Daily Republican., 1885-03-27
The Ek atfsg Rink.

The sk atisg Rink.
The roller skating rink is now claim
ing c-asl !erab,e STARE Of public at
eention and the question is Il
right to roll ?" is prominent Que IL
public ci,eassion. The rink SOMEHOW
darted iato society all at once, heraldee
by fl II: ish Of trum pets and elcon ed
by thousands in every community, who
found |. sour,e Of Ileasurable enjoy
ment In which was combined much
needed physical exercise.
For a number II years ska.ing on
rollers has been INDUCED in to certain
extent in halls, and children would
even 60 so far as 70 monopolize smooth
composition pavements, tut it hast only
been within i.e present year tina. Iii
desire for enjoy nent and exercise tas
developed into the magnificent rCl.i
skating rilks that are to be fund In
every city and town in the country that
has population enough TO support
one.
These roller skating places are built
In beautiful and attractive manner,
just as they should be to MAKE the sur
roundings cheerful. Considering the
pleasure there is in the exercise of
skating and the artificial attractions OF
a rink, it need not be thought strange
that they are nightly crowded.
Are they injurious, either in a moral
or physical point Of view Is q question
that has arisen in regard to them.
This depends entirely upon circum-
stances. They are injurious only as
they are made injurious. If q skater
80 far forgets himself or herself as to
overindulge in the pleasure, that alone
is violation Of the physical laws of
nature that is followed with physical
injury.
The same is the case with every. other
physical excess. Physical exercise
must be governed by good practical
common sense. But even should the
devotee of the roller skate overindulge
in the pleasure, it Is nothing more than
those who delight in other physical ex-
ercise do. Those who follow the chase,
those who play base ball, those who
in any or all amusements where ply.
steal exercise is combined at times 70
too far and violate the physical laws OF
nature. Bu. because there is one here
and there who goes too far, is no good
reason why skating Kinks should b.
suppressed by the thousands who are
temperate in their exercise.
The general tendency by those who
oppose this means of pleasure, is tc
magnify the physical evils, and attri
butte to the rink the blame that may
possibly belong else where.
But is the rink moral evil ? This
is the other phase of the rink question.
1t LIZ moral evil oaly so far as those
who skate and are inclined to be i'm.
moral make 1t 80. In this view of the
case, too, the rink gets more than its
share Of blame. We are free to say
that at the rink associations may b.
formed that eventually develop into
immoral acts. But Is the rink to bs
condemned and blotted out of existence
for this ? As well, then, suppress.
every association. If a little love
springs up and an elopement is the TT
suit from attendance at the rink, it i.
TO be regretted, but on this account i,
the rink to be suppressed ? As well
then, suppress entirely religious asso
Citations and even churches, most nota
bly, camp-meetings. Wherever good i:
done, vice in some way lifts up itt
head and contests for the suprema cy.
and as long as the world stands thi.
contest will go on.
We know no. how it is in other
places, bat If the Wilmington rink is a
fair sample O! the Kinks in the country
but little can consistently be sal !
against them. Bat the rink is objec ed
to because it drawsa mixed assem ulage,
1t draws from the liquor saloons, from
the pool table, from the gam bling hell-,
and from the s'ree. corners, md it mu I
be said these associations are bad, ter
ribly bad and dem LIKING But those
who Object, pay the rink an unintend ed
compliment. Admitting this TO be true
what else s there that would draw from
those places Is i. nos fortunate tba,
there is place Of rational amusement
thai leads away FROM the path that enc
in TIE low resorts of vice
BE- We iced not pursue this subiec
further. The rink may have its day
like other amusements that have pre-
ceded i, but whatever is the result it /
now at leas; sffording rational amuse
ment and exercise to thousands VIII
before were practically excluded from
other popular amusements they coul,
not conscientiously patronize.