience OF his
Excellency the Governor General and suite.
With viceregal punctuality. his Bxcelien-
CIV, the Governor General, arrived at .
O'Clock sharp, and took his seat. On the
last stroke of the clock. the band struck W,
God Save the Queen" when, from out OF
the doors OF the ladies' and gentle
mems dressing-roOms there emerged
two long and continuous lines OF
skaters who shot gently on 10 the
ice until they arrived in the centre, when
they crossed to minglc Immediately alter
. ha ctr nj the No
tional Brass Band and the Montreal Car
rison Artillery Band. Away few the adopts
in the outward and inward edge" descrlb-
ing all imaginable kinds of gyrations,
tracing " eights and the intricate wind
ings OF the double grapevine and lock
stitch " with an easy and grateful dexter
ity which excited universal admiration, Us
well as did the olt-repcated execution OF
that evolution known to skaters as the
scissors movement" Ladies glided about
on their silver sandals like graceful swans;
gentlemen hurried by in wild chase. or cx-
hibited some funny antics. Many fitted by
like swallows over sheet OF wster, or a
softly as the meadow stream ripping and
meanderfng through the fields, to the
musical ring of their skates, which sound
ed like elf-bells in a fairy-land dream, the
bands playing appropriate airs all the time:
A; an carly stage Of the evening the band
struck up the wc,l-known old air OF the
Lancers, to which We have all danced and
! which has never been superseded by any
! subsequent compositions, retaining still a
il does its sway as the original "Lancers;
to this inviting and inspiring melody the
more advanced skaters danced with an easy
grace which is not TO be surpassed IN the
| ballroom. 1t was a pleasure 10 watch the
L. NF
| thronph the several sets, but the palm
was certainly to be awarded to the ladies.
| With them skating has become an art.
After the lancers. waltzes and polkas fol-
! lowed in rapid succession. To those who
! could only see the graceful motions OF the
| heads, shoulders. and waists of the dancers
it seemed incredible that they should be
| thus moving on skates, 50 easy. subtle, and
at times rapid were their eyoluuonS.
While the dancing was going on, others
were going by, balancing themselves lazIly
! in the somnolency of a reyerie and seeming
| " enioying the luxuries Of the dolce far
uenle, Some alone. Others in groups OF Two
/ and three or more; each one choosing his
iavOrite pace and style.
On it goes. this strange, motley throng ;
! here are two South Sea islanders running
away with two Queens Of Hearts. al being
! pursued by Capt. Mulligan and his guards /;
| Mephistopneles is hunting for Faust TO pour
words OF poison into his ears; in his turn
be Is chased by three Gnomes; Baby IN her
night dress is aided in her totterung steps
! 1--WE are speaking figuratiyely) by Yankee
| Doodle, who is one OF the best
skaters we sec and who teaches baby
TO go ahead" tie poor Editor i pursued
bY hos; of people who want to teach him
how to run his paper (oh, it he only
gave them night Of II y bears, wolves,
and 8 lobster 60 about a. a happy
| family" the poor swamp Angel lies as
if hunted by number Of the kuklux Khan;
The Night goes by in her thrilling and
sable garments bespangled with stars; e
rosy-facct Welsh girl peeps sluclly from
| underneath her broad-brimmed, high- peak
ed. sugar-.0af hat. and dashes by ere one
has had time 70 take glance at her; ''Sboo-
fy'' Is not of that kind 10 winch one can
say don't b0ddcr me- as she hits by.
Charlotte Corday, as she has been termed,
passes Us in company with a courtler SIR
Garnet WolSeley Is on seemingly good
terms with his quondam foes, the Ashan-
tees. \ member OF the Pope's body-guari,
| gorgeously Grraycd, and with halbcId in
| hand, stalks about majesiieally. The
Z1uave is making love to Dolly Warden
then 10 pretty Snow flake, and to many
others. ne il a gay Lothario. Dear little
Red Riding Hoods skate in and out among
their elder playmates, and not one Of the
little things tumbles.