, 1880-06-07
Lord Lorne as a Toboggonist.

Portraits, after Wlnterhalter, OF the
Queen and Prince Albert adoru the
walls of the dining-room at either end.
The buffets are of black walnut with
game subjects in relief two specimens
of Van Goyen overhang sideboards
standing in recesses. Stuffed wild
duck shot by the Marquis hang on the
center panels of the siaeboards--very
fine birds, too. With the cheese came
a biscuit-box of silver, shaped like a
drum, presented, by permission of the
Queen, to the Princess Louise by the
soldiers of the 91st Argyleshire High
landers on the occasion of her mar
riage.
Il want to let you see how we spin
out the winter here, observed His Ex-
cellency, when luncheon was over, and,
wrapping himself in blue blankety-
hooded coat, lined and bound with
scarlet, he strcde along the corridor
into the hall, where the sentry pre-
sented arms, the sergeants saluted, and
from thence out into the groInds.
1--WE have capital curling rink here,
and my club, the Vice-regal, is able to
hold its own against all comers," said
he, as we descended a set OF wooden
steps leading to the curling rink. The
rink is situated in iong shed, lighted
at either sides by windows, when day
light fades by gas-jets. The floor is OF
ice, torty-two yards long, as smooth as
ice may be, and as level as billiard
table. The ice is marked at both ends
by circles Of :" SETS The t" stones !"
to be spun along the ice range from
10 IE n
The walls and roof of the rink at Ri
deau Hall are painted white, relieved by
toboggins, their scarlet cushions break
ing the white. The ante-reoms at both
ends are fitted up for spectators, who
can witness the play in warmth and
comfort through plate-gla windows.
The ante-room through which we passed
is fitted up in scarlet, with racks tor
skates, rubbers and boots. Against
the walls is handsomely framed print
ed notice, headed p" Vice-regal Curling
Club of Canada" with the list of mem
bers and officers. Her Royal Hlghness,
the Princess Louise, being patroness.
The next object Of interest which the
Marquis was good enough to draw my
attention to was the toboggin." a
toboggin is constructed OF a piece of
thin, tough wood, about eight feet
long and twenty inches wide, turned up
at one end, which is then kept in posi-
ton by fastenings of deer's hide 1t
is further strengthened by couple OF
very light rods, as thick as your finger,
running down each side, anG: by two or
three rods crossing them. The bottom
is then perfectly smooth, and well
adapted to glide lightly over the snow.
Upon the toboggin a cushion is placed,
and upon the cushion the tobogginist
(male) either lies flat upon his chest or
assumes sitting posture, with stitfened
knee-joints, the feet being firmly pressed
against the roll of the PROV. A tobog-
gin will hold three persons, but the
party usually consists of two, the lady
being placed in front, whilst her tobog-
giner steers with his hand or heels.
Standing at height of seventy feet
from the ground at Rideau Hall is
wooden structure, inclosed on three
sides only, of about four feet square,
supported on framework OF timber.
This inclosure is approached by wooden
steps, one side of the stairway having
q fat board, thoroughly iced, along
which the toboggin is trailed by the to-
bogginist, as he or she ascends to tie
slippery starting point.
"On New Years night" observed
the Marquis; ''when we reached the
summit. ''we lad some capital sport
here it was ii vivid scene. l had the
headlight of locomotive just here"
pointing to its empty frame, and all
along down there were Chinese lam
terms" The "down there" meant a
strip of snow four feet broad in a
wooden groove about quarter OF a
mile long, at an angle of forty five.
His Excellency was gracious enough
to offer me toboggin ride. | glanced
down the almost perpendicular slope,
and prudence whispered don't" but
rashness on the other hand, bade me
s'go on" Seating myself on the to-
boggin, fixing my hat firmly over my
eyes, and clutching the rope with the
energy of despair, awaited the signal
that was to send me flying down the
incline like an arrow from bow. The
Marquis, having carefully seen to my
pose, seated himself behind me, his
knees pressed close to my shoulder
blades, while DIR. Baldwin, surgeon to
the Viceroy, held the toboggin in po-
sition. "Now !" That was sensa-
ton 700 yards in twenty seconds-I
cannot describe it. l have an indis-
tinct recollection of d-rting through
the air, of losing breath and vision, of a
feeling, glorious in its intoxication, of
skimming along the pure white snow at
an indescribably swift pace then came
a slowing. then spill, and as T dashed
the snow from my face His Excellescy
was laughing at me, and my first to-
VII 40 iTI3foI1N Pa