The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-12-22

say? Why not play tiddledywinks,
or ping pong, or chess?
1t Is hard to run the fad to its lair,
but the wise analyst again tells US
that since the world has learned to
dance and so acquired nimbleness of
feet, it must have soma other activity
to use this nimbleness. 1t must have
motion and music too, of course, so
what more natural than another
rythmical pastime? It may be this,
or the growing interest in the out
door sports of the country, or merely
the psychological moment for
something new that makes a fad of
skating; but be that as it may, skat-
ing is here. Skating here not merely
for those who happen to be particular
ly fond of it, but skating as a fad
the thing to do.
Pierre, the manager of Castles in
the Air in New York, early appreciat-
ed the importance of this skating
movement, and although dancing is
by no means abandoned, skating has
been introduced at his establishment.
To the attraction of the ballroom
floor was added small stage of ice;
this stage was revealed at midnight,
when a ballet on skates make its first
bow. So great was this attraction
that the rink was shortly opened to
the public at the tea hour, and now
side by side are the skating rink and
the ballroom floor. This pointed the
way to the opening of other rinks Of
both a private and public nature, and
skating clubs are being formed. En-
thusiasm for skating is awakened
everywhere.
The Italian Garden of the Biltmore,
where in the hottest day of summer a
breeze was to be found, has now been
converted into an ice pond some sixty
by seventy-five feet in extent, edged
with pine trees Overlooking this is
a tea-room, heated and enclosed with
glass. Before this rink was completed
the plans were so attractive that a
skating club knows as the "Secours
National Skating Club" was formed.
This club meets twice week under
the patronage of Mrs. Robert Bawer,
Mrs. Frederick H. Allen, Mrs. w.
Rayard Cutting, Mrs. Henry Payne
Whitney, and other women interested
in the Secours National, the proceeds
Of which go to war reliefs.
The Waldorf, too, has not been
backward in seconding the skating
fad, and is building skating rink of
great magnitude. The Waldorf rink
will be q great oval pond enclosed in
glass; It is to cover practically the
whole roof space of the hotel. 1t is
hoped that the Waldorf rink will be
opened shortly after the first Of the
year for ice skating, and it is the in
tention to convert it into roller
skating rink garden of the Waldorf
is not to be abandoned, however, as
the upper floor of the rink will serve
that purpose. At the skating rink
much the same arrangements will be
employed as for the summer garden
where cards are required for admis-
sion. Music, tea, light f1owers-in
fact a great Palais de Glace-will
be the result.
It is not only In New York tina,
society will skate. At Tuxedo and or
Long Island cold snaps have always
been greeted by the enthusiastiast.
as chance to skate, and this season
more than ever, advantageous wealth
er will be hailed. In addition, there
has grown up a winter season at Pc
land Springs, at Lake Placid Club
and at Lake George, where ice anc
snow can be depended upon for win
ter sports.
Just as there are the gaiest Of par
ties at Saint Moritz, so now gay par
ties are being forced for Januar,
and February for the American re
sorts. In the north, of course, as II
Tuxedo and on Long Island, the on
slaughts of winter must be consid
cred in choosing costumes and coats
sweaters, mufflers and caps mus
form a real protection, as well al
decoration, when outdoor skating il
INDUCED in.
A picturesque innovation which
skating brings with it Is the leather
coat worn with a cloth skirt. Such
costume can be used appropriately
for either the rink or the country
The lighted tweed knit clothes ant
the new leather coats will be usee