Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-04-18
The History of Skating.

1t can only be conjectured when skat-
ing was first practised, but it was GER
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. 1t is supposed to have
been introduced into England about the
twelfth century, and into the central
part of Europe somewhat earlier. 1t 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 SHOWS are heavy,
and open ice is comparatively rare. In
the corresponding parts of Europe,
there is much more clear ice, and pro-
portionally less snow.
The ancient skates were nothing but
the shin-bones of oxen or other large
animals, pierced with holes TO receive
the cords or thongs which bound them
to the feet. Fitzstephen's "Bistory of
London" written in the thirteenth
century, is the earliest English book in
which skating is spoken of; and we
learn, from its 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.
IL Is unknown when or where iron
was first employed in the construction
of skates. 1t was probably in Holland /;
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 its
people, long before the pastime of skat-
ing became general elsewhere. Skst-
ing is something more than pastime
in Holland. There it ia one of the use
full arts, and is universally praetised
and highly esteemed. 1t offers 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 a 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 i'm our part of the
world were the honest Dutchmen of the
province of"Nieuw Nederlandts," who
doubtless brought their skates with
them in that celebrated vessel, the
"Goede vrouw," which, we are told by
the learned Diedrieh KDickerbocker,
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