Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-24
ROLLER SKATING.
The Roller Skate Not Modern Idea
The First Patent Issued 1875.
Boston Post

The truth of the old saw that ''there is
nothing new under the sun" is constantly
being eXemplified, and there are many in
ventiOns of the present day which, ifpains
were taken to look up the records, it
would be found that something similar in
kind was known and used perhaps years
ago. The popular craze of the present
day is roller skating, and the majority of
people no doubt think that the roller skate
is very modern invention evolved from
some Yankees inventive mind. This is
true only in a limited sense, for the roller
skate is not modern invention only so
far as certain additions and improvements
serve to make it of practical use. Belgium
was the nome OF the first roller skate.
and the earliest record to be found is a
patent issued to Joseph Merlin, of Nav,
Belgium, i'll 1875. Though this is the first
authentic record, there is no doubt but
that skates had been in use for many wears
previous. Following this, there is no re-
corded account until the year 1919. On
November II of that year, patent was is
sued to one Petitbles, a Frenchman, for
similar skate. This was followed very
soon by the then celebrated Volito skate.
The popularity of this skate was in the
fact that it had five roller wheels. 1t was
the invention of Mr.. Tyers, an English
man. In 1923 the French RaveI family
gave an exhibition on roller skates. On
Perrin, attempted the feat of skating
across the Garden of the T1Iileries on roll
Ter skates, and in 1882 and exhibition on
skates was given in London. In 1S49.
in the opera of Gle Prophetic"
roller skating scene was introduced.
Up to this time the invention could
hardly be called a signal success. for there
was no arrangement introduced by which
the necessary cant could be given to the
wheels, and they only run straight ahead.
In 1868 patent was issued in the United
States for the PlymptOn original guidable
roller skates, which was the first intro
ductiOn of the modern improvements by
which the skate can be fairly called sue
ceSsful invention. Since the introduction
of this skate, over $50 different skates
have been patented, but their manufac-
ture was shOrt-lived, because they were
infringements on the original PlymptOn
skate. In 1880 there was skate patented
by Samuel WinslOw which was a decided
Improvement on the PlymptOn skate, and
has held its own against all legal objec-
tons, and another patent was granted on
the same In 1882. 1t is unnecessary to say
that roller skating is a very popular
amusement, for the crowded Kinks
nightly attest the fact. The first rink
erected devoted exclusively to skating
was the one erected in Worcester in 1878
by Lalime Bros. This was originally in
tended as an ice rink, but few pair of
roller skates were introduced, and the
sport became popular, and the original
purpose of the rink was changed to ac-
cOmmOdate the new sport. Since that
time rInkS have been built in cities and
towns, till, at the present time, few places
of any Importance can be found without
one or more places devoted exclusively to
this sport. There are in the New England
States alone over 600 places of this char
acter. 1t is not in the province of this ar
ticle to discuss, scientifically, the reasons
that have made this sport so popular, but
there are several strong points to be ad-
duced in its favor. There are not the OBJ
jectiOns to be found in this exercise that
can be brought against dancing, and
physicians recommend the use of skates
for girls especially, who, by this sport,
would be given a mild exercise which,
perhaps, they would take in no other way.
One strong argument in it's favor is the
ease of accomplishment and the graceful
carriage acquired by every successful
skater.