New-York tribune., 1885-02-08
TILE ROLLER-SKATING CRlZE

Roller skating is becoming the national vice. The
craze over It is spreading rapidly, and is seizng on
every class of the community. great army OF
shrewd men coming money by providing ia
cilties for it; while a goodly percentage of the
publc have forswOrn ali other forms OF amusement
and cleave to roller skating only. A 'terature.
ephemeral but vouminous, has sprung up TO give
voice to the pastime and the funny men of the
comic papers have stopped joking about spring
poets and mothers ln-law while they illustrate IN
prose and poetry the humors of rnkingp The use
of the last word reminds us that the craze ba.
evolved vocabulary as well as a literature: and
no reader of the news of the day can mss seeing
frequent references TO graceful rinkers.' "skato-
rial ability" "a good roller town." ga rink ulaling
public" etc.
Roller skatingha many Objectionable features. ~
THE TRIBUNE has already shown; but its growth
into a sudden popularity has humorous and gro
tesque side as well. The clergy have properly
enough called attention to the evils incident TO
it; though unfortunately their zeal has
sometimes been greater than their dis
cretion, as when one of them a few
months ago informed his Mortified congregation
that had il not been for skating rnks thousands of
young people would never have fallen. lie had
heard casually that young people frequently fell IN
these places and supposed that fail into SIN was
meant 1t is also weli-attested fact that IN.
clergy have unwit.ingly done much to advertise tL.
pastime by preaching against it; and many rinl,s
in country towns have attained their popnlaritv
largely in this way.
We read of an old man in Michigan eighty wears
of age learning to skate, and thus getting rid of
numerous diseases that had threatened To shorten
his days. The teachers and pupils of large school
in Illinois adjourned in body the other day. and
went to one of the rnks of the town, where thew
found the trustees already on rollers, "rinkulatmg
TO the inspiring strains of a local brass band The
citizens of Milwaukee said to have forpotteu
tho taste of beer their eagerness to learn roller
skating; and the latest details about fresh dvna
mite outrage or Mr. Clevoland's Cabinet do pot
excite as much attention the record of some
of the rink. An Arizona editor describes tho od.
vance Of the popular into that peaceful Terri
tory and calls upon all loyal clizens to oppose the
epidemic 1--WE can fail, )" he adds, "easily enouob
now, without getting these burned teuderfoot
machines"
Out in Ohio we hear Of brieAess LAWYER de-
yeloping marvellous skill in roller-skatinp. ard
now he is not only famous but rolling in wealth.
lie is generally supposed to have the most eooucnt
pair of legs in the Western Reserve Another State
has an Infant Phenomenon on skates who Tor IL
it which b earns weekly salary that would make
the best freak ia a dime museum turn green with
envy Another State boasts an international roller
skater, whatever that may mean; and still another
peripatetic geEius caters to the pious trade by
giving exhibitions in aid of t-burdened church.
of person who would like to the color of his
salary. Still again the news is flashed over the