The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-11

the greatest possible speed. Speed IS the
end and aim Of all skating in Holland.
Never mind how YOU get to your destina-
ton or how you look; never trouble about
anything, in fact, except to accomplish
the distance in the very shortest posi-
BILE time. The result of this system is
easily understood. There is no such thing
as form" or style" as we understand
il, and as for figure skating. none but
a few ever attempt such a time-wasting
means Of procedure.
What is that dark mass emerging from
under the bridge like great black whale.
swaying sligf tly from side 10 side as il
rushes madly over the ice2 That is
party of a dozen friends on enjoyment
bent. They have a long. thin skating
pole and, putting the best performer in
front each one of the party holds onto
the pole. one behind the other. until the
whole dozen are arranged like onions on
a stick, end then at the word of COM
.nand off they tear for miles and miles.
ana If they are good skaters their feet Will
all move in JTison- The origin of this
style is doubtless to evade the wind, for
there is often biting east wind blowing
10 the accompaniment OF good ice in Hol-
land. BY this pole arrangement only
one person at a time ID s TO face boreas,
and when that enc is tired he changes
and allows some one else TO take his
place.
These night revels on the waterways OF
the large towns are quite feature OF
Dutch life. and H. 10 really interesting to
see the amount OF fun and amusement
the people gain by this healthful eNer-
else. The ice itself IS often very bad,
because in many places il is not swept
at all, and. if there has been a fan Of
snow. the wind has perhaps blown 1t
into little ice waves; but the great length
Of the Dutch skates Sixteen TO twenty
inches) and the turn up at the toe allow
the blade 10 scud over the ice instead OF
hitting against il. For long skating
American skates are heavy and firing,
end they are even dangerous over rough
ice but these long. thin, Dutch things VIII
cross anything. cracks included They
are not fix ID tight TO the foot At al,
merely tied on 10y cord twice stretched
from the heel-strap across the boot, 50"
that they arc easily put on ons c", ~ hitch
is also a matter of some consequence, Tor
often when skating from one town 10
another one has TO cross a bit OF lahu
dividing the canals. and N II IS 4 Wlcc
stretch IL Is better 10 remove TIE skates.
But for any ordinary dyke the Dutch
never think of taking them or. and car C.
lcsslv walk across blunt edges not beinS
OF such consequence for distance IS they
are for figure skating.
In the old Dutch pictures the laoles
were usually whirled over the ice in .
| sort of armchair sledge by the sternei
sex; bat these little chairs have almost
| entirely disappeared, except Tor chiid-
| rem Not only in the daytime, but in th'
| evening. the children along the waters
| are pushed by their parents or brother
| and sisters in these bo~-like peramOuia
| tors and the little. rolied-up bundles o
| humanity enjoy themselves thoroughly
| as they suck their oranges OF eat thei
| gingerhrcads-
| Many a pleasant hour can be spent o
] the canals OF a winters evening. Whef
| life and gayety. exercise and deNterit
| halle cold and darkness; where the ioa
| enjoy IN enselVes thoroughly in a slinpl
way during the few frosty nights the
| Get each winter in Holland. The Nethel
. | lends, like many other countries. are Se
= ting warmer and the weeks of skatii
| of the past have dwindled down durir
5 the last years to few days only at
time. but these days are none the lie
. | Observation-Disclosures.