The Eddy current., 1898-04-30

the Player.
There Is a new fad IN town. II came
by way OF Canada, and short ne has
been its stay Il has already captlyaled
scores OF the towns athletic women,
and bids fair 10 assume the proportions
OF genuine craze. says the New York
Press. The typical New York girl
wants to try every new sensation aa
Il comes along, and speed skating has
now made tonquests not only among
the small bsya and strong men. but
even among the dainty daughters "
the town. A visit 20 the varioua rinkn
In Greater New York recently revealed
the surprising hold that the new sport
has among the women, and provided
ample proof OF the prevalence Of the
fad. Strange TO say. there Ia no such
thing a. a racing skate for women
al least not yet Probably next sea-
son Will witness the introduction a.
that new implement, but at present the
manufacturers and agents admit that
they never dreamed that there ever
would be a demand for such a thing
as n racing skate for women. so the
women have 10 content themselves
with the next best thing IN the line Of
speed skate. the regular hockey
skate. The hockey skate. Il should be
explained, Is the racing skate reduced
IN length and increased in weight. -
as 70 avoid tripping the woarer In one
case, and standing the shock OF sharp
contest In the other. a hockey skate
Is made with Hat blade to secure long
purchase on the ice and facilitate quick
stops, Strange to say, the speed and
hockey skate principle OF construction
Is that friction Is reduced by increas-
ing the bearing surface. The typical
hcckoy skate Is permanently fastened
20 the shoe. generally by rlvets. The
Hat blade OF course. prevents any
curves or circles being made by the
wearer and is adapted only to speed
skating and quick stopping. II Is easy
for the spectator 10 distinguish between
hockey and figure skating by the long
projecting heel. which Is always sign
81 the hockey skate a couple of
months ago the wearing Of pair OF
hockey skates by woman created com
= 'ent and good deal OF unpleasant at
P,ention In any amount Of the rinks In
the city. Today II creates no comment
Il Is needless 10 say that they skate
faster. Indeed. they skate 80 fas, shat
one becomes nervous watching them
as they lean away over. grinding the
bar" around the ends OF the rnks So
popular has the hockey skate become
among the women members Of one Of
the arlstocrntic clubs that not long ago
a regular hockey team was organized
among the smart set and frequent
practice Is indulged In. These women
practice their hockey game between
sesslons' and not even sheriff could
get into the structure during the sacred
hours devoted TO thelr play Miss
Fitzgerald daughter Of Gen. James
Fitzgerald. II the fair captain % this
band Of feminine athletes. Miss Fltz
gerald has long held the undlsputod to-
tie Of champion among the women
speed skaters OF the club and her fast
skating stood her In good stead In the
hockey games. nut Miss Fitzgerald is
by no means the only star player In
this coterie Of hockey players. She IL
ably seconded by Miss Barron who a
the sister OF the man who captains the
mems hockey team OF a skating club,
Miss Barron Is not only an excellent
speed skater and quick dodger but a
most graceful exponent of figure skat-
Ing as we'll Her brother occasionally
coaches the ladies' team. much 10 their
delight. and they have made rapid
progress In team play and passing
during their play together Miss Iiy-
ingston Is another OF the hockey play.
ers. and Miss Phelps and Miss Leigh
also occasionally take part In the game
Several. attempts 10 secure n game
against this ladies' hockey team have
been made by clubs OF young women IN
town and from nearby colleges. but
there IL no likelihood 81 such attempts
being successful. while many ~ the
wearers Of hockey skates go IN Tor that
game. there II another group of young
women who wear the hockey skates
for the purpose apparently OF dolng
what a sporting man would call
"sprlntlng. So thoroughly has the
racing spirit entered the ranks Of the
women skaters that nothing but clear
course and stop watch will satisfy
some ~ these ambitious maids when
they essay a trial spin around the
rink.