The state herald., 1912-03-22

er as soon as he has got to the stage
OF being able to get up when he falls.
and henceforth he scorns the chaff.
good humor. spills and collisions
which make up the luger's day. 1t
may be remarked that the budding
skier aforesaid is the only winter
sportsman who ever attempts or as
pires to be dignifled or scornful. You
can have capital time on a luge.
even II you have only two square
inches to sit on, and II your feet. held
fast by your partner in front. are be-
Ing used as rudders. At first 1t seems
strange to the novice that the proprie-
ties are in nowise involved II a lady.
invited by an absolute stranger to go
down" with him. promptly accedes to
his request by clasping him round the
waist and putting her feet on his lap
In this. as In other things, practice
makes perfect. After a week or two
you begin to see that Juggling. instead
Of being merely a sensation. is an art
not too easy to learn. The correct
taking Of bank. and indeed any real.
ly good steering, is, one is led to be
lieve. the work of years. The direc-
ton OF bobsleigh is admittedly a
serious matter, but on ones first visit
one may be content to be one OF the
crew. when one has only to shout and
lean. The excitement Of bobsleighing
renches It's height when II Is prac.
tised on a pitch dark evening under
the direction OF a steersman In whom
one has no confidence.
About the ice sports this years
novice has little or no experience. The
bad weather. which In other ways
has affected the less expert very 1T
tie. has certainly. bothered the skat
ers. The rink. when It Is not shut al
together. is treacherous. rough and
full OF holes. II is below the notice
OF the good skater. and too nwesome
for the tyro. There are few OF this
years novices who are not bound to
confess that they never went on the
ice and never saw ice-hockey or curl
ing On the other hand. they have
gained more knowledge than they
wanted of indoor amusemcnts. or.
rather. OF the lack OF them Indoor
life is rcpiete with every comfort. but
4, is fortunate that the warmth OF the
hotel makes one too lazy TO notice
that there is nothing whatever TO do
when the cause OF your staying In.
doors is the weather. nj least you
have society: but when II IL because
Af NJ nj VIo -
marooncd.
And what about the Alps all this
time7 Truly the disregard OF the
beauties and grandeur OF the scenery
IL one Of the strongest features OF the
winter sportsman. Aa long as the
iure track IN like Ice and the snow is
not too soft or too hard or too sticky
for skiing. ns long m tho sun Ia
bright md the wind not strong. the
old stngcr rcckn nothing OF the beauty
Of things Indeed. ho would rather
no, see the mountains. for II In n sign
Of bad weather. On the first day Of
his visit he conscicntiously Identifies
the various peaks by means OF n
guidc.book; but once he In tho pos.
SCISSOR OF skis and lugc. bc ncvor
gives ,bcm another thought Ladies'
nre no better. unless they have taatc
for sketchlng.
II Ia pitiful that the frst thing tina,
strikes one about tho Alps in winter
Ia their resemblance TO the common
colorcd picture postcard. Their
shapes md coiors are crude md hard.
Tho pincs. n they are not bowed down
with snow. arc exactly that almost
acid green: the sky Ia n vivid and nm.
ronl blue. and tho mountains them.
selves arc Just M strangely white and
glitterinE The colorA Of the gorgeous
sunset arc reflected on tho peaks In
exquisite but not delicate or tender
huen. and thoro n ono particular glow
Of light magenta that In purely flro.
work Ono beauty. which catches tho
eyo nj once, II tho bold contrast Of
the SKY md snow with tho brown
leaves siiil cilnglne 10 the beeches.
Tho effect ii 10 make tho leaven
..tgs. flI.. Nataa