Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-06

The winter carnival at Burlington makes
the second which has occurred in the United
States Montreal has hitherto been the es-
pecial home of winter sports, and many VISIT
ors from the States have flocked there each
winter to enjoy the revelry and entertainment
of carnival week. But if the outdoor sports
of wintry days are conducive to the well-be-
ing and health full enjoyment of Canada's In
habitants, they cannot be less so for the peo-
pie this side of the line. The SHOWS of north
ern New England are hardly less bounteous
than those of Canada, and her ice is as glare
and firm Without doubt the rage for winter
sports will sweep over New England, and
within few years the traverse and toboggsn
become familiar sights. The awakening OF
an interest in winter outdoor recreation
would seem desirable, for more brisk exer-
else and more pure air would serve to brace
I'D the system, and enable it to Withstand the
facilitating effects OF the confined and heated
rooms of the season.
Augusta, with its long hills for coasting
and tobogganing, its rivers and other icy
places for skating and ice boating. its hills
and daes for snow-shoeing. should take natu-
rallv to the sports of winter. Montpelier, the
Vermont capital, has furnishing snow-shoe
club, the parents Of the project being gen.
teman and HE wife who practiced snow-shoe
ing for The benefit of the healthful pleasure it
afforded them
One of the striking and pleasing features of
the week of carnival at Burlington was the
gay and becoming costumes worn by the
Burlington ladies and by the gentlemen of
the coasting clubs. They created such q
brilliancv and such a contrast to ordinary
garments that one could not easily forget that
he was attending carnival. One correspon-
dent was impressed with the idea that q
group of mel was as gay as rainbow, and
a bevy of ladies looked like bed of big pan
sies" The material used by both ladies and
gentlemen was like ordinary wooden blanket
ing, some of the ladies' garments being made
from blankets. the colored bands running
about the bottom of the skirt Various other
patterns were noticed. Suits of white, of red
or of blue. Patterns with large dots, and
patterns with broad stripes of red and white,
or blue and white. The ladies' suit consisted
of an ulster with snow hood. belt or sash or
head, of bright color, and worn by both la,
dies and gentlemen. Some ladies had the reg
ular skirt and basque. The men wore the
blouse coat with snow hood and belt. knee
breeches. long hose, moccasins, and tuquc.
Many of the ladies also wore moccasins and
they were said to be very warm, for two or
three pairs of stockings could be worn if nee
essary. The children were made very be-
coming in these sly les of suits, and we're
worn by some so small they could hardly
more than toddle about. The Montreal clubs
generally wore white coat blue tuquc and
red hose.
The traverse is the bob-sled or double
runner of Maine. But it is more substan-
tal affair than the bob used in this vicinity
Those used here are too trail for the loads
they carry and the sled runners are too near
together. The Burlington traverse is Of
course more expensive. They vary in price
from $25 to $50. although one of the best
ones in use cost Sl20. Over in Albany, New
York State, they put more money into them
hundreds of dollars, it is said. The Burling-
ton sleds are made OF the best hard wood and
are of remarkable strength. and well they
should be, for they outrival the speed of the
fastest express train. They are from IA to
20 feet in length and will seat from 10 to
10 persons. There is pair of runners at each
end, made low and broad-27 inches-so that
they cannot easily capsize. The BODY of the
sled stands about two feet high ana is about
foot wide The front runners turn on
pivot and are attached to quick acting steer
ing gear. and there is a powerful brake be-
hind. 1t is finely upholstered in material
to please the taste Of the owner. some using
brussels carpeting, some leather. others raw
a,1lx ntl,a al. NJ,
Suspended from the body on each side of the
traverse are strong foot rails running the en-
tire length of the sled while a rail is provided
on each side for the hands to grasp. The
coasters sit astride of the seat-ladies as we'll
as men-resting one foot on either side rail.
The pilot sits in front, and the others. sitting
close together grasp the rail The brakeman
sits in the rear.
A newspaper thus describes the first expert
ence of one of the Boston girls upon the
traverse:
"The Boston girls are altogether too delightful It
is worth journey of 500 miles just to one. She
wears gold eyeglasses perched on her aquiline
She !. IN charge Of Burins,O1 GIRL la Of fur.
ment of the fun. The Burlington girl sits on the
cushion Of the traverse, raises both heels, turns
around as If she was on Pivots and plants foot on
ready to manage the edge of her skirts, that the
performance 10 simply the most artistic thing imagi
nable. The Boston home improvement girls view
this with grave and perple xed expression.
"My deah," heard one say to her Burlington
guide, ''are YOU h-quite suah that this mannah
Of disposing ones-sh-ones feet quite the propah
thing"
II you went down hill side saddle. Gene along,
dear"
SO in the case in point the Boston improvement
girl adjusted her gold glasses, raised me tiny shoe
over the 20 inch height Of the cushion. sat down
without the slightest mshap. tucked her skirts in
around her CATERS. and sighed quite audibly, az
though she thankful the officers of the improve
ment society were not there to look on. In another
instant the Burlington girl and the Boston girl were
only dim, uncertain parts of flying mass earth
defying matter speeding toward Lake Champlain.
The little, improved scream of the Boston girl, the
of the traverse, the ordinations of the multi.
tude, the pop and fla h of the rockets, all were but
little parts of totally unlike anything else
be in this couatry, If indeed, any such scene
ever WAS beheld In it before"
The entire length of the Burlng-
ton slide is mile and half long,
but the one used during the carnival
stopped when three-fourths of mile ended.
At first the traverse moves at a moderate
pace, but rapidly increases. until under the
most favorable conditions the steepest part OF
the hill is covered at the rate OF so miles an
hour, so it is said AT times the rate is so
rapid that il is found advisable to throw snow
or sawdust upon the track to slacken the
speed, and also to avoid Slowing. At night
the course is between two rows of torches
and a very pretty sight it is. too.
Next in popular favor to the traversipg was
the tobogganing. Four slides were in opera
ton at Burlington. The toboggsn has been
a somewhat familiar sight in Augusta this
winter and need not he describpd The