Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1885-02-19
NORTHERN TRIBUNE
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 10, 1885.
The Roller skating Craze.
From the New York Tribune.


From the New York Tribune.
Roller skating is becoming the ma
tional vice. The craze ever it is spread
ing rapidly, and il sieZing on every class
of the community. A great army of
shrewd men are coming money by pro-
yiding facilities for it; while a gOOdly
percentage OF tina public have forsworn
all other forms OF amusement and cleave
to roller skating only. A literature.
ephemeral but vOluminOus, has sprung
up to give voice to the pastims; and the
funny men Of the comic papers have
stopped joking about spring poets and
mothers in-law while they illustrate in
prose and poetry the humOrs Of "rink
ing" The use of the last word reminds
us that the craze has evolved vOeabu.
larry az well as literature; aad no read
er of the news of the day can miss seeing
frequent references to graceful rink
ers,"" skatorial ability" "a good roller
town. rinkulating public" etc.
Roller skating has many Objectionable
features, as the Tribune has already
shown; but Its growth into sudden pop
ularity has humorous and grOtesque
side as well. The clergy have properly
enough called attention to the evils in
cidsnt to it; though unfortunately their
zeal has sometimes been greater than
their discretion, as when one of them a
few months ago informed his Mortified
congregation that had 1t not been for
skating Kinks thousands of young people
would never have fallen. He had heard
casually that young people frequently
fell in these places, and supposed that
fall into sin was meant. It is also a
well attested fact that the clergy have
unwittingly done much to advertise the
pastime by preaching against il; and
many Kinks in country towns have at
tanned their popularity largely in this
way.
We read of an old man in Michigan
eighty years Of age learning to skate,
and thus getting rid Of numerous dis
eases that had threatened to shorten his
days. Tho teachers and pupils of a large
school in Illinois adjourned in body the
other day, and went to one Of the rinks
in town, where they found the trustees
already on rollers, "rinknlating" to the
Inspiring strains OF local brass band.
The citizens of Milwaukee are said to
have forgotten tho taste of beer in their
eagerness to learn roller skating; and
the latest details about a fresh dynamite
outrage or Mr.. Cleveland's Cabinet do
not excite as muoh attention as the roc
ord OF some star of the rink. An Arizona
editor describes the advance Of the pop
ular craze in that peaceful Territory,
and calls upon all loyal citizens to Op-
pose the epidemic. eve can fall" he
adds, "easily enough MOw, without get
ting on those durned tenderfoOt ma
chimes"
Out in Ohio we hear Of briefess law
yer developing marvellous skill in roll
er skating, and now he is not only fam
Gus bat rolling in wealth. lie is gener-
ally supposed to have the most eloquent
pair of legs in the Western Reserve.
Another state has an "Infant PhenOme-
non" on skates who (Or is it which,?
earns a weekly salary that would make
the best freak ia dime museum turn
green with envy, Another state boasts
of an international roller skater, what
ever that may mean; and still another
trade by giving exhibitions in aid of a
who would like to soc the color Of his
salary. Still again the news ia flashed
over the wires that Michigan young
Weludb Hdu tmEedttu5u W eVlUllllb Sul-
eide unless her father allows her to go
rOller-skating. She rejects with scorn
her slre's offer to compromise by letting
her go to all the Minstrel shows that
come into the town, and declares that the
issue Is roller skating or death. With
this spirit abroad i'm the country it is
aot wonderful that the travelling theat-
rical companies are doing poor bust
ness. and that many ambitious actors
have been obliged to come back to the
'RialtO" in this city ION their uppers."
In the midst Of all this hubbub the
verdict Of the physician and the moral
st on the evil results of Keller skating
Is unheeded, and the fun goes msrriy
IN. All this is not particularly credita-
Ole to the good sense of the American
people; but the reaction will probably
,0ms some day. The rinKs with their
ligh sounding and bizarre names will
Dc, turned into theatres, churches, or
cheap museums; several millions OF roll
,r skates will be cast aside in garrets or
and the shifting mercurial
people who now patronize the seductive
ink will throw all their abOunding en-
husiasm into some newer craze.