The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-22

Another novel idea that should hni
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 a skate, the wind blows too strong
for any comfort, and we are obliged to
just skim up and down some shady spot
so as to escape the buffcting and hard
work of beating back against the wind.
On such day, if the wind is blowing
moderately across the river, lot of fun
may be had with the kite laid away since
the summer; or, better still, by one spe-
cially made for the purpose. The square
OF six-sided kite is the best shape, and if
specially made it should be made with
extra stout ribs and back, or if an old one
is used it should be recovered and
strengthened.
The cord should be very much stouter
and longer than usual, for the more resist
ance that is applied the higher it will
be necessary to .4t the kite 60. Having
everything in readiness, get friend to
hold the kite, and start it in the usual
way, skating s. i distance against the
wind to get it ''up.' Then turn. and let
the kite draw you. 1t is we'll known
how very little it takes to keep person
on skates moving, after once being set in
motion, and it will be readily under
stood what the motive power of fairly
large kite will be. The greatest fun,
however, does not consist in simply
holding on to the kite, and being
drawn in a straight line along the ice: to
get the maximum of pleasure, learn to
coast with it. Have the cord wound
upon a good thick stick, long enough to
give a good purchase to both hands and
stout enough to bear the pressure with
out breaking in the middle. Hold this
with bent arms in front of your chest,
and turn your feet slightly to the right.
How far to turn them cannot be ex-
planned in words, your own judgment to
the pull of the kite must guide you. If
it is not very strong it will be possible
to 60 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, more slanting direc-
ton will be necessary.
II Will be found necessary when the
pull comes to incline the body from the
kite, as if one were doing the "outside
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 putfs, which, if not anticipated,
may result in an unexpected fall at the
sudden let up of the pull. Properly
managed, the kite will take the flyer
skimming along, coasting here and there
across the ice. or running straight ahead
before the wind, describing zig-zags, or
any other figure he pleases. This is
very popular sport among the boys i'll
Eastern and Middle Europe, and the boy
here who first introduces it to his section
will have IN enviable time. Ihaye also
seen boys make light frame work of
lumber like Il raft and put it upon rum
ners made of pair of discarded wagon
shafts cut to an edge and securely fast
ened to the raft, and then, getting their
kites we'll up, run down in the rude
sleigh with half dozen of them sitting
on it, their kites drawing them along,
the steering being done by boys leg
dragging out behind, in the same way
that toboggan is guided.