The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-02

Skaters at Como yesterday did not
worry themselves concerning the end Oh
the century. They knew 1t was one Of
the finest New Years days they had ever
enjoyed and took advantage Of the fact
The crowd was estimated at from
$500 to $500, and when it came to estl-
mating the beauties of the day, the con-
dition of the ice and other things OF
DAYS real sport at skating the estimators
gave it up and devoted their time to the
fun. 7''-A
No less than 1000 persons were at the
lake as spectators, and what they saw
was a sight that could not be equaled In
any other American city. The condition
of the Ice favored from every point q dis
play of grace and beauty that attracted
no small contingent of male skaters from
towns further up the river. For its entire
length and across, bank to bank, Lake
Como had the appearance of huge and
brilliant bouquet, carrying all OF the
varied and constantly changing colors OF
the kaleidoscope. Brilliant colors and
natty costumes were worn by both sexes
teen and demure twenty, schoolboy and
schoolgirl, tot and fodder; all were there
in one glorious, rollicking, heterogeneous
aggregation, bent on New Years frolic,
and they did not fail in their efforts to
improve the opportunity.
And there were no lines of distinction as
to class or creed. 1t was field for all
of the people and all were represented.
And they came in various ways. The
street cars, of course, brought most Of
the crowd, private conveyances brought
many spectators and numerous skating
parties, numbering from two to six per-
sons. Many of the boys and girls whose
homes were not distant took advantage
of the propitious weather and came on
foot. A study Of the crowd revealed
many of the characters referred to In the
funny mans column Of the daily papers.
Mr. and Mrs. Newlywed or Mr. Young
husband and wife were there In great
variety and varied stages OF ecstat1c con-
nubial felicity. These couples Were easily
noted In the crowd Each carried their
own subsequently, in small vari-
colored ornamental draw bag. She was
bit timid at first. but he attended to the
adjustment VI ucE ShdICo WAIh liApl SS~A
ard nicely that reminded her the honey
moon was not entirely eclpsed Then
they set off over the smooth ice together.
and 1t vas only the partly assumed air
of carelessness and confidence of both
that told the spectator they were Mr.. and
Mrs. Newlywed Mr.. Newlywed did not
take the tips of her fingers in one hand
and support her elbow with the other.
His arm was firmly about her waist and
their motion was the rhythm of music
Then, there was the engaged couple
too numerous to mehtiorE Augustus wore
eyeglasses, the real thing, in an English
''topcoat" and pointed-toe,- patent leather
shoes. His intended wore natty, tight
fitting waist, with oshort, skirt and h1gn
top boots Properly Selected footwear does
add so much to the1effect of the feminine
skating costume. He went away around
to the clubhouse and secured a chair for
her use, while he buckled her skates and
assured her that no catastrophe ike a
fall on the ice would bevpermitted. May
be his eyes and actions did speak few
words that the general public did not
hear; but then the general pubic was
interested in It's own affairs, and none but
the curious speculated. But they were
good skaters and were soon en2rossed In
the sport Sometimes he held her finger
tips and skated backward, guiding her IN
her forward course; then their eyes would
meet and then-but this is a story about
skating.
Now, here comes another sort Of a