The Portland daily press., 1879-11-27
Roller Skating.
ITS INTRODUCTION INTO PORTLAND.
A Brilliant Gathering in Lancaster Hall
Last Evening.

'Roler Skating" although pastime COM
paratively new to our citizens, is not OF itself
new by any means. In many of our leading
cities oommodious and elegant buildings have
been erected, which nightly resound with
laughter and general hilarity from the thou
sands of young, middle aged and even ola
citizens who gather for an evening OF pure en-
joyment, not fearing the unpleasant sensations
to be experienced if the amusement is sousht
upon the ice.
Roller skating has become the leading
fashionable recreation throughout Europe, as
well as in the principal cities of this country
and is an amusement very beneficial to health.
OF many cities which have "gone wild over
this rastime we may mention Lowell, WorceS-
ter and Springfield, Mass, Providence, II. L.
and New Haven, Conn, in all of which cities,
elegant buildings either have been or are
soon to be dedicated to the pastime, and are
daily visited by the leading families.
About two weeks since Messrs. Thompson a.
Lalime came to this city from Worcester,
Mass, and endea vored to obtain suitable
grounds for the creation of fine building 10
used as a roller skating rink but they were
unable to do so. Not to be discouraged however,
they did the next best. A lease was taken of
Lancaster Hall, the interior entirely renovated
and rejuvenated, and last evening it was
formally dedicated to the lovers of this ex-
hilarating science.
At the opening nearly a thousand were pre-
sent, including many of our first citizens. His
Honor Mayor Walker, members of the City
Government Hons. j. B. Brown and c. +.
Jose, H. N. Jose, Esq, j. M. Brown, P. ii.
Brown, Esq, and many others. AT 8 O'Clock
the managers accompanied by the Mayor
marched around the hall, when, in few well
chosen words, Mr.. Thompson. one of the
managers, explained to the Mayor and the
audience the object for which he had come
among them. 1t was the purpose of the mana
gers to furnish the people of Portland roller
skating hall, and to conduct it in such man
ner as to entitle it to the attention and
patronage of our people. Mayor Walker very
aptly responded, after which the signal was
given, a fine orchestra of five pieces struck up
a lively air and the skaters ION wheels) filed
upon the floor.
Taken as whole the opening night was
most perfect success About one hundred
couples of skaters were on the floor, and their
numbers were being steadily augmented from
the lookers-on when our reporter left In
spite of this crowd everything seemed to pass
off finely and all the skaters were in excellent
spirit. We, may safely predict our new
skating rink success, and expect to note
many pleasant gathering upon its floor.
The art of roller skating is acquired in a
very few lessons readily given by trained and
genial instructors who are always upon the
floor. The skates are fastened to the foot like
ordinary ones, but in place of the skate iron
are two sets of wooden wheels. each about an
inch in diameter, one set being fastened I'M
der the ball of the foot and the other under
the heel The motion Of skating is the same
as though on ice.
The rink will be open every week day fore
noon, afternoon and evening until spring, and
the skating surface will be under the direction
OF Mr.. Eugene Lalime, who so successfully
managed the Worcester roller skating rink
last winter, who will spare nothing to make
this first class and a popular recreation.