Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-12-17
a PariaIan skalInE RinI

Ibe Paris correspondent OF the Lon
don Daily Telegraph writes TO that
journal OF Nov. %: The skating rink
10 which | alluded some days ago was
opened to might by an inaugural soiree
The Temporary rink is in the Cirque des
Champs Elysees, but leaders must not
imagine that skaters now disport them
selves in the arena wherein ladies have
recently been engaged in bursting
through paper hoops, and English clowns
have amused French spectators by
making jokes which they could not un-
derstand. 1t is possible that If they
could understand them they would be
less amused. The transformation to
which the Cirque has been subjected is
far more radical. On first entering the
doors you are surprised at being reques-
ted to walk up stairs. Up you 90, until
you think you are getting near the roof,
and it is, indeed, not far below the ceiling
that the rink has been constructed. The
managers have rightly judged that the
old arena, though large enough for csval-
cades of horsemen and for stag.hunt
in miniature, would have been too small
for a crowd Of skaters to perform their
evolutions with comfort and safety.
They have, therefore, built new floor
ing-at least, so for as can judge-half
way up between the original sawdust and
ceiling The rink is, in fact on level
With the upper seats of the amphitheater,
the three or four highest benches being
left for the accommodation Of spectators.
On the wooden flooring has been placed
a layer' Of concrete, and on that two
layers of asphalte SO that the rink is
nearly footin thickness. Below there
is nothing to be seen but a mist OF
scsifolding. There is no danger Of the
asphalte proving as brittle as real ice,
and of some heavy skater falling through
on to the sawdust far beneath him; for
the officials take good care not to allow
any place opened to the public until they
are more than Satisfied of its stability.
The rink presents a really magnificent
expRnse ef asti6cial ice, for it is more
than thousand square yards in extent.
The promenade around has been made
somewhat narrower. in order to give the
skaters as much space as possible, but
the rows Of raised seats will accommodate
many hundreds of lockers on. On one
side is recess for the band, and oppo-
site to it is the inevitable buffet, without
which no place of amusement in France
can be considered complete. The skaters
will have no reason to complain Of this
custom being observed, for exercise pro-
duces thirst, and an accessible buffet
must be plessanter than to be obliged
to send small boy out for lemonade, as
the irequenters Of the open-air rink at
Brighton used to be compelled to do.
The buffet moreover, will be in good
hands. 1t has been undertaken by
Chevet, who has fitted up the stalls below
into the dsintiest imaginable retreats.
By stalls mean the stalls for horses
The wood work has been covered and
concealed with calico and artificial
flowers, with the art which Frenchman
alone possesses, so that each stall, pro.
vided with single small table, is sort
of open cabinet particulisr. Still more
ingenious is the idea of making even
more private rafreshment rooms of the
loges des artistes in the rooms in which
the ecuyeres have been accustomed to
put on and take off their fnery. Many
merry supper parties will probably be
held 10 those various retreats. Supper
can be served | am informed, to 500
persons, and hear that there is some
intention Of giving.a series of twelve
masked balls on the rink, which, of
course, will be boarded over for the occa.
sion. It's English spectators who have
taken up this experiment Of Puarisian
rink. Two thousand pounds have already
been expended on the enterprise, and
fortnight ago the works had not begun.
Should this tentative season succeed
permanent rink will be opened. With
this object the managers have obtained
the refusal Of large plot of ground in
the Champs Elysees, close to the Rond
Point, and there is some intention Of
opening an establishment in the Quarter
Latin.