The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-01-28
SEATINE.

Up to the year 1850 very little was
kuowa Of the origin OF skating. Accord
ing TO tradition this mode of IocomOtiOn
was supposed to have originated among
the ScaRdinaviaus, since il is spoken Of
in the Eddas. Remote a. might be its
antiquity il could not, 1t was urged, have
existed before the Iron Age, since iron
seemed Indispensable for it, and great,
therefore, was the astouishment when in
1860 bone skates we're found among re-
mains Of the Stone Age, which had evil
IDENTIFY been used by the Inhabitants of
lacUstrine cities when the waters were
frozen around their dwellings. such
skates could have been used, however,
only in conjunction with pointed poles
used as means Of propulsion, and the
President of the GLASGOW Skating Club,
Mr.. George Anderson. cites from an old
description Of London passage to show
that similar CUntriyanceS were anciently
used on the Thames. The first impor-
tant improvement on this primitive
method was made in Holland. and here
also the keel OF The skate was fiat aud
smooth, while in most other countries it
was channelled, a mistake which, in late
times. the Americans were the GTst TO
correct. Until about thirty years ago
skates were generally made after the
being heightened before and ending be-
hind in front Of The heel Of the foot. a
construction which rendered possible
certain artistic feats. such as pirOUettes
or the heel which cannot be performed
by one VINO wears the modern skates.
Since then, however, Americans have
improved on the old form, which was
adapted almost wholly to long ana rapid
Journeys, and they have constructed an
apparatus through which skating has
been made almost . fine art. With the
old short and sharp heel all that was
necessary when the skater wished to
stop was tO.Taisc the toes, ,,WheTeUpOa The
sharp heel dug into the ice 50 that one
came to a halt almost at once, but If
enc ties TO vancouver with the modern
skate he falls. The second change
made by the Americans consisted III tho
removal Of the curve ut the toe OF the
rauuer and the substitution of an angle.
whereby il was possible to pirouette on
the toes, and we have also greatly i'm
proved upon old methods OF fastening
the skate on the foot and making it
comfortable. az, too, upon the form of
the sole and the hight Of the runner.
As 10 practical purposes IN general
and specially artistic motion there are
only three forms Of the runner which il
Is profitable TO consider; the normal
runner" the rapid runner and the
''aTlistic runner" The requisites OF
the first are that it should permit OF easy
and swift forward and backward mo
tions, curves, spirals and SO on Of the
+ second, that it should permit Of the
highest possible ease and speed in for
ward motion, and OF the third that, Is
IFS name implies, it should be applicable
TO ali sOr.s Ct artistic work. Its curve
may have SO small 4 tangent as Eve mill
ime,crs, So that the skater can make
short and abrGpJ turns, circles, spIraIs
and so forth, and work all the wonders
Of modern ice-urt. OF the three princi-
pal forms Of skates-the Halifax Acme
Club. the New York Club and thl
Jackson Haynes Gogms-Llat OF the New
Crk Club is considered as peculiarly
adapted 10 specialists and artists rather
than to beginners, and therefore has not
''at least in Europe" " obtained q widr
popularity. The Jackson Haynes mod
q is the peculiar skate Of the artist, q
and of al is bes- adapted to dancing.