Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-02-28

Another novel idea that should find
favor with boys this year Is the adapta-
ton of kite flying TO the ice. We all
know that many days, when one goes out
for skate, the wind blows too strong
for any comfort, and we are obliged To
Just skim up and down some shady spot
% as TO escape the bulrcting and hard
work of beating back against the wind.
On such day, if the wind is blowing
moderately across the river, lot of fun
nay he had with the kite laid away since
'ic summer; or, better still, by one spc-
cially made for the purpose. The square
six-Sidcd kite is the best shape. and if
prcially made it should be made with
extra stout ribs and back, or if an old ON,
i, used it should be recovered and
heightened.
The cord should be very much stoutcr
longer than usual, for the more resist
that is applicd the higher 1t vii
be necessary TO let the Kite go. Having
everything i'll readiness, get Il friend to
hold the kite, and start it in the usual
way. skating short distance against the
wind to get it cup" Then turn. and let
The kite draw you. 1t is well known
how very little it takes to Keep person
on skates moving. after once being set in
motion, and it will he readily under
stood what the motive power of n fairly
large kite will be. The greatest fun,
however, does not consist in simply
holding on to the kite, and being
drawn in n straight line along the ice: to
get the maximum of pleasure, learn to
coast with it. Have the cord wound
upon good thick stick, long enough to
give good purchase to both hands and
stout enough TO bear the pressure with
out breaking in the middle. Hold this
with bent arms i'll front OF your chest,
and turn your feet slightly to the right.
How far to turn them cannot be ex-
planned i'll words, your own Judgment to
the pull of the kite must guide you. II
1t is not very strong it will be possible
to go nearly in straight line across the
ice, and turning, come back nearly as
straight. But if it is blowing hard, and
the pull is strong, Il more slanting direc-
ton will be necessary.
1t will be found necessary when the
pull comes to incline the body from the
kite, as if one were doing the "outsidc
edge" so as to get more resistance, and
then it is necessary so watch the wind
carefully and be on the look out for
sudden puffs, which, if not anticipated,
may result in an unexpected fall ut tho
sudden let up of the pull. Properly
, managed, the kite will take the 1ye.
Swimming along, coasting here and there
across the ice. or running straight ahead
before the wind, describing zig-zags Oh
any other figure he pleases. This is {
very popular sport among the boys il
Eastern and Middle Europe, and the boy
here who first introduces it to his section
will have an enviablc time. have also
seen boys make light frame work oil
lumber like raft and put it upon run
ners made of Il pair of discarded wagon
shafts cut to an edge and securely fast
ened to the raft, and then, getting thci
kites well up, run down in the rud,
sleigh with half dozen of them sittin,
on it, their kites drawing them along
the steering being done by boys lie.
dragging out behind. in the same wa,
that toboggan is guided.