St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-09
SPRING IN DECEMBER.
Thoughts Suggested by the Sunshine
and Frost.
ALAS FOR FUR AND PLUSH.
Nicoliet Avenue Scenes on Saturday,.
Skates Versus Roller
= Kinks.

Although much delayed, yet the win
ter season will soon be with us, and it
is likely that the oldest resident and the
professional weather prophet will soon
see the thermometer stand far enough
below the zero mark to crafty their
desires. The weather, of course, is
topic of unfailing interest, and its ex-
ceptionally mild character, thus far in
the present season, has furnished a
topic for unceasing talk. The store
keepers and coal dealers are almost the
only people who think that the usual
Minnesota weather is more acceptable
than light frosts and fall sunshine.
Some people seem to fear that they may
not have sufficient opportunity to dis
play their furs, therefore they plod
along the pavements weighed down in
body and spirit by fur and plush
garments. Occasionally may be
walking shoes, supplemented by the
giddy young Miss wears her new seal
cap and carries her light jacket Oh her
arm. But soon the snow and bitter
winds will remedy all these discrepan-
cies. Then woe be to the poor and the
helpless who are popularity supposed to
be especial objects of the Lords bounty;
but their abject appearance and many
trials lead the observer to think that
the Lord knows not of them. Perhaps,
after all. they are only as grains of sand
on vast shore, where thousands of
grain may sink out Of sight, and who
knows what becomes Of them?
-
A SHOW ordinance will soon be the
most mOmentouS question Of the hour.
1t seems almost prOvidential that no
ordinance of the sort was passed last
winter, for that would have left an ach-
ing void in the deliberations of the city
council. just let lew inches of snow
fall and freeze upon our pavements,
then will Rome howl. The literary
young lady will send eloquent and
witty letters upon the subject. The
fact that most of these letters adorn the
waste basket won't dishearten her.
mental exercise involved in the pro-
cess. The well-known citizen will air
his views about icy pavements in the
column of opinions. His opinion won't
make the world move any faster, nor
will the ice melt any quicker because
he has spoken, but The citizen feels re-
lieved, so who shall complain? The
stranger, who has just arrived from
some sleepy little Eastern town, en-
phatically remarks that Minneapolis
streets in winter are disgrace, and
suggests vigorous application of the
snow pillow drawn by
oxen. But Minneapolis is nothing if
not progressive and we may expect to
see our streets cleared by some marvel
GUS machine whose motive power is fur
nished by electricity or steam. There is
no doubt but that there is plenty
of inventive talent lying around just
waiting for chance to utilize itself. If
an ordinance were passed requiring
streets and sidewalks to be cleared
some wonderful machine would soon be
forthcoming with which to do the work.
1t is not to be expected that the present
council will have any leisure for a snow
ordinance. The new council can wrestle
with it and cut its wisdom teeth in the
process. While awaiting the action of
the city fathers the dress reform sOcie-
ties can make themselves useful by sug-
costing a style of dress which will be
and less grotesque than the
present.
Skating seems likely to be popular
during the coming season.
Since roller skating fell into disrepute
this form Of exercise has been rather
overlooked. Toboggans and snowshOes
clamored for public favor, and received
it for several seasons, but they are be-
coming so common that some new freak
will be in order for the coming winter.
Several ice Kinks are being constructed
in different parts of the city in order
that each social clique may have its own
resort and look with whitening scOrn
upon the ones frequented by its neigh
bors. These Kinks will probably be
lighted with electricity and furnished
with every comfort known to modern
civilization. If only they could be heated
until the thermometer would stand in the
then the acme OF comfort would
go skating in tulle and crepe costumes,
and furs. Skating has so long been out
Of fashion that everybody will have to
learn again. But if memory serves one
rightly what a pleasant process that
was. How plainly one remembers the
thrill of excitement with which the new
all-clamp skates were
donned, and the many lessons which it
was necessary to receive and how pa
tent and persevering that young man
was who taught us ages ago. He didn't !
seem to mind that it took one long
lime to become so expert that she could
skim over the smooth surface, disdain
ng support OF assistance. No, he didn't |
care if it took us all winter to |
earn to skate. Nor we didn't |
either. What charming time |
hat was ages ago. and we wonder with |
, doubtful sigh if it will come again. |
We will do our share, won't we girls? |
We will have a most artistic skating |
costume made, and be quite eager and |
Wiling to learn if only the young man
If the present era won't shlrk the task
If teaching over to that superannuated
lude-professor we mean--who is hired |
o preside over the skating Kinks. But |
lfter all the Kinks can scarcely equal
he winding river with the long |
stretches of smooth ice, where one |
could glide along for miles and miles at
/ rate of speed which made the trees
md houses on the banks glide by like |
20 many ghosts. If the flour mills and |
lumber mills didn't want to use so much
# the Mississippi, what a splendid
kating course it would make. But its !,
10 use grasping after the impossible.
We will have to be satisfied with the
inks.