The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-19
Chicago Gone Crazy Over the
Pastime.
GREAT Fun on THE ICE sLIDr.
The Sport Destined to Become n
National One-The Girls say
it Is Elegant
CurcAeo. pecember sth. 1sss.

I anu OAAl6 Will huOul
was talking this morning, said that he
had never seen a city taken with quite
so severe q case as that which has visited
our own. Not even in Montreal
said he, do 1 remember having seen
so much enthusiasm so generally in
dulged in as one may see demonstrated
here at present" Every shopkeeper
who wishes to attract attention to his
place of business, displays a gaily deep
rated toboggan il his show window.
and il never fails TO draw attention, as
wen as enthusiastic Explanations from.
hundreds of fair red lips. Young
women are purchasing them and hav-
ing them made into book cases, writing
/ tables, cushioned lounges, and every
other article which the feminine mind
/ can suggest, while within tho past two
days people have forsaken the
/ billiard halls, theatres, and all
| other places of amuSemeuts tor
the exhilarating sport of tobogganing.
The formal opening of the great slides
at the Chicago Ball Park, which took
1 place Tuesday evening, resulted in q
| scene tie ike Of which that spacious
enclosure has never before known.
/ Over 5000 people in costume and win
| ter dress poured through the gates
and the crash of music, the whirl of
the steel shod' toboggan, the delightful
cries and merry laughter Of the tobog-
/ ganists, bright eyes and happy faces,
manly forms and brilliant costumes
made the scene, so wholly new and
novel TO ChicagOans, one never to be
To- hw~ -, -
Not only were Chicagoans there, but
parties from nearly every suburb and
from outlying towns, who had been
apprised Of the opening came down 10
the city, fun OF expectancy and bright
anticipation of the fun ahead Of them
Everything passed off in splendid
style, and despite the marvellous sp ed
Of the tObOggans, and the inexperience
of the riders, there were no accidents of
any kind, and the success of the big
slide as well as of the sport itself is as
sured in this city. Toboggan clubs
have formed, and continue TO form in
escn section Of the city, and it is safe to
say that within the next thirty days a
score Of private and club slides will be
erected IN our suburbs and on the line
OF our broad bOuleYards and driveways.
The slide, however, was not the only
attraction OF the evening as the hun
dEeds who Circled about upon the steel
runners over the glistening surface of
tie ice skating surface can doubtless
testify.
At the east end Of the ball park, on
/ the ThrOOp Street side, q cOmmodious
/ waiting room had been built, and ad-
/ Joining 1t a refreshment room. and
/ offices where skates and toOoggans
could be obtained. Immediately in
. FrnnF nf FhaEa l.
I which entrance was made onto large
/ sheet OF ice. This, during the evening,
| was crowded with skaters. The ice was
! IL splendid condition, and the young
men glided over the surface hand in
| hand with their best girls, in the most
I approved style.
/ The toboggan slide has been built
/ from above the top of the grand stand,
/ at the corner of LoOmis and Harrison
/ Streets, and runs to the corner OF
/ Throop and Congress Streets. Big Cap
/ tain Arson, arrsyed in gorgeous scar
let tobOgganning suit, was in charge at
the top of the slide, and with him was
I ElEood Buell.. of ST. Paul, more mod
estly attired in a white blanket suit,
with blue sash and tuque. The OAken-
valid Club, of kenwOod, had accepted
President Spaulding's invitation to
open the slide, and its members were
met at the Van Buren, Street Station by
an omnibus, and driven to the grounds,
\ where they were received by the presl-
dent and provided with tOboggans.
/ The gentlemen were nearly all IN cos
tune; white blanket coats, colored
sashes and tuques. knickerbOckers. and
mOeasins. The ladies looked beTitching
in their winter attire.
The club mounted to the top OF the
| slide, and the fun began, Mr.. and Mrs.
| Paddon, the president OF the OakeE-
| Esld Club and MS wife, being the hrst
pair 10 make the descent. At first the
/ Chicago girls we're a little timOrOus at
starting, but when one or two had
I plu' kily made the attempt, and an
| nOunCed 70 the others that II was "ele-
| CANT, there Was no holding them back,
and the tObOggans could not be dis
patched fast enough. The spectators
| enioved the fun as much as the partci-
pants, and the first gentleman that
lmade the descent with 8 tall hat
vas unmer fully guyed. Presi-
cent SpAlding made the trip with
another heavy weight, and the
the impetus os the party nearly carried
away The barrier at the end OF the slide,
notTithstsnding the little hill at the
end. which had been built 10 stop the
speed. The view Of the park from the
top of the slide was very picturesque.
ne electric lights threw a brilliant
ulster al around, and the sheet CT ice,
with the myriad of figures gliding over
II. sparkled and glistened ike large
diamond. The tob0ggsas with their
saily dressed loads. shot down the slide
/ and along the smooth surface beioS
While the frosty air reSOunded with
he shouts Of the tobogganers and IN
cheers of the spectators. The band o.
the First Cavalry played good selection
OF music. and added not 3 little 10 the
sayety OF the occasion.
Tlf weather 10 Chicago up 10 the
present time. with the exception OF .
0riet cold snap last week, has been
comparatively mild, but that one snap
Was Sufficient 20 get the ice skating SUI