The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-01-25

the serpentine." the feet are placed
parallel. instead Of at right angles, and
thev remain parallel throughout tho
movement. II you would learn 1t easi-
lv. take a few strokes forward 10 gam
force, and then bring the feet parallel
but we'll apart, keeping the knees bent
and while going along in this manner
try TO make the Inc wavy by turning
both feet at once without lifting them)
in the same direction, say to the rlght'
swinging the body with them; then
both to the left, with swing to that
side and so on.
The common backward motion on
both feet is exactly the same rs the
" serpentine.n except that il is back
ward instead of forward TO learn
this backward motion take a few
strokes forward, then spin quite round,
and while the impetus lasts turn tho
right toe inward. and push yourself
back from that foot; then turn the left
one inward pushing from il, and so on
alternately, leaning forward all the
time. Practice will make it easy not
merely to keep up the first impetus
but TO increase il, and even TO begin ~
without any forward strokes
How delightful is the swift motion!
Exulling in your growing confidence
and IN the progress already made, ana
feeling that YOU are at lenSIh attaining
your wish and becoming indeed "a
skater, il is crushing at this iunCturc To-
be told by some friendly proficient shat
you are only at the threshold Of the art,
since you know nothing yet of moving
on the outside edge. Moving on tho
outside edge 1t sounds alarming.
Take courage; il is really not so for
midable as it seems, and, moreover,
there are few difficulties. you know.
which do not vanish before patience
and perseverance,.
The first thing you have TO do i'm
order to get yourself ON the outside
edge is to endeavOr 10 skate round I'm 20
circle, as large a circle as you please at
| first. but to be gradually reduced as you
/ improve. As YOU lift each foot for tho
next stroke try to cross it in front quite
over the other and set it down, then
/ the other in front of that, and so on al
! ternatelv. Now. as the iron always
| circles toward the side on which 10
rests, il follows that the foot nearest
/ the inside of the circle must work on
| the outside edge of the iron. COnse-
quently your object will lie 10 dwell ~
/ long as You can on that foot, and as
briefly as you can on the other, which
works on the inside edge The foot
that is behind must be kept behind un-
til it is to be set down in front; it must
not be carried in the air in front for an
instant
1t is scarcely necessary TO remind
you again that the left foot must be cN-
/ ercised .ually with the right. In fact
! it is q good rule in this and all hgurc@
/ to give the left double practice. So
after katng with the right foot 10 tho
inside Of the circle 90 of in the oppo-
site direction, and make n circle with
the left foot to q inside of il. Some
difficulty is sure to be experienced in
putting down the foot quite across the
other; but diligent practice will soon
repay you with the discovery that YOU
can dwell for a few yards on the outside
edge, and perhaps keeping the raised
foot well back in the mean time-near-
ly complete The circle.
After this is accompl shed you may
congratulate yourself on having become
a skllful skater If you wish TO learn
figure skating, however, YOU have much
work still before you. The key 10 IL is
being able 10 turn rapidly from ono
edge of the skate to the other, but
long and arduous practice will be re-
qured before the graceful grape
vine twist and other figures can be
successfully accomplished. Written
directions will avail little. Fig rc
skating can only be learned by watch
ing some one proficient in the art, and
initiating his movements with care and
patience. -HdrPcr' s YOUag Pcopte.