Evening journal., 1906-10-17
WILL ice SKATING
HURT THE Kinks?
Roller Skate Fad Aeair
Takes Hold of the
Public

The roller skating craze has again
seized Wilmington and the attack is
deeper set than ever. Springing sud-
denly into life again early last sum-
mer, it captivated the pleasure seeking
/ throngs at every summer resort and
now bids fair to overthrow every other
recreation among the masses this win
ter. Already a large portion Of the
city's population is on wheels every day
and every night except Sunday.
For twenty years this sport has been
confined to boys and girls under Is,
who make the streets their rink and
who hang on behind wagons. Previous
to that period the craze reigned for
short time, and the older people skated
Kinks were numerous, and many thous-
ands of dollars were spent in the sport
Then the reaction came and thousands
were lost Now the craze has arrived
again.
When in Newport a roller skating
rink was opened early last spring, it
was heralded that society was going to
make the sport its summer fad. Coney
Island, up to the minute in everything
and seeing the advantage Of copying
NHN AAthN "a nbNAtAo Ntnlltf cOOI Ic4
several Kinks. Atlantic City followed
soon after, and then all the other sum-
lmer resorts fell I'm line, and before the
summer was far advanced the fad was
general The crowds thoroughly en-
ljoyed the sport and wanted more Of il
when they returned to town. To satisfy
this popular demand enterprising spec
ulators have spent large sums in all
of the large cities, and in many Of the
small towns, buying skates, laying
floors and fitting up Kinks In the chill
evenings OF this fall and in the bitter
nights Of winter the youths and maid
ens Of this as well as every other city
OF any size throughout the country will
have another sport to add to the list of
tcold weather amusements.
This city has gone roller skating mad.
Since the summer began to wane a big
rink has sprung up here. Crowds
lthrong nightly to the rink. Bands play
while the skaters whirl around the ring
or execute fancy rolls in the centre OF
the floor. On certain nights prizes are
offered to the best skaters, races are
arranged, fancy exhibitions are given
and hockey games played.
One question that confronts the man
ayers Of Kinks is this: VIII ice skating
hurt the business? 1t may, and there
fore they are praying for a mild winter
like last years. Ice skating always
has been popular. 1t is never fad.
but lasts from year to year But even
in the most severe winters the ice skat-
ing in this section OF the country lasts
only few weeks The roller skate in
dustry will boom this winter In fact.
It is already booming. There are no
skate factories in this city, most Of the
o skates being made in Buffalo.
The revival Of the sport brings TO
mind the violent but spasmodic roller
skating craze Of twenty years ago, its
sudden rise and it's equally sudden fall
/; and the forces that worked against IL
For several years it reigned as the
leading sport and amusement. Every
|, other form OF amusement suffered
Dancing schools declined and the the
atres felt the loss OF many good pat
rons who skated and neglected the
drama. II was the theatrical people
who endeavored by every means tc
work up a feeling against the sport
Finally the feeling extended to the min
listers. who began a crusade against ths
skating rinks. The pastors claimed in
sermons that the sport kept young peo-
pie out late at nights and kept then
away from home and church influence
The sport began 10 decline at this time
and the attack OF the clergy helped Il
considerably In its downward course
In few months no one went to th'
/ rinks and they were closed up and fel
, into decay.