Evening journal., 1916-01-12
BY The United Press.

NEW YORK. Jan. Eight states
went dry January /. and prohibition
seems to be sweeping the county. but
Just the same, more big skates are
being staged on hard drink in the
United States this winter than ever
before.
Hundreds Of men. women and--yos,
even little children who never until
this year had been on skate, now
have skates ON hard drink to which
to impute their falls.
II is remarkable that sober second
thought does not seem to deter the
staggering. stumbling. reeling thou
sands who are SO helpless they find
il constant struggle to keep their
feet Night after night, in every city,
town and hamlet in the country,
youth and age determinedly proceeds.
Untold thousands Of them have be-
come confirmed addicts TO this hard
drink habit.
So widespread has the indulgence
become that not only do our citizens
nightly troop by thousands to the
brink of sparkling lakes OF this hard
drink to go on their skates, but riv-
ers, ponds and artificial palaces,
classify, glitteringly alluring, daily
beckon other thousands.
There is. however, no cracked ice
In the hard drink now so generally
used. II isn't that sort of hard drink,
nor is II used for that sort of skate.
One may be teetotaler and still un-
reservedly indulge in this kind OF
skate. Even that considerable num-
Der OF our citizens who this winter
for the first time are indulging in that
other form of skate. namely; whislSing
through the air, may lie far, far from
malt spirituous or vinuous intoxica-
tion.
The skating fad has taken a strong
grip on the New York public. Ice
skating this year is a greater pastime
than the roller-skating revival of
twenty years ago.
New outdoor rinks are opening all
over New York, Brooklyn and the
Bronx The many public tennis
courts are being used this year for
skating rinks The areas are flooded
with a few inches of water, and many
of them can accommodate 100 skat-
ers at one time
The demand for skates skating
shoes. and costumes. reflects the pop
uarity Of the sport this season. None
of the sporting stores can keep up
( with the demand.
Where $4,000 pairs of skates were
! sold in this city last year, il is be-
I lieved the output this season will
/ reach $4,000. II predictions come
true, New Workers will improve their
health as result OF their season OF
skating. II is great weight re-
ducer.
The surprising feature of the ice
skating revival Is the amount Of
: money spent on the sport Last year
IL is estimated that for skates. shoes
sweaters. and caps. New York skat.
D. ers spent about S320.000 With the
desire of the women to have special
costumes TO wear while skating. the
cost Of the sport has jumped to great
proportions. For skates. boots and
costumes this season IL is believed
that New Workers. will spend some
thing like S2,6OO.O0O
Skating is more healthful fun than
} dancing in the smoke-laden air of the
cabarots II means red checks and
big appetites.
J The Park Department has appro.
piiated money to provide for cal
cmm lights for the skaters on the
J ponds and lakes. Most OF them are
well lighted at night. and this limo
, cation will be received with enthus.
/ iasm by the skaters.
The skating instructor has replaced
) the dancing master. and skating in.
} structors reap a harvest teaching so
ciety girls to skate. Cornelius Eel
lows, at ST. Nicholas Rink. estimates
that as many as q 900 people skate
at the rink every week.
There is a skating club of soclot!
people who meet at the rink ever
Monday afternoon. The membership
is limited to 400. Among the pa
tronesses are Mrs. Russell II. Hoad
ley Jr.; Mrs. Philip Golden Bartlett
and Mrs Walter Jennings. Amonl