Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-18
MY observation has led me to believe

My observation has led me to believe
that the tall, willowy, slender woman
makes the best skater, for it is easy
for her to acquire that graceful glide
which is so necessary a part of the car
riage of the good skater. 1t is gem
eral rule that the graceful waltzer will
be an easy and graceful skater.
The muscular work of skating should
be done from the hips down, and to ac-
complish this the limbs must be very
elastic The woman who has skated
regularly all her life is not likely to
be troubled with stiff joints. I have
seen an easy skater who was woman
of so. All her life she had been in WIN
ter "a devoted skater and a follower of
other athletic sports in summer.
In skating the chief aim should be to
acquire an easy movement. The body
should be allowed to relax and the low
err limbs permitted to do the work. The
circular movement known as "the out
err edge is good for imparting fiex-
Utility to the limbs. The active work,
such as scrolling and racing, will start
| brisk circulation. Overracing, howev-
| er, will weaken the heart and should
| be guarded against.
| Dancing the quadrille on skates Is
also good for starting up the circula-
ton; it is, moreover, good brain exer-
else, as it makes constant demands on
memory and attention. Skating on one
foot at time will strengthen the mus
cles of the limb, for this in turn throws
the weight on each foot.
| I should recommend skating as I
should Waiting for developing grace.
Every young girl should learn to skate
Eight years of age is about the proper
time to start them out on the ice. Some
one should hold them up until they are
not afraid to go alone, for falls are
sometimes dangerous shocks to heavy
children. Should the head strike the
4 ice, shock to the base Of the brain
may have very serious effects.
In making suggestions for the benefit
of women who skate, should say, do
not skate until about an hour and a
half after a meal. Exercise imme-
diately after eating should be avoided,
as we'll as exercise on an empty stom-
ach.
The hygienic superiority of open air
over rink skating is apparent to any
one The oxygen which the lungs take
in outdoors is in itself distinct adj
vantage IN addition to the exercise OF
skating, which has its own value. The
difficulty with Kinks is that the air is
not likely to be fresh and pure, ever
though it is cold. An hour or two is
long enough to skate in the open air or
a cold day.
Should the skater feel unusually cold
on coming into the house should ad.
!; wise her to drink cup of hot coffee
q lemonade or bouillon, and put the feet
into hot mustard water. Should any
part of the body be frost bitten II
should be rubbed with snow or put into
very cold water as soon as possible
One should not stay out to skate aftel
beginning to feel cold. On coming int
the house, presumably the skater Il
somewhat in glow after the active ex
!, ercise, and draft must be avoided, a
l it would be under any circumstance
j when the body is unduly overheated
: It is better to walk home than to rid
: home, for in a street car or carriag
h there is danger of taking cold.
< The skater should wear wooden un
f derwear, or a combination of cash
e mere and wool, and over this heav
8 wooden tights and heavy woole
e sweater. Over the sweater chemisett
n or pretty, loose blouse can be worn
Y while the skirt should be a warm on
I and lined with silk. Outside a littl
: cloth jacket may be donned. If in tn
: rink the jacket is too warm, it may b
g removed in case pretty blouse
a worn. The most suitable thing for tn
t head is tight fitting cap or turba1
e one that has not too many flying feath
r ers. The body should be comfortabl,
e and as the corset has so much to
e i with feminine comfort, a short on
t laced very loosely, should be worn. TIL
d shoes should be stout, flannel lined one
y made of calfskin and with soles abor
d a quarter of an inch thick. Gray far