The times., 1898-10-02
SKI JUMPING.
How the NOIweGfans Amuse Them
selves in the Winter.
(FIom the Wide World. }

(FIom the Wide World.)
Going down hill is all very well; moth
ing could be more delightful than the
gentle glide, nothing more exciting than
the rapid descent of a mountain. But.
alas, although the down-hill progress is
preferable when on ski, there arrives
time when ascent has to be faced, and
then great are the struggles of the uni
Initiated.
Ascending requires all the art and
strength man can bring to the struggle.
and many otherwise good slxilobners new
er become very proficient in getting up
mountains. Most men, however, set
themselves to climb the hill by stretch
ing their legs wide apart to keep the
ends of the ski from overlapping; then
they boldly stamp into the snow, so that
by the time they reach the top a plait-
like impression is left, showing where
their feet have trodden.
Women turn sideways, stamping up in
that position about one and a salf feet
at a time, bringing the ski close together
between each step; but it is a trouble
some process with either sex. Shlobning,
to be the perfection of enjoyment, should
always be down HILL
HolmenkoIlen is hill situated about
three miles from Christiania; and as
there chances to be a short but steep
descent, at the foot of which lies a lake
which kindly freezes over in winter and
makes an arena for the spectators-no
more suitable place for what may be
called the Norwegian Derby could possi-
bly, be found near the capital. II is to
this place that thousands and thousands
of spectators wend their way on the first
Sunday in February The students and
young folk of the town all journey to the
trysting-place on ski and then take off
their own long wooden shoes and stick
them up firmly by thousands in the snow.
These wonderful wooden planks all look
alike. and yet no skilobner ever makes
a mistake when he requires his own pair.
The more elderly and steady folk come
along on sledges There is the royal
sledge, which has brought the king;
there are the professional sleighs, stand
ing near the seats set aside for the uni
versity; and there are hoas of smart
private turnouts, with jingling bells on
their horses and white network snow
I! guards, intended to keep the crisp NOR
sells from being carried up into the faces
of the occupants as the champing steeds
trot briskly over the hard ground. 1t is
indeed a miniature Derby, for there are
likewise the peasants sledges-sometimes
nothing more than boxes on runners.
The competitors are nearly all between
twenty and twenty-five years of age-for
they are not allowed 10 compete while
very young, the strain being considered
terribly severe. On the other hand, they
cannot compete when very much older,
since by that time they are supposed to
have lost their agility. A bugle sounds,
and on the top of the hill appears a
mans figure, looking small at such a dis
tance. He rushes down the sloping hill.
until, when about two-thirds of the way
down. he sweeps upon a kind of plat
form. built out on the~hillside and thick
ly covered with snow. There, in some
wonderful fashion, he seems to double
himself up, and then, with arms whirling
like a windmill between heaven and
earth, TO help him to keep his balance,
he leaps, apparently. into the very jaws
of death, For two or three seconds he
appears poised in midair, and then he
lands on his feet amid clouds of snow.
which rise almost like white dust and