The morning times., 1897-02-21
SPORT At THE ICE PALACE
A Special Session Arranged for
the School Children.
FASCINATING RESO]
Eyes Grow Bright, Cheeks Bloom
With Health, and the Blood
Dances Through the Veins While
Whirling Skates Make Time to
the Sound of TunefuI Music

The Convention Han Ice Palace viii be
| open tomorrow on account OF Wash
| ington's Birthday-in all, three sessions
| a special session for the benefit of the
| school children OF the city who are un-
| able to etend in the afternoon or at
| night, will be held at 10:30 O'Clock in
| the morning and every opportunity will
| be given the little ones for the full enjoy
ment of the privileges extended them.
In the afternoon the regular session viii
commence at the usual time, while the
evening session will also be held as usual
The National Guard VIII not use the hall
for drill purposes tomorrow night, and
the rink is thus enabled to he thrown open
to the public.
Now that the last vestige of ice has
disappeared fr ON this vicinity those
who barely got a taste of ice skating
during the cold snap are regular visitors
at the rink. Their appetites We're but
started at that time, and they are now
getting their fill Of the healthfui and in
visorating sport. No season or variety
OF weather can affect the skating at the
rink The ice is always the same hard,
firm, smooth surface, without danger
Gus air holes and sticks and stones to
throw the skater and perhaps infiict
serious injury, While the music that is
in attendance at every session lends an
additional charin to the sport that must
DE experienced III order to he apprecia ted
Those WHO have been in the habit OF
skating in the open air and try skating
at the rink TO the time Of the spirited
music furnished by the excellent orchestra
generally have no further use for the
former method of enjoying the sport, so
long as they can enjoy the opportunities
afforded by the rink.
The Convention Han Ice Palace has come
to be regarded as one Of the established
amusement institutions of the Capital City,
and the patronage that Is bestowed upon
it comes from the best circle 81 n Washington
There are d number OF the best-known
society people here who are almost regular
visitors at the afternoon sessions, while
the morning classes of instruction have
always been a fayorte time for them to
enjoy the sport.
The evening sessions, however, gen
orally attract the largest crowds The
glare of the lights that make the rink
of the inspiring music, and the whirr of
the hundreds or the steel runners as they
skim over the Ice, seem to have a charm
that is infectious, and those who attend
at hits time are pretty generally to be
found there when opportunity is afforded
The rink has not only afforded a place
OF amusement in times past, but it has
awakened an interest in one Of the most
and there are thousands who have bene-
fitted ment ally and physically by the
exercise INDUCED in at this place.
The rink has also developed the fact that
Washington has as good material out OF
which to manufacture speed and fancy
skaters IS has any city IN the country.
There are possibly a hundred skaters who
attend the rink who may be called pro-
ficient i'll the art OF fancy skating, while
the races which have been held there
have brought out a dozen skaters who
give promise Of making a name for them
selves on the ice track. One Of these,
Harry Sites, is the recognized champion
Of Maryland and the District, and although
Baltimore has number OF skaters who
are speedy and who excel in fancy prk,
the Capital City has a decided advantage
in this line.
In this connection it is ot fair To for get
the ladies. When the rink was started
there We're not a half dozen of the fair
sex that could be classed as having any
knowledge at all of skating, who put in
anappearanCe. Now there are any number
of fair skaters. who are as graceful and
as easy on the steels as any one could
wish, and who daily enjoy the sport af-
forded them by this institution. The cos
TUNES at the rink are generally not the
least attractive feature to the spectator
The conventional long trousers and skirts
that sweep the ice and gather up the
particles of snow have almost all been dis
Carded, and golf and bicycle suits and
short skirts are almost universal There
are many pretty pictures to be seen at the
rink during the course OF session, and
any number OF amusement seekers in Wash
ington, even though they do not skate
have been quick to recognize this fact, and
are almost as constant in their attendance
as the skaters themselves Altogether, it
may be said that the rink has supplied
most long-felt want at the National Capt.
tai, and the skaters of the city would
miss it very much IL it should be dropped
out of the category OF amusement institu-
tons.
MERCER WILL COME IN MARCH