New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-02

at some OF her structures and grin at
others Here they are.
81 have never seen worse genera
skating than have seen at the public
skating places In this city," says this
honest little foreigner. Then she tags
bouquet to the brick by saying, but
the energy and the enthusiasm Of the
skaters were simply wonderful. If only
they had the right sort of shoes and
skates and some serious training they
would do wonders, / am sure.
an general, | can say that NOBODY
could skate nor learn to skate with
he outfits which have seen on seven
five out Of every hundred | have
en- on the ice so far. Why do they
,. learn that you might Just a. we'll
to dance in rubber boots as try
skate in the shoes they wear? II
rs, be because there has been too
tile educational work on the suoJecl
r. skating. I find that many are gulle
willing 10 take my advice as to skates
and shoes They even write 10 me or
oome TO see me 10 ask II their IDEAS
as TO outfits or even the outhts Ihehi
elves are correct And when / tel
them what TO get they are very nv
about it and start OIL to get 'he very
hing. no matter what it costs.
~ have never seen any people SO
,v;IIino TO take expert advice on skat-
inc as the Americans are. This very
TNem
skaters II they will follow the interest
with practice. My series OF skating ar
ticles have shown me how great an IN,
terest there is among the general
public in learning how 10 skate.
"This real interest in the right
eouinment makes all the more remark
obla the almost universal wrong equip
mont seen everywhere. ! have seen
children, whose clothing indicated that
thew came from families OF wealth.
whose skating equipment was enough
"a send them 10 the hospital shoes
With cloth tops, buttoned and with
thin soles incapable Of furnishing the
right support for vigorous footwork'
Ninety per cent Of the grown people
had shoes utterly unsuited TO skating
No wonder their ankles turned, putting
q positively dangerous strain on uh-
used muscles of the ankles.
Fifty per cent of the skaters were
wearing the wrong size skates some
of those ! have seen must nave oeeH
grandpa's, they were so big. occasion
ally the skates were much too snort
although this is not by any means as
bad as too long. Notice how my skates
come lust to the edge of the shoe IN
front and project just a little past the
heel Of the shoe IN the back.
THE American skating. Is mucn 700
fast and too hurried. Take your time'
Is my advice Make the figures deiio-
erately and make them large; IN iact'
If YOU make them large you will have
to make them deliberately. one OF the
worst faults OF the average American
skater is looking down on the ice TOO
much. Learn 20 look whore you are
going BY a mere quick glance at the
ice. not by studying 10 with Lowered
head. Erect carriage is the most i'm
portant feature of graceful skating.
VERY few American skaters seem 70
practise skating on one foot. Their
two feet are on the ice all the time:
They should practise long sustained
curves with careful balance, keeping
the balance foot off the ice just as long
as possible. Anybody can skate with
both feet on the ice. Learn the dif-
fcult balances of one foot skating.
There Is plenty Of energy and en-
thusiasm shown on the ice OF the re-
sorts near New York 20 produce
dozen national champions II they will
but apply them right. | have been de
lighted at the merry spirit In which
everybody skates here. When one be-
comes good skater in Europe he
take Il very seriously. But can mag
inc that here one might be great
skater and yet have great fun at the
sport. Your national traits come out
in the skating and are apparent TO ev-
erybody. Quickness, versatility, adapt
ability, physical strength and athletic
proves, these are national traits m
born in the people of these United
States. Most OF them have fond
ness for climatic changes and are as
much at home with the sports Of win
ter as with the sports of summer.
"Thc theory Of skating is practically
unknown among Americans. They
skate without the slightest idea OF
what they are doing and why they
are doing il. A limited number whom
have met who have skated in the
Swiss winter resorts or among the
great Kinks OF Europe have an linking
Of the right theories OF skating. But
the fundamentals Of skating. without
which real progress in the sport IS i'm
possible. are almost unknown. They
must be learned or all the energy and
enthusiasm Will be applied in vain"
All of which looks like bunch of
roses concealing several sharp thorns.
But Americans have taken up skating
in earnest. and Charlotte adds you
always excel in everything you under
take