The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-10

s L II + Il j. !
Especial Correspondence OF The Times
Dispa tch.) VI 554#
Ii BERLIN. December 15.--The air has q
sting that only December weather con-
veys. The snow that fell last week has
been shoveled off the sidewalks into the
street, where 1t ought to melt like good
mannerd snow and get out of the way.
But little piles OF 1t yet remain like
lost lingering regrets which bother me
long after we have pushed tho occasion
for them out Of our minds. The shop
windows tell me Christmas IS near. The
costumes Of the girls we meet have a
dash ofHred now and then. Furs arc
numerous, The sun shines oblluuely
from his position far In the south. The
sky in all icy blue The year is rapidly
dying and one must be thinking of good
resolutions for the new. Most important
of all. Berlin has her first skating Of the
season.
am an American boy and can no more
resist skating than the German can his
glass Of beer. With my skates on my
shoulder and the mental picture OF the
elevator man before me MS he accom-
+ panies his farewell with Guten Tag.
Herr. stroll down Knthern Street. in
direction OF Paa damme Bankof. Arrived
I buy n ticket for the modest sum Of ten
pfeniE, or about two and half cents
This gives me the right to have travel
some three miles on the elevated road
Seated in my compartment while being
whlrled. first high over the housetop
and later. through an underground tuH-
mel. muse on what my friend has said
Don fall In, old man, you might BIO cold
before you could get home" n Home. of
course, meaning old Virginia. Thus ]
think Of Thnnksgivings. last week. at
homo, OF the football OF the dinners OF
----- ------. But I am aroused BY the
guard as lie shouts: Yaloglscher Gerten!
for we travel fast by the elevated train
in slow Germany
Once out OF the station gaze about
me somewhat at a loss. for ! have not
been skating before In Berlin, and am not
sure Just where the lake Is. But happy
thought, follow a man with skates and
few stops bring us both to what we
sought. 1t Is not q lake, however. btt
water which has been poured into q box
and left to freeze. The box is made Of
cement of some description Is two feet
deep and some two hundred yards long
and fifty wide.
It is surrounded by a high board fence,
reminding one Of Broad Street Park,
only this board fence Is graced by many
flags. FOR ten marks one can got q sen
son ticket good until May Why they
say until May and not for the season Is
more than can explain perhaps skating
In May is more costly. AS am student
In the University of Berlin ! am entitled
to a season ticket for only six marks.
nre looked upon with the highest respect
by all; for example, no policeman dare
arrest ono and--but that. as Mr., kipllng
says. is another story.
] decline the season ticket, however,
with thanks and buy an entrance card
pfenig. soon am mlngling With tho
gay thrung on The Ice AZ the water IL
only four feet deep there Is no need to be
anxious about drowning, and ] can siVa
my full attention ia not running Into
any one, and what Is to mo more I'm
portant yet, to not letting anyone run
into me. These precautions are quite
necessary. for the crowd Is dense ana
nearly everyone Is moving fast IT Is
however, almost .impos--,'le to fall. The
people are too numerous. too close to-
gether, and the children, OF which there
are very. very many, MI IN alt the
cracks,
There are two hand stands from which
pieces are alternately played, we enjoy
waltzes and some OF the liyeller spirits
ESSAY to skate to the music. We near
such popular airs as I4iegeshewust. from
..Carmen.' and wonderful to he told even
here In this far of land Happy Days N
Dlxie!n When the band plays. one, half
the skaters circle rapidly about the stand
III question:: the others remain outside
the circle and watch those within and
listen to the music. stand on the out
side and observe the crowd as II Glldes
than skating
Here are The typical German children.