Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-01-04
9ylonlhs' Column,
THE LITTLE RED SKATES.


skates; that is, pair of skates
whose runners were fastened into
red feet. This shade of red, would
have been beautiful in gladiolas or
picked pepper, was vulgar In
pair of skates, as it indicated cheap
ness, and stamped the skates as be-
inc within the reach of every one.
The red skates had peculiar and
most aggravating kind of heel strap,
designed for the ankle instead Of
the instep. This heel band was in
tended as substitute for the screw
in the heel, the red skates being pro-
vided with a peg, which the skater
drove into the heel of the shoe by
means of jumping and stamping.
The runners were narrow and low,
and had groove which caused them
to be known as "gutters, it being
considered rather more difficult to
whirl about on those that were uu-
bevelled. In front the steels came
away out and around in great curve
ending over the instep in a brass
acorn. This feature, if it be termed
a feature, caused the skates to be
known as "turn-ups," and they fire.
quently tripped any one that came
in contact with them.
In those days boys were judged,
among themselves, more by the
skates they used than by the COM
pany they kept. The boy with the
''rockers" in a nice green baize bag
was regarded with peculiar envy,
which by degrees developed INTO rev.
erence, for if he was envied for being
able to have pair, he was revered
for his ability to fly on them without
interfering with the natural symme-
try of the back Of his head Club
skates were comparatively unknown
at this time; not more than one boy
in a hundred owned q pair, and If he
put them on he was stared at so hard
and questioned so freely that he
couldn't enjoy his skating.
The little boy who owned the red
skates was a very poor boy-in fact,
he was SO poor that he had no over
coat. He used to wear huge COM
forter around his neck, which crossed
on his breast, and was fastened in q
hard knot, at the small of the back.
This with the exercise he had, kept
him sufficiently warm, and the boys
who wondered that he should possess
pair of skates and not an overcoat
soon began to realize that he could
get more glowing comfort out Of the
former. He was a short, stocky
boy, and in spite of the fact that his
skates were red, he was not subject.
ed to ridlcule. He was too much Of
fighter not to be respected ever
more than he deserved.
When he first appeared on the ice
he had but one skate, as he believed
in the system of learning to skate Oh
one foot at time He would rur
five or six feet, and then strike on
and slide twenty. He frequently
fell, but as the ice cracked some
times, and his head never, he con
Guided he might as we'll put on thu
pair. Hardly week had passed b,
before he could ''grind the bark
and jump over things, feat tina
considered daring on "turn-up'
skates. His great trouble seemed
to be in keeping the skates on Sc
curely. Frequently he had to stamI
the peg into his heel, and oftener h
had to thrust sticks of wood unde
the straps to make them tighter
When he had & sufficient number 0
sticks under the strap to light fir
with, his face wore happy expires
sion of triumph, and he would Gid
along like the wind.
Nothing upset the composure o
this freckled youth On the red skates
If he fell, he always arose feelin
better. III any one ran into him
that person always got the worst O
it. If he broke through the ice, h
came out and skated himself dry i
half an hour.
1t used to be considered q charm
ing accompaniment to the pasttim
of skating to have large dog on til
ice. We had a Newfoundland thu
was as fond of running on the froze
surface in winter as be was of swim
ming in the pond in summers and g
freely and cheerfully as he woul
swim for sticks thrown into the W.
ter, he would run for them throw
on the ice. But when the little DO
with the red skates was around, I'll
dog would go and lie down by ii
fire of fence rails on the shore. an
keep one eye open, because he seen
ed to know that q boy could wa
and run on land and stones with pc
feet impunity, and not iniure pa
Of red skates.
The reason the dog kept out (
the way was that one day the be
with the red skates grasped his ta
in one hand and beat him with
switch held III the other, and MAJ
him run with might and main, viii
the tormentor held his feet togethe
and made the hills send back i
merry shouts as he flew along behii
his four footed locomotive. L
switch kept the dog from turning {
him. and he had such 4 ride as f