The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-03-06
The History OF Skating.


It can only be conjectured when
skating was first practiced, but it was
certainly 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 thou
sand years old. It is supposed to have
been introduced into England about the
twelfth century and into the central
parts of Europe somewhat earlier. Itis
curious that although all northern
nations possessed the sledge. those Of
America knew nothing of the skater
while the people of Europe did not
have the snow-shoe.. The course OF in
vention varied, according to require
ments. In America, in high lshtudes,
the SHOWS are heavy, and open ice is
comparatively rare. In the correspond.
ing parts of Europe there is much more
clear ice, and proportionately less snow.
The ancient skates were nothing but
shin-bones of oxen or other. large ami
mails, 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
performers upon these bone skates kept
themselves in motion by striking against
the ice with an iron shad-pole. Some.
times specimens OF these bone skates
have been discovered in the progress of
excavations, in several European coun.
tries and o very well preserved pair,
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
for skates of pattern very much 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
skating became general elsewhere.
Skating is something more than past
time in Holland. There it is one of the
useful arts, and it is universally practic-
ed and highly esteemed. It offers very
convenient mode of travel in winter
over the canels 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, and 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 locomotive. And so is every
woman hers,-for it has long been
customary for ladies to skate in Holland;
whereas in other countries, until recent
ly, this most excellent of outdoor exer-
cises tor them have been almost tabooed.
The first skaters in 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 Fiouw," which we are told by
the learned Diedrick Knickerbocke,
chad one hundred feet in the beam, one
hundred feet in the keel, and one
hundred feet from the bottom of the
sternpost to the taferel." The Dutch
certainly deserve high honor for having
introduced skating and Christmas
presents into America, if for nothing
else. As they did so, the worthy st.
Nicholas must be esteemed the patron
of all American skaters.