Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-01
A Learned Writer Discourses
on Winter PaStimeS.
SKATING IS MORE HEALTHFUL
Is the Dance an Adjunct for
Flirting and Marriage.
why Girls Should Learn to sl1ate--The
Dance Originally Expressed Thought
Sensible Suggestion for Girls.

AFFORD them pleasure or recreation; be-
cause such things are the expression of
their individual taste; though it is true
that even amusements are controlled by
season, fashion, locality and various
other determining causes.
However, it may be safely asserted
that during the present winter months
dancing and skating are likely to pre-
dominate; and if, 81 only think my
thoughts, perhaps they'll please to con
slider whether they will not think that
they may seem to deserve their consid-
Grafton"
First, I would suggest to those who
make profession of pleasure, that they
might find more satisfactory way of
seeking it, than by spinning like tee-to-
tum in a room of S0o temperature.
Dancing that means anything have a
high respect for, not forgetting the num-
Der of respectable names associated with
the exercise in Biblical history. But |
think it must have been very different
kind of thing from our shutting of feet
this way, that way, and no way in
particular. Certainly, if Herodias'
daughter had danced modern cotillon
John the Baptist's head would never
have fallen at her feet.
All ancient dances were symbolical;
they meant something. Every motion
was thought, every attitude a senti-
ment. The religious dances of Judea
were triumphant alteration; the martial
dances of Greece, the very romance of
military enthusiasm; the comic dances
of southern Europe, better than play;
the fandango of Spain, as an expression
of the whole passion of love able to
move the stony hearts of an Inquisitorial
Consistory.
Coming nearer to our own time, Sir
John Davis wrote poem "as good as a
sermon" in favor of the dance; Milton
looked with more pleasure on the feats
of the light, fantastic foot than his Puri-
tan principles warranted; Locke ad-
vised that every child be taught dancings
Sully was himself an accomplished
dancer; and Richelieu used to pay court
to Anne of Austria by performing be-
fore her a saraband in which he was
dressed In green velvet, with bells on
his feet, and castanets in his hand. But
their stately movements and graceful
minuets were very different things from
our slouching, mathematical dawdling
and promiscuous spinning and bobbing
around.
What does our modern dancing
: mean? And what is its obiect2 The
first question | am unable to find any
answer to; the latter, | think, may be
more easily resolved. For if we admit
iancing to be proper adjunct to flirt-
ng and mere matrimonial business, its
5alue is evident. 1t puts all men upon
he same intellectual level 1t is not
given to many to talk sensibly and well
at moments notice; but they can all
'look unutterable things" 1t also gives
shy men an easy passport to the prox-
unity of the girl they would not dare to
approach without its license. And ii
permits him advantages the promenade
or conversation simply would not toler-
ate.
In this light it has positive value in
the matrimonial market and conse-
quently it is real commercial value
But it turns salon or drawing room
into social fishing pond, and though
being angled for may be delightfully."-
exciting game, there is always the draw
back of being liable to be caught
Now, the true foundation of amuse-
ment is not Interior profit of any kind
it is that demand for social intercourse
produced by high animal spirits and
light hearts; and if our thermometers dc
their duty below freezing point this end
will soon be admirably attainable in the
exercise Of skating,
No pursuit is 50 purely idle, gay, aris.
tocratie. For it does not depend upon
cleverness, strength or gracefulness sG
much as upon self-confidence and prac.
tice. The first Of these qualities is the
spontaneous growth of natures never
compelled to measure themselves except
by themselves; the last is only in the
power of those to whom time is no Oh
ject. Still there are some points in good
skating which the most iudefatigablt
practieer would be long in finding out
Tor instance, the fact that half the worh
is done by the foot that Is off the fee.
slowness Of action, upfightness, ant
ease in crossing the egs are indispen
sable to tirst-rate performer. The En-
gltsh skater recognizes the straight knee
as most important requirement
though every skating country has il.
own popularity of carriage. Amont
Europeans there is a general tendency
to attitudinizing, though the foldej
arms and forward slope of the Hol
lander is the scorn Of the stylish EnElisg
skater, who particularly affects the irn
leg, upright body, hands by the side
and the pendent leg close in by ii
fellow.
Holland by tradition, is ,Seaunted iii
skating nation of the world. | doubt /
there are any real grounds for this dis
tinction; indeed believe there are grea
numbers of American skaters VII,
habitually execute figures on the Cen
trail Park Lake, New York, which
would draw admiring crowds in Harlem
and Utrecht. The Hollanders skated a
a necessity-not as an amusement or ar
until railways took the place Of canal
and even where there are no railway
there is little artistic skating for mer
idle pleasure.
Indeed, the intimate knowledge o
northern nations which we have game
the last quarter of a century shows u
that, in the countries where ice is Ger
tainty, there precisely it is the leds
valued as a source of amusement. Ii
fact so contradictory is human nature
that the very uncertainty Of the condi
lions for skating seems to produce tn
most enthusiastic devotees; and it is no
in st. Petersburg, but in New York AM
London the most accomplished skater
are found.
Vi couIat llieIe are eACepllous. OdHdu
would be dangerous antagonist, thoug
her best foot might we'll hesitate to rul
with the famous fen-skaters of Cam
bridgeshire and Lincolnshire; men who
with long runners and fair wind be
hind them, will score easily 70 to 8
miles day; and in their winter race
on the Witham do their mile in abou
two minutes.
+ Their position is worth noting. The
hold the body upright as at a dane
keep the arms straight from the shoulde
10 the Mriat. 1i1nun the hrdr I,nnssiunlu-