Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-01-25
RINK MATTERS.
The Fun More FuriOus-News and Gossip
From tho Rollers.

The Fun More Furious-News and Gossip
From tho Rollers.
Wheeling is still whirling with interest in
roller skating. The fauaticism, if anything,
is on the increase and there is now no
doubt the new Kinks will increase the pat
tronage without lessening the business of
any one. The exercise and exhilaration
are healthful, if not carried to excess, and
there is no reason to believe they are.
The Capitol Rink will be open tomorrow
evening at I o'clock. For two weeks past
mechanics and workmen have been buslly
engaged perfecting this immense building.
The structure occupies the former site OF
the old Alhenwum, corner Sixteenth and
Market streets, and will perpetuate the
memory of that famous theater and bastile.
The energetic prOprietors OF the rink have
saved neither pains or expense IN making
the rink the most agreeable and pleasant
place of amusement that Wheeling ever
had. There will he as one enters the main
entrance, a flowing fountain Of perfume,
where one can dip her kerchieti in the
flowers nectar" Both electric and gas
lights illumine the rink, and at the farther
end a handsome winter scene, the whole
width of the building, the work
of the scenic artist, l.. L. Dardlne. As a
work of art it is very fine, and is considered
bY all who have seen it TO be the master
work of this gentleman.
Spacious parlorS for ladies and gentlemen
are separately arranged, carpeted and up
holstered to correspond with the balance OF
the interior. A handsome souvenir Of ex-
q%uisite design and workmanship is to be
presented to every lady who attends the
opening. Gentlemen and lady attendants
will be at the call Of skaters. An even tenn
p~erature at all times will do away with those
close, illy-ventilated, ordinary Kinks. In
fact nothing is wanting, and it is safe to
surmise that the Capitol Rink will be the
favorite resort for an agreeable and pleas
aut place of amusement-something that
Wheeling has been sOrely in need Of
The Billiard printing house has designed
and printed for the Capitol Rink a very
tasty and appropriate ladies souvenier. 1t
is q programme Of the opening. On the
face is a winter scene, with a lady skating
II costume. On the reverse side is the pro-
gramme. Messrs. L.arkin 4 lIandlan, the
proprictors, are doing things up nicely.
RTNXLETS.
The Capitol opens tomorrow.
Crowds were turned away from the Island
Yesterday.
The chase for the soapy pig wa a funny
snap at the Island rink, last night.
The Capitol rink promises to have rare
attractions in the way of fancy skating.
The carnival, by the Women's CGion Be-
n~evolent Society, will be the biggest thing
on rollers.
Mr.. 5. NJ. Howard, with q clear field, is
about to open two good Kinks in Charleston.
They will 60.
The rink at the corner OF Chapline and
TwentysecOnd is rapidly going up and will
probably open this week.
There iss great diversity of opinion con.
corning the merits of the several skates
now in use, esch patent having its particu-
lar friends.
In reply to an inquiry regarding roller
skates Howard Bros. have said that as far
as their knowledge extends roller skates
were first introduced in this country by an
English opera company about the year
1857. Prior to that they we're used in Ger
many, the waiter girls in a large beer gar.
den or saloon delivered the beer on roller
skates. The first patent granted in this
country was to Reuben Shaler, May 29th,
1860, and was for skate having four single
rollers in a straight line as a substitute for
the blade on the old fashioned ice skate.
The rollers had a rubber tire on the face set
in a groove.