Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1885-02-14
Honolulu, February S, 1885.
Neic York GOssip.

The present winter, so far has been too
capricious for the full enjoyment Of outdoor
sports, particularly of ice-yachting. Indeed,
the lover OF this exciting sport must be Of a
philosophical temperament to preserve his
good nature through changeable winter. II
he can get three weeks Of fair sailing the
season through he is lucky. II is only during
the past few years that the possibilities Of
speed lying in the sails Of properly made
ice-yacht have been understood though for
many years, the northern world over, sleds
more less rude in construction have i,een
driven over the ice by means Of sails. But Of
late years certain gentlemen have studied
centres Of effort and lateral resistance"
and have applied to the ice.yacht the same
principles that help to make the best summer
fleets. Instead Of the heavy timber and clumsy
sails they now use light material and have
decided that the sails must be always trimmed
flat y; that the ice-yacht must not have too
much headsail and that the centre Of lateral
resistance must be we'll aft. Now wire rigging
is used for stays and braces and "phosphor
bronze" for the runners. This last mentioned
substance is non.rusting and does not stick to
the ice when left at rest. Under favorable
conditions ice yachts have been known TO out.
speed the express trains Of the New York
Central Railroad, whose line runs along the
river bank. This is wonderful, as the schedule
time Of these trains is faster than any wind
short Of hurricane.
Similar to the yacht sail is the skate.sail.
1t has long been a favoIi,e sport in Copen-
hagen and Christiana. II was quite in vogue
a, Cape Vincent some years ago. or late
years ii has made its appearance on the Hnd'
son. The sail is rugged on lgh. spar held to
windward Of the skater, 30 that he can lean
against the pressure Of the wind. thereby
securing the same conditions as exist in the
case Of the ice-yach, with the advantages Of
simplicity Of outfit and perfect command oil
steering apparatus. In the early days Of Ice
Yachting, trading was carried on by means oil
the ice.yacht. There is no reason Why some
enterprising adventurer should not revive the
business, for even when the ice is so rough OF
so covered with snow as to make sailing loI
great speed out Of the question well made
craft with "skees for runners wo.!d make
good progress with a fair wind.
Though iceyachting is out Of the question
in your uopic cline there is no reason Why
thinking" should not be INDUCED in, unless Il
be that il requires too much exenion. Fashion
rules the popularity in amusemenis as in every
thing else. Croque,, that game which Is 70
conducive to quie, Irritation. was the fashion.
able craze twenty years ago. After that had
outlived its novelty and Juror, lawn tennis
engaged the chief at,en,ion. These games ara
Of course still played in their appropriate
season, but the amusement now in vogue from
Maine to the Pacific Coast Is roller skating.
Since the establishment, Of Kinks II has become
almos, national craze fos young and old.
Thirty thousand Kinks have been built within
,wo years. The fun is. in fact. an epidemic.
II ! hear tina, il has crossed the ocean to you
shall expect TO hear Of Il neat in China and
Japan Not only here but in Dakota and the
father ~est is its continuous grinding sosad
heard. !, goes on day and night. I, destroys
the success Of travelling eompanies and th<s,ri.
cal uoupes, reduces the receipts from lectures
and plays snose OF iess havoc with olhss veil.
established diversions. A uinisiss in Mime
sofa says tina, !, has eu,issly bsoken up biz
attempts to start q revival"