Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-24
THE HISTORY OF ROLLER SKATING,

THE HISTORY OF ROLLER SKATING.
h Present Is the Third Craze of the
Mind in This COunty-Costly Litigation.
n. Y Spa.
Roller skating ID BY no means q modern
amusement. A patent for a roller skate
was issued in France in 1919. From that
time to the year 1868 there were nine
patents issued for roller skates. Three OF
these we're French. three English, and three
American. In oil Of them the wheels were
set in fixed sockets, and run only in a di.
reeuon parallel with the length of the
skate. There were some variation in the
size Of the wheels, and their number varis
from two to FIVE. There was an attempt
adapt them to the capabilities of ice skates
by varying the position and size of. the
wheels, but 1t was not until 1868 that any
success was secured in making roller
skates with which the skater could make
all the motions that can be performed on
ice skates. In the year 1868
James L. Pimpton, of New York patent
ed the guidable roller skate. This was a
radical Improvement in attaching the run
ners or rollers to the stoCkor foot stand of the
skate, whereby the rollers or runners are
made to turn or snt BY the rocking of the
stock or feet stand so as to facilitate the
turning Of the skate on the ice or floor and
admit of the skaters performing with ease
gyrstious or revolutions without testing un-
duly the muscles of the feet or ankles. Mr..
Pimpton made improvements on its own
invention, which were patented in 1866 and
1866, and since that time there have been
no less than 345 patents for various mod;6cs-
tons of roller skates, chiefly in England and
America. But the practical roller skate of
to-day 10 substantially an American inven-
ton. There are thousands OF persons en-
gagged in their manufacture, and they have
been introduced about all over the globe.
The present roller skating craze is By 40
means the first. 1t is, in fact, the third.
There was a very extensive roller skating
craze in this country in 1872, when there
were many skating Kinks and many thous-
and skaters in various parts Of the country,
ard in some places almost IS much excite
meut over it as there is now. Roller skat-
ing halls were established in this city by
Mr.. Phmplon as long ago as 1865. They
were attended by staid and orderly people,
including ministers, deacons, and church
members, and on one occasion the good
folks astonished their friends, and, in fact,
themselves, By skating q waltz figure during
Lent. They did not awake TO the enormlty
of the offence until some OF the newspapers
BEGAN to write them up. Roller skating
was extensively introduced in schools AMI
continued in private social circles for many
years without any attempt to make the
skating halls the resort of promi'cuous as
semblsges.
In 1866 roller skating was stated at New
port in the Atlantic House, and for several
Years was p~stronized by the best society.
The large dining room Of the Atlantic was
used for skating, and clergYmen, lawyers,
doctors, and the most exemplary citizens
Joined in the sport.
In 1876 a considerable number of lead
ing members of New York society we're 10
. terested in roller skating. The Union Club
members were prominent in it. Among
those who participated were James G. Ben
net, II. Douglas, A. Wright Sanford, Mr..
| Rowland, Mrs. John Jay, NJ. NJ. Livingston
and others equally well known. They hrst
ENGAGED Lyric Hall, and subsequently Irving
| Hall, and the attendance IVES very Select
The public was not admitted.
The first absolutely public rolier-skatIng
rink in this country was established IN CIn
| cinnsti in 1867, and the amusement took a
firm hold there. They had a newspaper
devoted 10 the interest Of rollsr-skatng,
nnbisbsd in Cincinnati in 1871, called the
| Skate Roll. At that time the Kinks were
riqidly conducted, so as to interest the most
| conservative and orderly persons. Inc
rnles and regulations of the door also were
sncb as would obviste many Of the object
;ona 10 the modern skating Kinks.
Nh. Plimpton had his skates patented IN
Fnglspd and about ten years ago there was
a roIlersksting craze in that country similar
- tbst which prevails here now, with the
ovcant;on that it was started with the deho'
s-ats nurpose of interesting the most con-
saTvatiye and orderly people, and to MAKE
80 nsnutable amusement. There was al
enc time about 400 places for roller skating
n England. Mr.. Pimpson invested con.
siderable capital in the enterprise, ana y
room as he became successful ne toano nun
,olf confronted with an army OF lntrinsers
Ea fougbt about two dozen Of these lnfring
a-S IN The law courts and won all his suits
Roller skating in England was conducted
- Grst under very high social auspices
Tbsrs was one club known as the Pnnc.
Tirb which consisted entirely OF nueS
,,a-onnages and their children. The suit
- restrain the i~nfingers OF the AmsS
- natents attrs cted Tloe
I'D a~ttantion, and the trials wer
SttsnJed by great crowds. The America
-HSor+sa was denounced as 9 monoeons'
His law expenses were enormous rsT y
iors stories were told Of his profits, ana n
"nJonbtedly made . great deal OF mTne
nom b;s invention. He foresa" the ocleS
t;On. hat might be raised, and a~nnciPate'
: 0,rongest arguments now brought 7
ne. aSa;SSt the skating INKS. Inc rinh
-. &c ~sstabished were regulated 6y strins
an+ contracts, so as to forestsn n proven
80 objections. This he did from tns cor
;ot;on tbst, as q matter Of enlightened sen
.tsrsSt IL would be most profitable 10 msA
roller skating respectable ..uo II
VI NJ PImpton has had considerable III
Il. n th,s country to protect his inSet
Ton, His patents expired n June, |
a. has not. however, lost ms interest,"
-nTsr skating, but deprecates the surroIn !;
- ,bat have now been connected VIII l
. canuine Portrait of Cleopa'ra'
PSaadepAid Ra0~d.
What IA claimed to be q genuine poeGTS