Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-19
A SUNDAY ON SKATES.
How Pittsburg People Gyrated Down
the Icy Sidewalks.
GOOD STUDY FOR CONTORTIONIsTs.
Hill Top Residents Did Not Have Corner
on the CIty's Health.
AN ABUNDANCE or BREAKS AND sPRAINs

Yesterday was modelled somewhat after
the average holiday-nearly everybody bad
their skates on, and those who hadn't glided
along only trife less gracefully than those
who had.
That the best and most ancient rules are
subject to exceptions was aptly shown by
the gyrations of the people who inhabit high
stations in Pittsburg life. 1t has always
been understood since Adam left the valley
of Eden on account of the over-abundance
of snakes. that the higher places are the
most conducive to health. This is probably
one of the reasons that Noah landed his ark
on the top of a mountain, as it would have
been very unhealthy to land in the valley,
just at that moment, on account of the ma
laria the dampness would have caused.
But yesterday, on peaceful. quiet Sab
bath, the rule that was established few
days after the world began, was smashed to
smithereens. While the people in the val
leys of the Monongahela and Allegheny
were walking soberly along the streets, the
denizens of the high places were cling1ng to
fences and lamp-posts with woe-begone
countenances, perfect picture OF agony or
night at the club.
The Sidewalks a Sheet of Ice.
1t wasn't on account of the weather, for
while the atmosphere was not as balmy as a
Nav morning burdened with the fragrance
of early spring daisies, it was that crisp
morning air which everybody enjoys The
weather of the night before did the damage,
and as result of a conflict between a rain,
a snow and a freeze, the pavements were so
covered with ice as to make perpendicular
g., h,,r L.
pedestrians performed gyrations which con-
tortionists would give thousands to be able
to successfully initiate and still live.
People rs a rule did not treasure up their
mishaps against the Signal Service officials
of this city, for fear it might wound their
tender seusibilities, but are waiting for
chance to rub it in on the head office folks,
who are supposed to be made of the stuff to
accept their fate. whether it is the warm
breezes OF summer, or to be capsized by 4
howling blizzard straight from the bad
lands. The local people like their punch"
somewhat diluted.
At an early hour Yesterday morning the
thermometer began its downward flight. two
steps at time, and the hill residents began,
as soon as they got out of the house, to join
in the chorus. except that they were hardly
able to take two steps at time. "You hold
me up and 1 will you" was the motto of
pedestrians but in their endeavors to keep
up their ends OF the bargain, the rule seemed
to be, ''You trip me uD and / will vou."
Even the Cable Cars Had to Slide.
Meandering about the hilltops was exceed
ingly hazardous all day, and people were
continually in danger OF falling off. The
cable cars could not stop at some Of the
street crossings where the grade was espe-
cialiy steep, and prospective passengers were
kindly invited to slide ',just one square be-
low, please" There were a great number
of accidents, luckily mostly of minor nat
ure, such as bumped heads, bruised bodies,
etc. However, there were numerous sprained
ankles and broken legs secured by over
ardent pedestrians who tried to make speed
against difficulties.
Pleasure and pain go hand in hand. and
while many were grooming under the bur-
den of sorrows, one man at least was having
a CAV, good time. There is an Italian IN
the West End who knows how to combine
pleasure with business. and will greatly re-
gret TO see warm weather come. He lights
and attends to the gasoline street lamps out
Western street, commencing at the junction
of the latter thoroughiare with West Main
street. The hill is steep one in places, and
very slippery to descend in winter, though
it is comparatively easy to climb the steps
on the way up.
The italian climbs the hill each day,
lighting and attending to the lamps on the