The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-02-12
Cur Olio.
OOASTING.
Written for the Democratic Adrocate,
BY ZERO.

AmCliCdhS nave thdt hdPPy huaSh VI
adapting themselves to most any condition
that may be imposed upon them. In sum
mer they bathe aud fish, in autumn they
hunt and gather golden leaves, and in winter
they make the most of the snow and ice.
The merry jingle of the sleigh bells re-
sound in the air, bands Of skaters skim
along the CLASSY surfaces of our ponds, and
mobs of merry making people, bent on fun,
glide swiftly down the cOasting hills. At
night, after supper is over, and the twink
ling stars are out, struggling parties wend
their way up the hills, dragging after them
sleds Of every size aud pattern imaginable.
A veto has been placed on work, and the
sturdy farmer as we'll as the irrepressible
small boy with every intermediate speci-
men Of humanity, turn out to enjoy the
sport. The contagion Of the excitement
in the crowd spreads like wild fire, and old
men as well as sedate youngsters disport
themselves like fresh caught mustangs
from the Texan prairies. Coasting is one
Of our few national sports, and from it no
one can be debarred 'on account Of race,
color, or previous condition of seFVitude.
Enjoyable aud invigoFating, it sends the
sluggish blood eoursing through the veins,
and paints the health-glow on the cheek.
| Under its influences old men shake of the
bonds of age, and take to frolicking like
cart horses turned cut 10 meadow. Each
/ face is animated, each heart is enthused,
and each soul is wrapt up in the fun and
excitement Of the hour. Ceremony doffs
her pride" and grand holiday Of sport
has been begun. There seems to be
special Providence that saves coasters from
sprained ankles, aud each tilt IS oOly
subject for laughter, though an occasional
turn over with another sleigh or in snow
bank is 4 most serious matter, and is pro-
duetive Of skinned faces, which make
splendid advertising signs for the different
varieties Of court plaster.
As general thing We Americans have
provided no artificial means to increase
the enjoyment Of this sport. Our hills
alone arc our sliding places. In Canada
the people have peculiar kind Of coast
ing, which they call toboganuing. 1t is Of
more serious nature than our own.
Near the top Of a hiil hOOr of boards
with steep decline is made. Upon this
snow is placed and tightly packed The
sled in going over it obtains a momentum
( that sends il down the hill with immense
swiftncss aud force
The Russians, however, have brought
( this amusement much nearer perfection IN
their ice mountains. These people are BY
nature an inactive race. They delight 10
all sports in which the limbs are not called
into play, hence their pleasure in ecasting,
sleighing, swinging, see saving, etc, etc
These pasIimes are most INDUCED in dur.
ing the Butter Week, which is one Of
their chief festivals and contains the very
essence Of Russian festiyity and merry
making. For the scene Of all this they
choose large aud very long piece OF
ground Upon It are erected 10 a mar
velously short time, BY many carpenters,
temporary castles, theatres, booths, aud
large number Of fsneiful buildings, gaily
decorated. Among them are found the
ice mountains, the construction Of which
IS very interesting They 6rss raise a
narrow seaiFolding to the height Of about
thirty feet Ga this they place gallery,
at one side Of which Is built stairway.
On the other side there is a steep decline,
gradually descending untilit becomes level
with the ground. Il is formed by high
blocks Of ice being placed very close to-
gether. Several sharp blows with maui
or AK causes the crystals to assume new
firm, aud 10 a very few moments, the
I frozen blocks have become one compact
mass. Water IS then thrown upon the
surface which quickly freezes, cements the
blocks together more securely, and makes
! it as smooth as a ball room floor Where
the incline touches the ground snow is
placed, leveled, aud iced by frequent ap-
plications Of water; and on each side
snow-dams are formed so as to eon6ne the
/ sled to the track laid out Two of these
ice-mountains always stand opposite each
other, so tha; when person has slid
down one Of the descents, be merely has
TO ascend the steps to the gallery Of the
other and slide TO the place from wheree
he first started. BY this means the Rus
slams overcome the worst part Of the
sport, aud where we toll climbing the
bill, they make pleasure gliding down the
! ee-mountain.
But word about the sledges. They
are hcwn out of large blocks of ice, cum
ningly modelled into ships and other fan
tastical shapes. In the hollow, which is
made in the centre, straw or carpet is
placed, upon which the occupant sits.
Through hole in the bow a rope is fast
ened BY which it is pulled. 1t might be
supposed BY the readers Of the ADVOCATE
that such sled would not last long, but
such, happily, is not the case. The cold
atmosphere prevents the ice from melting,
and each day improves them in hardness
and utility. Down the slippery declivities
the youths and maidens in these ice boats
rush with the swihness Of arrows 1t is
an animating sight to see them gliding
like escaped detachments of lightning
fash, muffied in their warm garments, and
holding desperately to their ships. Great
precautions are taken against dangers, and
it is remarkable how few accidents occur.
| The amusement is u national one with the
Russians, and Mr.. Kohl, as quoted by the
eminent historian, Robert Sears, in his
writings, relates an incident that shows to
/ - H.