Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-25

spontaSeous growth OF natures never
except by themselves; the last
is Only in the power of those tc
| whom time Is no object. Still there are
! some points in good skating which the
| most indefatigsble praoticer would be
| long in finding out; for instance, the
| fact that half the work is done by the
foot that is off the ice.
Slowness of action, uprightness, and
ease in crossing the legs are indispsn-
sible to first-rate performer. The
English skater recognizes the straight
knee as most important requirement;
though every skating country has Its
own popularity of carriage. Among
Europeans there is general tendency
to attudenizing; though the folded arms
and forward slope of the Hollander, is
the scorn of the stylish English skater,
who particularly affects the firm leg,
upright body, hands by the side, and the
pendent leg close in By its fellow.
Holland, by tradition, is accounted
the skating nation OF the world. l doubt
ii there are any real grounds for this
distinction; indeed, believe there are
great numbers of American skaters who
habitually execute figures on the Central
park lake, New York, which would draw
admiring crowds in HARLEM and
Utrecht. The Hollanders skated as
necessity-not as an amusement OF art
until railways took the place of canals,
and even where there are no railways
there is little artistic skating for mere
idle pleasure.
Indeed. the intimate knowledge of
Northern nations which we have gained
no 10 az ,nrto rOfo
In the countries where Ice is certainty.
there precisely it is the least valued
as source Of amusement. In fact, SO
contradictory is human nature, that the
very uncertainty of the conditions for
skating seems to produce the most en-
thusiastic devotees; aud it Is not In St.
Petersburg, but in New York and Lon
don the most accomplished skaters are
found.
OF course there are exceptions. Cam
ada would be dangerous antagonist,
though her best foot might well hesitate
to run with the famous fenskaters of |
and Lincolnshire; men |
who, with long runners and fair wind |
behind them, will score easily seventy to |
eighty miles day; and in their winter |
races on the Witham, do their mile in |
about two minutes.
Their position is worth noting They |
hold the body upright as at dance;
keep the arms straight from the shoulder
to the wrist; move the body massively-
but not ohliquely-to and fro, darting
he legs out sideways with amazing
'apidity, and above all, doing all the
zeal work from the hips. Moving thus,
t Is a sight to see them do a half mile
burst at the rate of thirty miles an hour.
Not many years ago the Lincolnshire
volunteers performed the feat by which
| Dutch army once repulsed force of
Frenchmen on the Scheldt-with rifle in
land they skated the same distance in
'fours'' with the Hcaptain at their
read, majestic and wonderful to be-
lold. -
There is a tradition that Benjamin
Vest was able to trace in his skate on the
ca the outlines of any statue that might
70 named to him. am quite unable to
imagine such artistic skating, and can
My take refuge from the oppressiveness
f the idea in the confidence that it can't
9 true. In fact if had not moral con-
iotions against the permissibility of bet
ing l would not hesitate to "back' the |
udacious pirouetters and marvellous
guarantees of Central Park, New York,
gainst the lords of the Serpentine, the
cbeldt, Neva or of all the world |
esides.
Skating is healthy amusement.
earty, reasonable, social; and full of
opportunities for good will and good fell
'wshIp; and with an undoubting con-
'ienoe, we may wish all knights and
amss of the Joe this winter, a free roll
'om every side to side Of broad sheet of
ater. the wind blowing far from be-
ind, the ice firm as marble and smooth
glass. AMELIA E. BARR.