The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-27
JOLLY WINTER SPORT.
SEVERAL HUNDRED RICHMOND
PEOPLE SKATING ON THE X ES.
A Day of Fine Fun Mt Reservoir Park and
ut Forest Hiii-somc Of Them Gotta
Duckfns-One Of the Faircst.

Several hundred wise young people
abandoned the noise In the streets caused
by the celebration Of Christmas yester-
day and went skating on the lake near
the New reservoir. Most OF them were
young and all OF them were happy.
The lake is not much In its size. but 1t
is Just big enough TO afford splendid sport.
All the electric cars bore signs notifying
the good people Of Richmond that there
was good skating at the reservoir. Soon
after dinner yesterday / took out my
skates and started for the lake like many
others
After reaching the park II was not long
before everybody was sailing over the
ice. which was fairly good. Here ana
there were a few holes, ana around lne
edges IL was rather thin. but nobody
seemed 10 care particularly for that
Everyone was glad 10 have once more a
chance TO put on skates, for Ice has been
scarcer I'm Richmond than diamonds dur
ing the last half dozen years.
Away we flew, some Of us awkardly'
everybody moving on with uncertain legs
and adding to his speed by wildly SWING
ing his arms. The ice disappeared pc
hind US at express train speed ana WITHIN
less than a minute we had traVefsed the
length Of the lake.
Should we race back again Certalhly
we would-everybOdy would lhere was
n swift sudden wheeling and away We
rvent to the other end. Some elderly fell
lows were so surprised that they tried 10
stand still. and actually found them
selves sliding backward at a brisk rate
Of speed.
good breeze was blowing, and three
small bows. who had not been able 10
keen No with the field, came charging
down the wind in a cloud Of Ice dust.
There was a handsome young lady on
,be lake The graceful finish OF her skat-
Ing and the wonderful figures she could
ont nroved that she had learned the art
I'm colde- regions. where Ice N more ire
ouent. She was escorted by a young ma"
with a very long overcoat ana a req hose'
He wore thick shoes and hideous gloves.
Wonder why girls insist on skauhg WIZ
ugly men when there are 81 many "O'
fellows skating alone?
Sbe darted and wheeled about ana
carved figure 3s'' and figure IS WIN
ber sharp little runners until the sum OF
ber skate-writing ran away up INTO inc
millions. che
.ned away on a grape VINE coul9..
Her cheeks had grown scarlet her eoiusH
hair huttered away in crimp niue curls'
ia che was looking lovelier mar ever
uben a shocking thing happened. Inc zoe
~ her right skate caught IN the ouI Vi
her wicked left skate, ano Gown CdHIe
~ handsome Young lady with a force
that made her rebound. Luckily she was
no, hurt a bit. and waved her nun IN d
reassuring way. and was up ana skatins
ogain before her red nosed escort coulu
come within twenty feet OF her. How
ever the day did not pass without IN
cident for several persons, among mem
a Young lady. went too far IN their eas r.
moss IN dash over the ice, and forgetting
fts IA nperous condition near the border,
broke through and had a ducking IN the
lake. one OF the young men, MT. Phll'
Tones however. seemed 10 be very little
concerned by the involuntary bath when
he had received. for he just took time
e~nouch'to change his clothes, after which
he returned TO continue the sport
A good many people also went over 10
Manchester to enjoy skating on the lake
at Forest Hill Park. The Ice was IN
much better condition than that on TINS
side OF the James river. HOW
aver the fun was not everlasting
for when darkness set IN me
skaters had 20 bend homewards, the cleo
tric lights in the park not being lighted.
Another difficulty was how to get home.
railroad company had only four cars
running on the ~Perry-street line ana
seven on the Hull-street line, which num-
her proved to be entirely inadequate for
the crowd.