The Washington times., 1904-12-18
HOORAH!! AOORAH!!
GET YOUR SKATES
Ice Will Hold in River and
on Pond.
THE RED BALL Is FLYING
Many Gather at Chevy Chase Lake
and on the Eastern Branch.
Big Crowds Out.
THE RED BALL IS FLYING


Big Crowds Out.
Street cars of a local railway COM
pany bore a small pasteboard sign yes
terday-a sign in itself innocent enough,
bat which, nevertheless, caused high
school students 10 neglect night study
ing. and in not "A few cases TO neglect
school altogether: caused staid. respec-
table Government clerks 10 rush home,
eat an early dinner and Immediately
leave again, and caused the Chevy
Chase line TO carry more passengers
than they have had since summer.
The sign had not been on the hrst
ear half an hour before il was known
and discussed all over the city. Ii bore
only five words:
Skating at Chevy Chase Lake
Get Out Your Skees.
Washingtonians had been on the look
out for this sign, hung only when the ice
Is thick enough 10 make falling in" an
lmpossibility, and all day yesterday the
lake was crowded with children, board
ing school girls. and middle-aged men,
All had forgotten the cold weather
which was causing people in the city TO
hug their fires Few Of the skaters even
wore overeoats. for overcoats hinder
skating.
To the experienced skater nothing is
more enjoyable than smooth sheet of
ice and sharp pair of skates. IL is
like flying. they say.
The novice does not enjoy himself so
much. Skates in the shop windows are
innocent and harmless. When fastened
on an inexperienced pair OF Ieet. how
ever. they suddenly take life. and dart
in every way but the right way. A man
on skates for the first time cuts figures
that he viii never again be able 70
duplicate.
His fancy skating, however. invariably
ends n the same way. The beginner
hac 10 be helped back rs his feet, where
he stands, perfectly stin for several
minutes, undecided whether 10 take or
his skates fOreveFmOre, or TO strike out
again. II he does the latter often enough
with pair Of reasonably strong ankles,
he usually learns TO skate. Then, and
not until then, he laughs at other be-
ginners.
Everybody There.
Given a clear day, with good skating,
and almost every type OF humanity can
be found on the varous ponds in and
about Washington. There is the tough
IN his rusty skates, which have done
service for years. There IS the young
man. who has attended one OF the
Northern universities, usually on
hockey skates, which require an
extra pair of SHOES.
The small boy. often a skiiIful skater.
and the young lady are both there. and
in not few eases men are seen on the
ice whose names bear the prefix REV
Skating means money 10 many negroes
OF the city. The outskirts OF the ponds
are literally covered with negroes and
their 'sled chairs. They VIII put on
your skates, sharpen your skates. rent
you a pair OF skates, or check your
eoat. Others sell dog sandWiches and
hot coffee. All make money.
Many Of these negroes are skIllful
skaters. and could, II they wished, put
many Of their patrons 10 shame.
"0ld Ben" on Skates.
One ia particular Old Ben" vino
drives coal cart in summer but re-
Sims at the beginning of the skating
season. is indeed an expert. His fellow
negroes claim that he Is the best skater
in Washington. Certain il is that he is
perfectly at home on skates, and cuts
figures on the ice which others dare
not even attempt
Old Ben is almost sixty years old. He
has been skating for fOrty-hve years
and still uses the pair o. skates on
which he learned
Denis De dog skates, he said
holding an enormous foot out I0r in
spectlon. ''All de sho 'nough fancy skat-
ers used 20 use 'em in nah time" he
continued. 'You see. sab, dose blades.
Dey's made out o. iron. and de body is
wood, good hick'ry wood. dats supple
but strong. is dey easy 10 skate on
Well. dey Is 70 me. You see, / learned
on EN-
The skates are Just as he described
They are fOrty-five years old, but he has
kept them carefully. and they are in ex.
oellent condition. The blade protrudes
only half an inch from the wooden body
It's heel end does not protrude as fan
as the heel OF his shoe. and the toe
terminates in huge scroll effect. In
using the skates the entire weight Of
the BODY rests on the balls OF the feef
and there are many skillfu skaters In
washington who would be unable nd
take a stroke on those skates which
4oFtf-uNe years ago, were a common
thing.
A Rare Exhibition.
Once in a while Ben gives a free ez
hibition Of his skill, but it IS on rar,
occasions. Usually he is seen skatine
leisurely along, pushing his sled chail
IN front Of him, crying:
Come. see Ole Ben, Ovahcoati
checked! skates sha'penedi skates 4,
hire. Ole Benz!
Up 10 last year. locals skated wher,
and when they pleased. Last year IN,
District government took a hand. Sl1at
ing al The bathing beach. or the ''LittI,
Basin" as Il Is called, was prohibited
entirely. and even though the Govern.
ment fish ponds, near the foot OF th,
Monument grounds are only four Zee
IN depth, the order has gone forth pre-
venting skating excsps when the lee i.
thick enough 10 exclude all possibility
OF a ducKing.
A Comm r.faort Of a.. -fr.. .-