The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-05
AN AFTERNOON ON THE ICE.
And the Rough and Ready Costumes Worn
BY Fashionable Women of Paris.
spwu-


Paris, February Am Paris where they
know how to do things in lazy way they
go out skating to be comfortable as well as
to give exhibitions upon the Ice.
In this country we freeze. and skating
afternoon is one long SILVER.
In Paris a pond, or lake, or river would
have few patrons did it not make skaters
comfortable. All along its banks and
reaching well up into the country, there
are open spaces which are dedicated to the
skaters.
Here they can set up their basket of
Goals; and here they can bring their little
tables, their after dinner coffee sets. their
Russian samovars and their Dresden
china, for tea party. after the skating is
over.
Even so small thing as a foot warmer
is not excluded. There are little wooden
stools mounted on wheels that are scatter
ed over these places for the feet of the
skater to rest upon. When she comes off
the ice she unfastens her skates, eats her
self upon cane stool and rests her feet
upon one of these little sliding foot stools.
There are women in Paris who make
living renting out these little tables for
the skaters. They can be seen upon the
banks presiding over a table, Cairo stand,
a coal, bucket and set of stools and foot
stools For a trifing sum you can take
possession of the entire outfit, and keep
warm and have something to eat in the bar
gain.
The fire bucket is a queer thing which
closely resembles our old fashioned skit-
ties. 1t consist of very shiny brass bowl
somewhat resembling a modern chatting
dish in shape. The cover is filled with
holes The bottom is filled with live Goals
which burn merrily, sending forth their
comforting blaze through the holes in the
roof.
The skaters gather round this very orna-
mental fire stand and warm themselves
while slipping a glass of something good
Very often the entire outfit is supplied
from small casino higher up on the bank.
The young man of the party is supposed to
do duty as messenger. He brings down the
Cairo stand and the folding table, the
samovar and the skittle, and gets all in
nice shape for his companions. Were it
not so cold it would be exactly like the re-
ception in a summer room: an ice parlor
tea you might call it were you looking for
name.
OF course the United States is the great
est country in the world, but there are a
few things we could learn and one of
them is how to be comfortable through
skating. No more frozen feet no more
frost nipped noses; more colds; when
we learn how they do that sort of thing in
Paris.
And such warm dresses as they wear!
Though they look thin enough. The heav-
lest, coarsest, warmest of goods are used
in these dresses with every effort to give
them the attractive rough-and-ready lock-
of the English tailors. And they are sue
ceeding remarkably we'll Taiors have
been brought from London to Paris and to
their neatness has been added the peculiar
style of the French dressmaker.
All skating suits are tight fitting for the
loose flowing cloak or the flying cape is not
considered fit for the ice. The snuggest
coats are made, long in the back and cut
away in the front, with small coat sleeves
and the double breasted front.
These coats act as bodices. They are
worn over the silk waist which does not
prevent them from fitting close to the
figure. And indeed they do fit, huggine
every curve.
Skating skirts are long enough to cover
the ankle when skating and are cut upon
the prevailing style. They are strung upon
the hips and very flaring around the foot.
One notices a tendency to return to the
fur trimmed skirt; and there is seen the