Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-06-12

+ THE FOUR HUNDRED On ROLLER SKATES.
art of skating within doors on the very
best laid floor, in an extensive hall, which
/ is always kept at the proper temperature
ard under the necessary and proper, re-
strictions concerning the time of skating
and manner of acquaintance with others.
1t will be noticed by those who live in the
/ larger cities that there are more girl and
boy skaters on the rigid toy skates on the
sidewalks than ever before, and this may
be taken as sure indication of the in
creased desire of the people in general for
the revival of roller skating Kinks. Many
owners of Kinks in 1884 believe that the
roller skating craze recurs every ten years,
and are contemplating opening for bust
ness again. The first great demand of the
people for the skate was in 1874. The uni
versal popularity subsidized, apparently for
good after two years of occupation of the
peoples minds, but i'll 1884 some members
of the most wealthy families of the exclu-
sive circles, including the Havemeycrs,
the Roosevelts, the AstOrs and others, with
the kindly assistance of James L. Plimp-
ton, the roller skate inventor, engaged
headquarters originated club, laid a per-
feet floor and INDUCED in the pleasant
sport for q long time before the world in
general became aware of the fact that roll
or skating was again a possibility in New
York. In the same manner the new era of
roller skating is beginning.
In 1862 Mr.. Plimpton was ill, and dur
ing his convalescence visited Central park
New York, and the sight of the ice skaters
led him to consider the subject of an adc-
quate roller skate. Within year he had
invented and patented his skate, the sale
of which has made him q multimillionairc
This skate has awooden footplate, beneath
which are two rollers at the toe and two
at the heel, made of lockwood, set on axles
and supported by hangers of composition
metal which seems almost indestructible,
for they seldom break and rarely bend.
The rollers are turned or guided so as to
make any desired curve, by the oscillation
of the sole plate or the proper inclination
of the foot of the skater as he moves his
body either left or right. The rollers sit
squarcly upon the floor, whether the foot
is inclined or upright, and thus sufficient
adhesion is obtained to prevent the skate
from slipping sideways. BY thus dispcns-
ing with all rough, soft or elastic sub
stances, as formerly used upon the rollers,
q very easy rolling skate is obtained.
1lttu 10 tHc very JoctTN VI liio-
ton is every way apparent to the observer.
1t imparts grace to the figure, pliability to
the limbs, strength to the muscles, vigor
to the sincws, activity to the blood, roses
to the checks and develops the human sys-
TEN most thoroughly and delightfully."-. 1t
has less Objectionable surroundings than
any other enjoyment and may be called
one of the polite arts. AS falls arc rare and
overindulgenco not permitted cannot i'm
agino how roller skating can have an enc
my or, in fact, any but enthusiastic ad-
mirers. All authorities at home and abroad
advocate the art of skating. Perhaps the
best Of these is Saltzman the great Ger
man author, who says of it: at is an cx-
ercise superior to everything that can be
classcd under the head of motion Pure
air. promotion of the circulation Of the diff
ferent fluids muscular cxcrtion, the cxer-
else of such various skillful movements
and unalloyed mental satisfaction, must
have u powerful influence, not only on the
corporal frame of man, but on his mind
likewise"
The first skate upon which one might