Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-02-05
ROLLER SKATING RIMS

TJnrrcspouaence on ali matters o. interest,"
s-..'s ,s.. ss,s,.sS,rs,,os. ,S ,,3 az ,h. depart
meni % Mr.. y. n Mann, ~. Paris. Me-
Never since the history Of man has
there been any popular sPo', devised
which has taken 30 wide spread and deep
a hold of the mind Of the Amuscmsn,
loving public a. roller skating The
great advance in the ar, and the world
vide popularity Acquired since the iaven-
ton Of the rollsr skate, bu, compare
lively few years ago. !. truly astonishing.
some ten years agO roller skating attain.
ed certain degree Of popular no,oris,y
in this country. bu, Immediately sfser-
ward. owing 10 the FAC, that PlimP,on.
the inventor. turned bis Asien,ion almost
wholly to the coaques, Of the European
field. the interest IN the sPor, died out
in this couniry--ba, in the meanwhile
the roller skate wen, forth on an anPrc-
eeded,ed tour Of eoaques' in the old
world. Throaghoa, all the larger cities
and towns Of EnglAnd number!ess rink'
were soon established and il was no, long
before rink. were opened in PAris, Wen
nA, Rome and even In Ear off Australia.
New leland and the Els, Indies, and
whs, Is still more wonderful ,hOagou,
England and the larger European cities
and watering places. the popular in'eFes,
ka. been largely maintained 10 the pres
eni time. Three OF four yeArs ago there
was a revival Of the sport in this eoun-
try which has virtually put all New Eng
lAud on Roller Skates In every town
Of any size roller skl,ing rinks are
being opened. |, is no, merely a
New England mania but has spread
scrOs. the continent hardly eoaieni 10
res, on the shores Of the Pacific. The
trade in roller skates las become a heavy
basines. and a, every skate factory the
manufacturers are thousand. of pairs be-
hind their orders.
II the presen, popularity Of this amase-
meat should continue the management OF
Kinks would almos, become a profession
BY itself and the giving Of fancy eshibi :
,ions oneof the foe arts.
The greatest event OF the season in the
skating world came off at the Institute
Rink, Boston on the evening Of Jan. 2S,
/, being the occasion Of the Grand ska,'
ing Carnival. Fully 10, 900 people wer'
in attendance, and the hundreds Of ele-
gan,ly eOs,amed skaters presented one o.
the mos, brilliant pageant, ever witness
ed in New EnglAnds metropolis.
Prof. X. j. Aginion. Americas mos
artistic performer on the little rollers. let
the grand march s,,ired as Pallas ,h'
"Pallid Pallas." the mos, conspicuous
Of the hundreds Of mAsqueraders. Fol
loving were the Ghost Of Hamlet In robe'
Of the tomb devil. and demons in red
skating hand in hand with fairies II
snow white garb; the sisters Of lOlan,he
Turbaned Turks; British Dude; Scotch
Lad and Lsssie; Darwin and the Mon
key and holding in his hand the missins
link; Heather Chinee; Captain Cool
and the Cannibal; Kings in Royal robes
Dakes; venuses; virginias, etc, etc
After the grand march, Bert c. Thsyer
Prof. X. J. Aginton, Miss Jennie Hsugh
ton and "ihe Bad Boy and bis Pa At th'
Skating Rink. gave exhibitions tha
drew frequent and prolonged applause
Altogether !, was the most elaborate sn'
brillian, entertainment ever given OF
roller skates.
Why is IL tha, no more Polo clubs ar
organized in Maine. They form a mos
attractive feature Of the rink, and rinl
managers would fod il greatly to shei
sdvantsge to take concerted action In tn
formation Of ~ many clubs - possible.