The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-04
Kinks AND RINKING.
ROLLER SKATES AND sKATING-A RALLY GOOD,
HEALTHY SPORT.

ROLLER SKATES AND sKATING-A RALLY GOOD,
HEALTHY SPORT.
The rink fever which has rapidly permeatcd
European society is at last taking deep hold on our
own people, and in addition the rink the Pmp-
ton building stuyvesant street. private parties are
getting up clubs for tho purpose enjoying the health
ful exercise this city and Brooklyn, the Kinks to DO
comparatively small they intended for the use OF
the members only. In San Francisco and Sacramento,
Cal, and Portland, Oregon, public rlnks have already
been opened and $3.50 worth OF the roller skates
have been shipped there. that the go-ahead peo-
pie Of the Pacific slope enjoying fashionable and
popular sport which originated New York before the
New Workers themselves allowed TO participate ex-
cept in slight degree it's delights This, on the one
hand, from the inability at present TO manuiac-
turc the skates they ordered and desire
the part OF the manufacturer to distribute them at
distance rs that the appreciation OF strangers Will
prevent tho possible dctracton OF ncghbors, on the
principle that prophet has any right IN his
own city.
No sport exercise is SO commendabse for It's
healthy, social and enjoyable excitement as skating;
but up to the last few years, with one or two ex-
ccpons good has been tho prerequisite Tor its
enjoyment while good skates have also been found
necessary in order to realize attracveness
For years tho ingenuity Of inventors had been
directed to percctng the ice skate until tho contrast
between the "shank bono Of sheep or deer tyed TO
the ectc and under the heels" and tho finished 'Cub
skate' OF to-day with its plated mountings aud metal
fastenings great that between the auri0a or
vain and the railway train, or tho coracle OF the an
ccnt Britshcr and the finished craft OF the New York
Yacht Club 10 day. The necessity OF ice, however
necessarily confined the enjoyment Of skating TO the
winter in the few short weeks King Frost laid
his congcaing hands on the Of our ponds and
runners OF the skate loving community. Attempts
have been made from time were, upset
the season. md in the comfortable rink, by artificial
MEANS coat flooring with sheet Of manufactured
ice; but the expense has generally bccn so enormous
that II has not as YET proved successful enterprise as
Professor GamJee, the expermcncr in London,
will find, to his cost
Tho only successful substitute has been tho rolicr
skate, which now III It's perfection FULLY equals the
runner, and the poetry OF notion finds Its par
apel in each. Accidents have bcen charged to both
but with and attention, they can be almost
trely avoided. During past fourteen years, all
the public skating resorts IN the neghborhood of New
York, there has not been a single instance
recorded Of persons drowned while skating; and
though some accidents may have resulted from
imprudent exposure 70 cold. Or negligence to
exercise they might all have becn prevented by pru
dehce and The accidents to limb which occa-
other sport is liable AS far as roller skating is
concerned OF 60 600 visitors NJ the Chelsea (Engand)
and that broken ARM IN the management show
Ing that the percentage Of danger in favor OF this
novel Though not altogether new amusement.
Roller SKATING attempted in Paris in 1919, the
skates consisting OF sole with three brass wheels two
axle under the ball OF the foot and the third
under tho heel The actor Dumas introduced them
the STAGE and when the opera OF lie Prophete" was
first produced in 1s49 one scene included ballet
later the idea took the form Of skate
with four rubber rollers liked longtudinally, but
these, as well as tho improvement-two very short
axcs with rubber rollers Ut zach end directly under the
fell into disuse in consequence Of the dan
ger In describing quick curve from the nattenDg OF
ntp hv hnuf
tion Jackson Haynes and two or three other experts
achieved notoricty through it, but the sport though
acceptable, fell into dsuse Tor the reasons stated.
Mr.. j. /. Plimpton, New Yorkoe, conceived the
idea however, that with the proper appliances roller
skating would be accepted with even moro than avor
and he therefore devoted time and money TO the de-
veopment Of his theory. Several years Of mort;ing
failures and the expenditure Of over $50 900 IN money
finally eliminated the present roller skate which
has created such iurore In Europe and likely TO do
here from present appearances The skate
structed the most awkward II, Its broad
lockwood rollers by rubber flexible JOINT enabling the
wearcr TO glide over the asphalt or cement easily
and as swiftly as cutting blade over the ice
Pimpton's great invention is tho JOINT spoken or aud
II consists OF sphorodal cylinder OF rubber,
ranged IN the centre OF the sole Of the skae that by
each wheel TO converge and thus change the line Of
motion. TINS has been pronounced in one sense
mechanical principle, or rather new application Of q
principle ami such IL has beer by letters
patent to Mr. PImpton, who thus secures for a long
term OF years the exclusive right TO manufacture and
use the present roller in all parts OF the world
In order, however TO make II altogether American
nventO1 and sport, the whole world supplied from
one factory where they only be made-that OF Mr.
James ). Mccormick corner OF Alnse and Tenth
streets, Williamsburg. There night and day OF
mechanics busy turning out the skates New
buildings Of erection to the sup.
ply OF an OF fracture for which present
there enormous demand
The sport In England IL called thinking" and tho
furore attending introduction has decided airma
lively that II not dangerous, 10 healthy amuse
meni and lasting one That 1t Is healthy may be in
ferrcd from the appearance Of the ladies' who indulge
In its enjoyments furnishing as IL Zoos, improved
condition OF body and mind that other exercise
give. The gymnasium, by It's violent CURRICULUM ire
quently INJURIES more than II benefits equestrian
ercsc walking and boating possess only portions Of
the benefits OF roller skating, which at the only
provokes over fatigue Roller skating stimulates tho
entire system the circulation arouscs the
visccra and limbs from lasstude and awakens the
BRAIN thus bringing into play all tho recupcrative
powers In the systcm,n that In the OF few
weeks practice in the door rink "thc slender
stoop not the fearless the stoutsh show
supcrfuouy fat and the awkward become GRACEFUL +"
AS to lasting. the social enjoyment which is OF
the chief Of skating Its opportunities
conversation the many gamcs that may be enjoyed,
elegance Of its dances and the exquisite adaptation
oil It's motions TO music, indorse tho opinion OF an
eminent English engineer, who predicts Its equal
tinuance with cricket and dancing
Kinks are known 'open" or ''closed, the former
having the preference in tho Old World but far on
this side OF the Atlantic closed rnks only in opera
ton