The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-01-27

Ages are Out Enjoying the sport
When the recent blizzard struck this
section a few days ago, every one in
srinctively looked out Of the window and
huddled UP closer to the stove, with the
intention Of staying there until the storm
was over. But after day or two they
became more accustomed to the unusual
cold and did not mind it half so much.
Monday, there was some skating TO be
had on the shallower parts Of the rivers.
A few Of the young folks were out try
ing il, and one young lady ventured too
far out upon the thin ice and broke
through. Yesterday the ice had bridged
the river over from bank to bank From
the mouth Of Little river down as far as
any one cared TO go the big river was
frozen over. The ice was firm and would
pop with the ring of safe ice,' which
sound is well known TO all skaters.
The river was thronged with skaters
during the afternoon. Boys began TO
gather in the morning about school time
A little later. larger boys appeared, and
the crowd steadily grew until by 3
O'Clock in the afternoon the river was
peopied by the largest gathering which
has INDUCED in skating in this locality
since two years ago, when II was some
wha: colder than this one has been. At
that time everything froZe up, even the
noise Of the wind, which was not heard
I.ntil il thawed out later in the season.
Yesterday afternoon was just right.
The ice was firm, the wind was not very
strong and scarcely noticeable until one
attempted to go against it. The merry
crowd thoroughly enjoyed themselves
during the entire afternoon. The bright
animated faces OF the many happy girls
and boys, medium little and big, made
Pretty picture. There were little boys
and little girls, the former shying around
the latter in wide circles, carving all
kinds of hieroglyphics upon the ice, while
the little girls apparently oblivious to ali
this skated straight ahead. The young
misses just budding into womanhood
were there, but with them the boys were
not quite so backward. Then the society
gIri in all her glory glided over the glis-
tening surface with their escorts, or stood
around the smouldering fire of green
wood upon the sand-bar while the older
and more staid married folk were out
upon the ice, many of them endeavoring
to cal back their old-time skill and grace
and Ii must be said that many of them
succeeded. Some Of them said that they
had not had skates upon their feer for
ten years, and after trial or two had
back the mastery.
AS is always the case there were
few awkward ones, who were constantly
allowing their feet to fly out from under
them and at a distance the scene was IN
deed ludicrCus one. They appeared TO
be about four or five feet up in the air
and to be all legs and arms which point
ed out in all directions. There were two
or three rough places between the Doug
las avenue and Maple street bridges
which if ran upon suddenly would throw
the unsuspecting skater every time, but
no one was hurt.
One thing was quite noticeable TO A
northerner, and that was the very few
couples seen skating together There
were several. to be sure, but the number
was 50 much smaller in proportion TO
the crowd than is seen further east that
it was easily noticed.
The skaters seemed to instinctively
know where the air-holes were located,
snd no one went near them. There is no
danger of any one being drowned, as the
water is not deep enough TO be az all dam
gerous, and the air-holes while largo
enough TO give a ventursome skater a
wetting are too email for any person
larger than a gnat or mosquito to slip
through. The ice is quite smooth out
side Of the parts most cut up by the many
skaters and the rare treat Of enjoying
the sport was entered into by every one
with all the ardor which accompanies
the sport. Every one seemed to forget
their lessons, their daily duties, their so
cial standing, their business and their
troubles. and 20 enter into the enjoyment
with the one idea of having a good time.
If a vitascope or a kinetoscoDe could
have been brought into requisition and
caught the rosy cheeks, sparkling eyes
and the expression Of pure happiness
which rested upon every. face, it would
have been amply worthy of reproduc-
ton anywhere. and in the middle of dog
days it would produce cooling effect
upon the behclder.