The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-24
THE RINK QUESTION,

THE RINK QUESTION.
The rink question will not down, but is oc-
cupying the attention of many men given to
thought, especially clergymen and doctors.
SO far as the Journal is concerned, it cares not
whether rollerrinks are financial success or
the contrary, whether they grow in popularity
or become tabooed, or are shut up from indif-
ference, as a toy laid aside for some newer
one. But the rink question will not down
peremptorily; it must be decided upon
stable grounds and outside Of mere denun
can be kept reputable is matter of moment
to many thousand people, That foolish
persons may abuse this amusement
ought not and cannot be used as an argument
against it to its adjustment. 1t is re-
ported that some half-dozen contestants in the
late six-days' skating match at New York are
likely to die of the resultant effects, and that
one has already forfeited his life. It was
shame that the specializing managers allowed
SUCH d DIutdl SouteSt LII was mourning leSS 10
permit unframed men to go into it, since it
must have beer known that no man who knew
anything about the terrible strain of such a
race would have gone into it without weeks of
practice. The death of the skater, after YEARLY
keeping at it for six days, was little, if any,
less than manslaughter, and the managers
should be held responsible. Others have lost
their lives by attending Kinks, though not
taking part in a race Of any kind. One of the
latest victims is Miss Cleary, of Williams
burg, NJ Y, who died on Thursday last. She
had skated great deal one evening, and went
directly into the cold street without taking
the precaution of allowing her body to resume
its normal temperature, and the result was
pneumonia and death.
These deaths, nor any others brought about
in that way, can rightly be charged up to the
Kinks. The person thoughtless enough to
leave a rink while in glow and face an arctic
night, would as readily do the same under any
other circumstances. Many girl has caught
a death -cold upon leaving crowded and over
heated church. Some have died from ex-
posture at funerals, and some from being i'm
mersed. The penalty is SO great that it is
hard t. censure, but the truth remains that
but for thoughtfulness the death penalty
would not have been incurred. It has
been suggested, as safeguard, that
managers of such places of amuse-
to cease some half hour before the house is
closed, the time being put in by concert by
the band usually present on such occasions,
during which those present could leisurely
promenade. BY this means those who have
thoughtlessly allowed themselves to skate too
hard or too much, will have an opportunity to
''cool off, and will go into the outer air with
comparatively no danger Of pneumonia.
In some form or other, the link has come to
stay, and it is the part Of wisdom to make it
as healthful and wholesome as possible. 1t is
encouraging to see that the mon who have
money invested in Kinks are seeking to main
tain their popularity by removing everything
Objectionable. The Chicago rink owners have
met and organized an association and formu-
lated set of rules, among which are the fol-
lowing, the wisdom of which will be con-
coded: mo person in attendance upon rink
shall approach a woman in any way, except,
of course, where she should need assistance in
case of accident, unless proper introduction
shall have taken place, and parties so offend
ing shall be expelled from the rink; nor shall
they be allowed to skate at any of the Kinks
included in the association" The object of
this provision is apparent, and the fact that of
Tense in this direction will debar the guilty
one from other Kinks viii render it effective
according to the way in which
it is enforced. The duration Of no
session Of skating shall exceed three hours