The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-05-07
WINTER SPORTS IN STOCKHOLM.
Observations of an American Girl in the
 Swedish Capital


 Swedish Capital.
 l Winter does not often begin in Stock
 holm before Christmas. Perhaps there
 are few cold snaps, warning the peo. pie who have not yet bought theii
 skates and snowshoes that these will
 soon be needed After Christmas comes
 the clear, intensely cold days, ith all the 1 beauty of northern winter. The
 school children are enjoying a months
 vacation, the skating-rinks are thrown
 open and the sport begins Nybroviken, | part of the sea, Is one of the largest
 and best skating -rinks in the orld, and l is greatly praised by all champion Ekaters visiting Stockholm, A race course is inclosed by two high fences, which are gayly decorated with the flags of all nations. In. the middle of the large ring made by the innermost fence Is the pavilion where the bands play, Around this is moving black swarm
 of skaters, both young and old. Here one may leave school books and over shoes, and the tired skater may find a chance to sit down and warm himself, If he is hungry. a glass of milk or cof- fee and cakes may be had for small sum,
 At Idrottsparken there is another but much smaller chance to skate, The chief attraction Is the "kalkebacke" (coasting hilD which is built of boards and covered with snow on which water is poured to make it icy. At the top this is perhaps one hundred and fifty feet from the ground, and 1t makes an ideal hill to coast on. The sleds are about a foot high. They are upholstered with carpeting and they hold from one to five persons, The dangerous double runner is not known, On each side of the icy track is deep snow-bank where throng of people arc standing every day to watch the sport Every after noon and evening there are hundreds of eager coasters principally young ladies and gentlemen. The sport seems both exciting and dangerous when the sleds come laundering down the hill, and of- ten plunge to one side while the occu- pants are sent spinning round and round and rise powdered from head to foot with snow. They only laugh and shake themselves and start up the hill to try and do better next time. It seems as though one upset must be followed by two or three, for have seen dash ing young'ofiicer steering with his spurs take his charming partner safely down the hill for half the afternoon, and then begin to be unfortunate time after time. If they are wise they will stop now and not tempt fate by trying to coast any longer, if they are reckless they will keep on until one or both of them get several ugly bumps and perhaps the young lady has big rent in her skirt.
 There are two classes of skaters in whom the public takes great interest. These are the unescorted girls and the lone small boy. There is nothing more helpless and pitiful than a sled full of girls giving out shrieks of despair while their sled turns helplessly around and around with a load of four or five peo- pie coming swiftly behind it. Perhaps the pilot of the second party is skilful to slip safely by. If not there is a general mix-up and a scramble for the bank, while muffs, mttens and sleds are left behind to be heroically snatched by the attendants in the face of oncom- ing coasters. The lone small boy has long watched for favorable opportuni ty to slip down the hill Now the big sleds are out of the way and he throws himself on his Swedish clipper and goes down the steep incline. Being so light in weight the boy does not gain speed enough to keep ahead of the heav- lly-loaded sleds which unfortunately happened to start just behind him. While the spectators shout directions from the bank he leans far forwad and defiantly shakes one leg, hoping thus to increase his speed. All is in vain, they gain on him inch by inch, and in anoth- 9r second he i'll be knocked no one lpoWs W here, when he is saved by the presence of mind of young man, who caches forward to grasp the small boys sled and push it, in front of his 'wn, safely down the hill.
 Lately "kalkebaeke" has been opened for the children, who may now safely go with their big brothers and listers to the park, Opposite the pavil- on in Idrotts park is a hall where the | 'roWn prince of Sweden and Norway of l en plays tennis. Many an afternoon | he royal liveries may be seen waiting | outside the door, and we girls eagerly | watch to get peep at the future king. | sometimes Prince Carl, the third son of l Sing Oscar and his wife, the Princess ngeborg of Denmark, amuse then-