The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-01-28
WOMAN'S WORLD.
HOW GIRLS MAY LEARN TO SKATE
AND WHAT TO WEAR.

9lris Demand More Pay-The Gains of a
Xear-The Pinafore Gowns-Games for
Winter Evenings-A Town with City
MOthers-A Louisiana Apron.
The modern girl skater better merits
the description given her ancestress by
an old chronicler, who writes that she
went ''as swiftly as bird hyeth in the
alr, or an arrow out of a crossbow."
The best skate is one that clamps firm
" on the heel and fits the edges SO tightly
it becomes part of the foot itself. 1t
should be accurately and perfectly steady
If properly strapped to the foot Laced
boots for skating are to be preferred to
buttoned, as they permit the freer circu-
1ation of the blood The beginner might
advantageously carry stick or light pole
m the hand, but never is a friend SO
much in need as when her trusty hand
forms the mainstay on the treacherous
and unknown slippery surface.
But make trial, learn to balance the
body properly, and with a little conf
dence success will come very soon. It is
wonderful how soon children learn to
skate. Tiny little bodies, wee bits of
wOmanly humanity dart by their elder
sisters SO cautiously feeling their way,
bright fishes of gold and silver as it were,
fitting by some unwieldy body of the
deep.
The girl skater in learning ought never
to look at her feet, should keep the head
mp, advancing the body, her face in the
direction she is going, and the body
slightly inclined forward, according to
the first principle of gravitation, which
IN scientific language says, keep the CEN
ter of gravity over the base. In skating
all movements should be smooth and
graceful, and an effort made to keep
quite free from jerking and awkward
gestures.
The art of stopping is soon learned
Slightly bend the knees, bring the heels
together and bear upon them. 1t may
also be accomplished by turning short to
the right or left, and as you and 1 know
too often happens to US by sudden con-
tact with what acts in place of ''terra
hrma" and from no desire on our part to
reach so decided halt. The best
skaters avoid swinging the arms. They
are also careful to wear a close fitting
dress, as full and loose clothes catch the
wind and retard progress. A sensible
skater never ventures on thin ice, and
unless perfectly sure that the CLASSY
rink will bear her weight does not
dream of putting on her skates.
First of all skating costume needs to
be short, and next it should be simple.
These requirements reached it may be |
as pretty as is desired. A very stylish
one is made of Scotch homespun in
warm browns, and is really what might
be called polonaise costume, as it is all
m one piece. Wrinkled across the front
sufficiently to be graceful, it is yet quite |
plain about the lower portion of the
skirt, and is arranged in box plaits in
the back, so that sufficient fullness is
given to allow absolute freedom of the
body.
! 1t is double breasted and closed with
large brown buttons, while high collar
and single revers that extends well |
across one side of Alaska sable are its |
only trimming. The sleeves are moder-
ately high and easy in their fit, and the
gloves worn are gauntlets of heavy kid |
that button far up over the sleeve. The
hat is Tam of the same material as the |
dress, with a tiny fluffy pompon, like a
Panjandrum's button, just on top of it.
4The muf is of Alaska sable to match !
the collar. The whole effect is SO good
that one feels quite certain that the girl
who is going to skate herself into the
good graces of somebody will want one
just like it.-Ellen LIE Garde in Ladies'
Home Journal.