The New York herald., 1876-12-18

not as swift as the men they arc least sxpe.
and excel them in ightness and In beauty OF style
'sThe the ice says Palat are the carnivas
Of the Dutch they their stes, their operas their
disslpatons Al this season, during which many lash
ing themselves by their gancc only expense
which the Hollanders put s the cost OF pair or
skates and the outlay 10 called for only once or twcc
during their lives"
SKATING IN IT'S PRACTICAL ASPECTS.
at is not" says Blaine, in his "History OF Field
Sportsn SIN Holland, Germany, Russia and America
only that skating used a. great agent both OF per-
sonal communication between distant localities and OF
transmitting the necessares OF life from place to
place On the contrary, in the fenny districts OF
Lincoln. Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, &c. when the
vast noodings have become frozen and left only
IL is equally available and almost as usefuly
EMPLOYED In the northern climea At such
products OF lie from locality to another but also
those OF personal transit are extremely difficult to
command then n is that the skate IS called into re.
cushion and the wcarers set on at railway speed
from town TO another either ON business or for
pleasure: 1t Is probable however, that In this ac-
ton somewhat for his facts or else he jun
bled his iscts too indiscriminatoy together,
for. apparently he would have US believe
that in England skaters not only accomplish many
di.y or sixty miles without fatigue and in short
time, but push before them small sledges or boot
done Holland; but then that s country where pco
pie SMOKE even knik while they glide over the ice
In that country TOO the army goes through al the
surpassed by the Norwegians, who have consid-
cred II necessary TO form regiment Of skaters. II 10
seldom shat skating would be found useful
military movements. but II Is related that
officer charged with bearing order from
Napoleon to Marshal Morier in lsO8, comm anding
him TO mako himself master of the Hsnseatic towns,
saved six hours by skating across the mouth OF the
Elbc distance of miles, On the stage leafs OF
dextcrity in skating arc very common but in this
country these performances are confined to the
variety" theatres, although when the opera OF the
"Prophct" produced In PARIS it included ballet
Of skaters, which attracted much attention.
EFrEcTs OF SKATING uroN HEALTH
Everybody Will recall the wonderful effects Of DR..
Ox's gas upon the people OF the Flemish town OF
Quiqucndone, In Jules Verne's gtory, when opera
which previously required four hours in its rendering
sung IN exactly eighteen minutes The effects OF
skating upon the Dutch are not less wonderful. In
Holland winter, which in other countries benumbs
the limbs and makes men sluggish. has exactly the
opposite effect and enlivens the people and puts them
In good humor. s'Heavy massive st,f creatures,
during the rest OF tue year. said Paati, in
his Letters From Holland" published nearly 100
years ago, .sbecome suddenly active, ready and agile
me canals are frozen.n In summer the
Dutch with the celebrity Of snais In winter
they run, leap and dance upon the ice. The trudgng
peasant shakes OF his heaviness and awkwardness
instant and puts on elasticity and grace with his
skates Health and enjoy ment both come with the ice
and the sports Of winter, and this is only
OF Holland, but OF every country where skating
is practtsed. In bringing health and enjoyment
the ice indeed great blessing, and with words al
most as fiery Kopstock's with a sincerity as
simple and unaffected as Goethe's we may welcome
the beginning OF season already too long delayed
The has It's dangers II is true but Its pleasures
too enticng Its enjoyment too health giving
10 tempt even the most tmid to run the risks Of
accident for the sake Of the excitement and health
W hch the snort afforda