The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-31

A -ROTEA PARTY.

the fashi5nabes 60 there 70 skate. The park
is in the centre Of the busy portion Of the
city, on the Bolshaia sadowa.a. There is
only a small pond in the middle of its con-
yarging alleys, but that does not restrict the
skating area. Every little path and level
spot is converted into iceas smooth as human
ingenuity can make it. This is done by means
Of a thick coating Of water and snow rolled
perfectly smooth and then left to freeze. The
result 5 quite 2 revelation to those who have
not -larel on such ice before 4 large and
comfortable clubhouse belonging to the st,
Petersburg Yachc Club supplies warmth and
refreshments to the numerous students who
gather daily But the day Of days is
Tuesday for that evenn: there is q weekly
ice-carniyaI and ball. The wide eXpause Of
lee fronting the clubhouse is brilliantly IL
Illuminated with electric lights. \ military
band plays enchanting airs. The beauty
and fashion Of the city are present with
chaperones.
Those poor chapeCone5! They sit outside
on the terrace, bundled up in furs, but freez-
ing for want Of notion The cold is not felt
by the young couples as they glide through
the mazes OF the dance, and afterwards skate
slowly through the shaded paths where little
arbors appear inyitngiy in the dim corners.
Here is o circle formed on the Ice. It is
young Dragomiroif Of the Life Guards Red
who is trying to outdo young Farquhar Of
the British Embassy, at figure skating. The
circle appauds whenever ono Of the rivals
cuts an unusually elaborate figure or higher
pirouette tnan the other. The Russian comes
off winner. He has had the advantage Of
long years Of practice which no amount Of
natural aptitude can replace.
just eight weeks ago was our Christmas
for in Russia they still observe the old style,
which is twelve days behind the rest Of the
world. On that occasion tho garden was the
scene Of wonderful festival. An enormous
ir-tree, sparkling with electric lamps and
ornaments was placed in the middle Of the
ice-squar9. Colored lamps adorned the ave-
nues. Hundreds Of fair skaters crclcd round
the tree and passed through aeyways com
posed Of their partners. At the wind-up, a
grand cotilion and general distribution Of
bon-bons and flowers to the ladies'.
The air is filed with all sorts Of sounds.
The strains Of the band beat rhythmicaIly to
the swish Of steel-shod feet; laughter and
scraps Of conversation in all languages
Russian, French, English, German-make
themselves heard; but rising above all is tho
chronic roar Of tho coasters on the ice-hllla
close by.
Adjoining the skating-rink are two huge
scaffoldings, about 800 yards apart overlaid
with ice. Down these constant stream Of
tobogganers glide back and forth. The de-
scent from each tower Is almost an inward
curve, making the light steel cutters dash
over the icc-tracks at lightning speed
saw several yenturous skaters 90 down these
hills. They literally shot through the air on
leaving the steep slope and landed on the Ice,
track some yards away safe and sound. Ac
cidents are numerous. A little turn OF the
heel at the critical moment and the skater IL
dashed against the frozen track, or worse
still is flung against its sides, in either case
with the result Of a broken limb or worse.
tried this method Of obtaining a sensa.
ton. The swift journey through the keer
air is something like trial trip on the
expected flying machine when a blizzard is
around-it exhausts all the air in ones lungs
The after effects to the novice are, however
much worse, for it requires the impervious
breathing apparatus Of Russian, hardened
by alternations of steam-baths and freezing
cold to ward off an attack of pneumonia.
These bold descents efrectually dispel the
notion that Russians have not as much sport.
ing blood in them as other nations. When