Morris tribune., 1888-02-01
OUR SKI RIDE.

Not long ago we stood Watching
party of young mex sliding dowi
one of the hills slipping TO the Pomm'
de Terre river. 1t was q pleasing
sight, and rs the young men fieV
down In rapid succession upon th'
swift running skis, the joy became
tumultuous. When asked to partici
pate in the sport. we hesitated, Their
examined pair of proffered skis, anc
finding them such innocent, milo
hammered and seductive things, we
concluded to try run upon them
Laying aside our over-coat, VIC
placed the skis well back on the
starting ground, mounted, and, with
an eXulting shout, started. TO oui
modification, we found there was
something wrong with the combina-
ton. The right ski started to the left
and the left one to the right, and oui
right and left pedal extremities being
unable to follow the cross ny lines
thus marked out, we fell before going
far enough to even. catch glimpse
ever the threshold of the hill. This
may be considered u practical DEM
onstratim Of the ge0metrical i'm
possibility of two parallel lines meet
ing.
In somewhat subd, ed manner we
picked ourself apart, gathered up the
skis, and, with much less of ostenta-
tious display started over. We took
great pains to AVOID a repetition ofour
recent misfortune, when suddenly
we felt called upon, against our in
clinations and desires, to attempt to
cover greater space than was covered
10y the ancient Colossus of Rhodes
and were certain that we were in
danger of being seriously hurt in the
fort. Suddenly, though, one ski
let go ana there WAS II general col
lapse. While ge ting ourself together
again, we began to realize that this
time, the skis, instead of crossing each
others path, had decided to separate
as widely us possible aud were acting
il Il manner exactly and positively
opp site to the way in which they
started at first. Possibly we got the
right ski on the left foot.
, Again we started. This time slowly,
cautiously, and with much trepida-
ton. Splitting the difference between
the two previous catastrophies, we
slipped over the brow OF the hill and
suddenly found ourself bounding
downward with lightning rapidity-
when something happened. When
they dug US out, they said we had
made the biggest jump on record.
From the point where, after shoveling
down to us. t4ey pulled us out feet
first, to the point up the hill where
one ski was found stuck IN the snow,
1t was just 1873 feet. Finding the
ski so far up the hill with the front
end stuck in the snow. explains why
it stopped so suddenly. For Obvious
reasons we could not stop; hence the
separation which resulted so disas-
trously to us. After the significant
discovery of the ski so far above us, we
regarded the sudden termination of
this run as purely accidental and were
not disposed to hold the skis as being
Intentionally accountable. BY this
time we felt weary. Inwardly we
sighed for home. But feeling that we
were the observed of all,observers, and
realizing how deeply we had bur-
rowed In snow and humiliation, lit
made us mad and, ignoring the kind.
ly advice of anxious friends, we pre-
pared to go again
At first we seemed to be able to
profit by recent experiences. This
fourth time we started very easily
and smoothly, both skis acting in
perfect harmony. Soon though we
began to wish they wouldn't go so
fast-next our footing seemed to have
no foundation-our skis would sud-
denly converge-then diverge- spring
40feet clear of the snow-then-.When
we came to we were at the bottom of
the hill. How we got there, none
but the lookers-on can tell. We struck
all over. Our injuries were numerous
and severe. Aftera weeks careful
nursing, the physicians have decided
that noue of our wounds are neees-
sariIly fatal, though the conflicting
emotions aud fright experienced may
leave us demented, Time alone can
tell.
Our order for pair of skis with or
namented tips, has been counter
manded. We shall never ride on skis
any more. The machines seem to be
simple enough, but they are geared
up so high that We fear we shall never
be able to properly operate them. To
those who do not fear death in q
multitudinous though instantaneous
form, skis may be y rare privilege,
but we can not so regard them. TO
our friends we would most earnestly
say: Ifyou must use skis, never lei
them start down hill with you, but
keep them on level ground or, safer
still upon slight up z ade.