The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-08
CLARA BELLE ON A BoB-sLED.
She Joins the Giddy Throng and Slides Down
Hill at Lightning Speed.
Cincinnati Enquirer.

She Joins the Giddy Throng and Slides Down
Hill at Lightning Speed.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
The joliest fad among society girls is to make
trip to Albany, for the purpose of bob-sledding.
Big parties 90 up the Hudson to the old Dutch
city. have been one Of these giddy excursion
lists. Happily, had resident friend Nellie.
who put me in the way of enjoying the diversion
at its best When the time came to get ready,
she said in her mischievous way that Unjust first
pass an examination very like that of girl who
wants to join the ballet
Put your foot up on that chair" said she.
II couldn't to save my neck" said l. unless I
take off my skirts, which don't propose to do"
'ThatS just what you've got to DO" said She
and then, seeing my startled look, she added.
land put on these" and she flung out a hannel
petticoat two white skirts and Dress all OF the
fashion of three years ago.
She had similar suit complete, and we Goth
undressed and dressed up again in these yolu-
minous skirts Once again she babe me put my
foot on chair, and, catching her spirit, L re-
sponded by lifting one heel to the top of the back
of a low arm chair. She laughed as she said:
You'll do; now you can mount the biggest bob
in Albany"
We each put on a pair of wooden stockings over
cur shoes and wore our rubbers over them ito
keep the cold and the snow out" Nellie said, and
then we walked along to the crest Of Madison
avenue, while Nellies brother Tom pulled a biz
bob ('Double Ripper was the name painted on
it, along the middle of the road behind US. Hero
and there Tom stopped and notified the young
men and women of his and his sisters aeuuaint-
ance who lived in the neighborhood, and, a.
they had got ready beforehand, we made q
party of fifteen when we got to the hilltop. The
ob-sled was nearly thirty feet in length, and
consisted of a twoinch plank bolted on to two
immense sleds. 1t had bull's,eye lantern, q
big brass gong, steering Wheel like car brake,
and huge ox-chain, to be let down under the
hind sled to act as a brake when the bob was to
be stopped | thought I'd freeze to death, or at
least get pneumonia, as l stood on that bleak
hilltop waiting for the party to start.
"Now watch me-" said Nellie: sits easy
though it looks a trife hard, to do it with pro-
priety"
She sat on the board, lifted her feet, wheeled
around as if she was on pivot, put up her knees
and spread them so as to hold her skirts in
place, and then dropped one foot after another
over the sides of the big sled, holding them up
from the ground, so that nothing more than her
shoes were in sight. Some of the other girls
were not so skillful for / saw sections of stock
ing here and there, and one little miss, in q
rather short dress, bungled the operation in a
way not to be described. My heart sank at
these sights.
II doubt if it is worth it, said ], in whisper.
"Oh, fddlesticks!" said Nellie; sits dark, and
ali over in a second"
So tried it, and fatter myself did rs we'll
as Nellie herself. There was a young gentle
man in front of me- and, co my CONSERVATION, he
began fumbling at my feet Before knew
boot. looked around and saw that some one
of the men was holding up each girls feet in APP
parently the same way, and just then some or
the men produced fishhorns and began to blow
them, and the sled commenced to slide down
hill 1t moved slowly only for an instant, and
then it literally plunged downward as block OF
ice descends a board into cellar. There was
rush of cold wind, sense like that of falling
from a houSe-tOp, confused blur OF the faceS OK
the double line of men, women and children
strung along both sides of the roadway, a bump
that sent my heart between my teeth when we
crossed horse car track, and then long, swift
sheet below. But the young gentleman who
held my toes allowed my heels to dig into the
snow, and from each of tiesc there planned .
fountain of ground-up ice and snow that shot
right into nay clothes and began to pack mp most
unpleasantly under my knees On the long afs1
tiresome journey up the hill told Nellie, and
she became indignant,
'.Held your toes, did he9" sho almost shoutedS
"well, he's perfect Miss Nancy. I'll give you
my partner next time"
When / reached the top of the hill / was all
aglow with the exercise, and the sight of score
Of long elastic, flying hobs, made me eager for
another ride. Again put the big board be-
tween my knees with all the skill that was
necessary, and held my toes up for Nellie's part
ner, who now sat in front of me, to clutch them.
But he did nothing of the sort. His hands
grasped my ankles firmly, and away we went,
with rush and roar, over the bumps, through
the lines of spectators, and so on to the end.
NY face was scarlet as described my experience
TO Nellie. got no sympathy from her Yes"
said she "he knows how to hold ones feet up.
He's perfectly splendid, he is"
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