The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-17
ON BLADES OF STEEL
GET OUT IN NUMBERS
TODAY
NO JANGLE OF SLEIGH BELLS

Was I'm Prospect at Eventide, but
the Lakes and Ponds Are Frozen
Over Safe for Skating, While the
Daring Youths Have Already Ven
tured on the CLASSY Surface of
Parts of the Mississippi.
There is plenty Of good skating in the
immediate vicinity of st. Paul There
has been for about a week past This
statement does not apply to the Missis-
sippi river. The main channel of that
stream Is yet open and filled with foe
ice. While it is true that the edges are
fringed with shell of ice, and the inner
channel on the West side frozen over, it
does not present very safe appearance.
Still, number Of boys were skating yes
terday below Robert street bridge But
the ice at the extreme edge near the open
channel of the river was very dangerous,
and it was natural that the youngsters
kept pretty well inland
Those who enjoy the poetry of motion,
aside from the ball room, can be amply
rewarded today by visit to Como park
Generally the ice of this shallow pool
freezes over in sufficient thickness TO
afford safe skating along about Thanks
giving. This year it was different. Only
will In tile past week has the ice been in
a suitable condition for skating. 1t is
claimed, however, that this season the
surface OF the lake is much smoother
than usual. The slight furry of snow
Of yesterday morning did not materially
Ia Cl( nd
fall today the lake will be In prime con-
dition for this most eXhilarating of all
outdoor sports. Here are ample accom-
modations for warmth, eating, drinking
and smoking. Skates can also be rent
ed at the head of the lake. The street
railway company will today put on sew
eraf extra cars on the Harriet line and
can accommodate all who desire to ia
dulge in the sport. Should snow cover
the lake this winter, 1t Is expected that
Park Superintendent Nussbaumer will
clear a portion of the ice with teaus
About fifty young men and boys were on
Como lake yesterday afternoon.
ASIDE from this there are Il number of
private Kinks in the city where ample
accommodations may be found for men,
women, girls and boys. The Broadway
rink is one Of them, and the PROJECTORS
anticipate good business be ween now and
spring. Accommodations a Como are,
however, much more ample, and thou
sands can skate there without much
jostling or interference. The usual sum
day and holiday crowd at Como is be-
tween $500 and $500 people.
OF course there is plenty Of ice out at
White Bear lake, but there have not
been, in the past, facilities for warmth
or for renting ska es. At Wildwood there
is considerable attention paid to ice boat
ing, but this sport is confined principally
to the summer yechtsmen. On White
Bear during this winter ice boating bids
fair to become quite popular attrac-
ton.
Then, too, every pond along the interur-
ban and Lake Harriet street car lines has
it's clientele of youngsters. They are
now spotted with swiftly gliding figures,
and quite frequently the hilarity of the
| sport is accentuated by a tumble, and,
possibly, bump on the ice. All day yes
! terday the weather was threatening and
! the prognostica tons Of the weather fore
caster dubious Should a heavy snowfall
ensue. Como lake will, unless prompt
/ measures are taken to remove the snow,
be impracticable for skating purposes.
Then, of course, devotees of the sport
will be compelled to rely on the private
! Kinks where it is expected the snow Will
! be removed.
But. so far as ice is concerned, there
/ is plenty of it in St. Paul and its environ
ments, and, aside from the Mississippi
| river side channels, is perfectly safe.
! Quite likely should the weather be IA
vorable, a large contingent of St. Paul
people will today avail themselves of the
| first opportunity to "get their skates on
| and take a whirl on the ice. Later In
| the season there may be some rather eX-
citing championship contests in the VI
| cinity of the city. There are several III
St: Paul who hold good records, and pos
| sibly, some aspiring champion may decide
| to issue a challenge.