The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-19

This consists of the building up of the track in
an incline, with perpendicular face of few
feet The toboggan rushes up the incline and
flies over the face through the air to the track
again. This is exciting. but dangerous, and
most of the few accidents accredited to tobog-
gaming occurred on these cahots. Another way
is still exciting. Find steep hillside
where the winds have drifted the snow midway
down the side into high drift that has per-
pendicular face of eight ten feet. Push off
on your toboggan from the top Rush down
over the top OF tie drift-a flying jump of twenty
feet or more through the sir-to the lower slope;
to dart on down the incline with accelerated
speed. A few jumps OF this kind is well worth
a long trim.
Tobogganing as an amusement was com
menced In Canada down natural slopes upon the
crust At Quebec the slide first used forty
years or more ago was the ice cones that are
formed by the spray under the Falls of Mont
mcrenci These cones rise during a cold winter
to a height OF nearly $50 feet, and the impetus
acquired by the toboggan as it rushes down the
smooth. icy surface, carries it mile or more
across the river
At present every Canadian city has it's tobog-
gan clubs with their deliberately built and pre-
pared slides-.those of Montreal being we'll
known to Americans. In the United States,
favored by climate and proximity to Cana
da, Saratoga had the pioneer club, organized
in November 1884 though tobeeganing there
on natural slopes ante date this by several years
Mitchell, with length of 2. 500 feet and fall of
l12 feet within the first 600 feet, is without an
equal this side of the line. The sport has de-
veloped in a surprising manner during last year,
though the season regards weather was most
unfavorabe. At St Paul and Burlington, sue
cessful winter carnivals advanced the sport
Slides we're erected at albany, N Y, Orange,
n. D., and many other places, notably through
the northwest, ard the pastime hitherto con-
fined to our northern neighbors sprang at once
into popularity.
Tobogganing and snow -shoeing are worthy of
all encouragement Enjoyed in the open air
they strengthen andinvigorats. Spend an even
ing, my novice friend, in rushing down through
the frosty air. the illuminated icy toboggan
track, with the brisk walks up the slide the gay
changing scenes and the jolly sociality of ones
companions. How, then, will you sleep, friend
and with what renewed vicor will you rise next
morning! Bind on your snow-shoes. You will
founder about, no doubt, and have a tumble or
more IN the snow but shake it off and persev ere
few days and you will have mastered the art
And then--at night with the stars bright
overhead, and perhaps the wavering aurora
borealis, flashing its mystic light across the
northern sky, with elastic tread you will pass
over the crisp white mantle that nature now
wraps over the country. Your blood will bound
with quicker exhilarating throb through your
veins; all the world will seem brighter as you
swing along in the sunlight, over the elistenin 2
white expanse of snow; the distant mountains
with soft purple hue seriating the horizon the
trees along the fences pencied against the cloud
less sky, every rail, bush and twie above the
snow standing clearly out, wreath of smoke so
blue curling lazily up from the bare woods in
yonder hollow, flock of snow buntings whirng
away in q gray cloud Through the wooded
lowland you tramp. Here, labyrinths crossing
and recrossine, appear the trails of the winter
denzens- squirrel. rabbit, fox and tiny field
mouse track. At last. turning homeward through
the gray woods, with the frosty wind softly
blowing in your face and rustling the dry oak
Leaf above, the last field is reached with the
clear. amber glow of the winter sunset caught
MP and reflected from s million white crystals
until it seems a sparkling extent of gold to cross
And, kicking off your snow-shoes after such
tramp, friend, You will feel better and stronger
for the communion you have had with nature
and realize the truth of Emersons remark, that
Every bit of nature is but IA window through
which one can see God"