Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-11-28
ROLLER SKATING.
A HEALTHFUL SPORT WHICH Is
UNIVERSALLY INDUCED IN.

OF Europe and America .Skat.
Ing Feats which Are Attended by
ThOusands-Scenes to be Observed at
the Rinks-Etc.
By Our Roller Skating Editorl
1t certainly is charming to meander
about the back avenues of town, across
the frozen lots and puddles, to keep
an engagement with a young lady to
go roller-skating.
You usually find her at sharp Z,
watching your arrival and supposing,
OF course, that forty other gentlemen
are upon similar mission-which is
usually fact. Everybody soon meets
at the rink. The expressions Of the
couples are indications that real nice
time is to be enjoyed. A little bit of
human selfishness is evinced in the
eagerness of each party to secure for
themselves the very best and most
perfect pair of rollers, and to have
just little bit more oil on the spin
dies than anybody else. At about s
O'Clock the sport is at its hight, and
this is the time for spectator to take
notes. AS the skaters pass given
point there will rotate in order an un-
calmly ix-footer, whose arms and legs
are straddled as if trying to encom-
pass the hall. He looks like set of
dividers ready to circumscribe a
round-house on the Union Pacific
Railroad, and his arms flop like those
of the windmill that Don Quixote as
saulted for it's unfriendly evolutions.
Close alongside, and trying to pass, is
a young lady whose ambition is for
rapid skating, and her eager look and
motions prove her but too deeply abb
sorbed in making every circuit Of the
rink as fast as her skill will admit.
Just in front Of the awkward skater is
a young gent cutting circle, and,
coming together, both fall, and the
young lady with jump clears both
and keeps on, while several unguard-
ed skaters pile one above the other on
top Of the luckless ones who are
scramhling to get from under.
There are dozen such scenes ev-
cry hour, and the variations come in
regularly in the way Of some semi-sci-
entific amateurs who desire to trv a
new movement suddenly dropping
upon the point Of their spinal column
with conclusion that jars the build
ing; and such tumbles appear te
startle every timid skater on the rink
as at such times half dozen or more
usually follow suit.
There are, however, many racefu
skaters among the ladies, and among
the gentlemen are several who per.
form easily many Of the figures ac
quired on ice skates.
THE MOST PERFECT SKATES.
The Plimpton skate is the most per.
feet in its movements and gives
greater satisfaction to the expert OF
account Of being swung upon .pivo,
or rubber ball; and, beside, there are
patent oil-cups which are self-actine
and which keep the spindles con
stantly fabricated. With the Plimp.
ton the most finished skater and mem
bers Of the various ice-skating clubs
in Europe and America have testified
to the fact that every figure and mo.
ton yet acquired by the champion
ice-skater Las been rendered as per
fectly upon rollers, although the sur
SAGE used in the Kinks where these per
formances have been witnessed are
made Of asphaltum, with finished
surface as smooth as glass.
/ RINK FETES.
In the Kinks of Paris the surface i.
laid in asphalt, and upon certain days
grand fetes arc given, when score o
professional experts appear and rem
der every variety of motion in the
most graceful manner. Waltzinga ii
also conducted upon roller-skates, t.
music. Upon fete-nights the music
is supplied by full brass and string
bands. Hurdle races are given, wher
score of cables are stretched a
equal distances around the rink, anc
the contestants who leap each one re