Connecticut western news., 1877-04-27
The History of Skating.

 ing was first practised, but it was cer- tainly very long ago. In that ancient collection of Scandinavian songs and legends known as the "Edda," Uller, the handsome god, is described as being the possessor of pair of skates. This proves that skating is at least thous- and years old. It is supposed to have been introduced into England about the twelfth century, and into the central part of Europe somewhat earlier. It is curious, that, although all northern nations had the sledge, those of America knew nothing of the skate, while the people of Europe did not have the snow shoe. The course of invention varied, according to requirements. In America, in high latitude, the snows are heavy, and open ice is comparatively rare. In the corresponding parts of Europe, there is much more clear ice, ahd pro- portionally less snow.
 The ancient skates were nothing but the shin-bo of oxen or other large animals, pierced with holes to receive the cords or thongs which bound them to the feet. Fitzstephen's "History of London" written in the thirteenth century, is the earliest English book in which skating is spoken of; and we learn, from it's description. that the per- formers on these bone skates kept them selves in motion by striking against the ice with an iron-shod pole. Sometimes specimens of these bone skates have been discovered, in the progress of ex- cavations, in several European coun- tries; and a very we'll preserved pair, so found in England some years ago, can now be seen in the British Museum.
 It is unknown when or where iron was first employed in the construction of skates. It was probably in Holland l; for skates, very much of pattern like that of the ones we have now, not only were known in that country. but were extensively used by all classes of it's people, long before the pastime of skat- ing became general elsewhere. Skat- ing is something more than a pastime in Holland. There it is one of the use- full arts, and is universally practised and highly esteemed. It offers a very convenient mode of travel in winter over the canals that almost entirely supply the place of roads in the Land of Dykes; and people skate from farm to farm, and from town to town, aud to church and to market, often carrying heavy burdens. The Russians have constructed an ice-locomotive, with roughened driving-wheels to lay hold of the slippery surface, and it has proved success; but in Holland every man is his own ice-locomotive. And so is every woman hers,-for it has long been customary for ladies to skate in Holland; whereas in other countries, until recently, this most excellent of outdoor exercise for them has been al- most tabooed.
 The first skaters in our part of the world were the honest Dutchmen of the province ofs'Nieuw Netherlands" who doubtless brought their skates with "Goede Vrouw," which, we are told by the learned Diedrich Knickerbocker Chad one hundred feet in the beam, one hundred feet in the keel, and one hundred feet from the bottom of the stern-post, to the tafferel."
 The Dutch certainly deserve high honor for having introduced skating and Christmas presents into America ] if for nothing else. As they did so, the