Evening star., 1938-09-25

" duotAy 1OOhCU az 1900
calendar, it discovered ar
unusual holiday sequence that may
aceentuate the growing trend toward
winter vacations. Most of the ma
tional holidays were found to coin
eide with week ends, and in other
cases came so close to the inevitable
Saturday-Sunday combination as tc
inspire talks with the boss about an
extra day off to take advantage of the
breach in business days. The yeal
served as a model for the Monday
Holiday Association, illustrating the
theory that by anchoring holidays to
the nearest Monday, year after year
the vacation pinch in Office forces
during the summer would spread
throughout the fall, winter, spring and
summer seasons; for, it is argued, II
occasional week ends could be extended
by one day, the restless urge to "get
away from it all" in two, three and
four week recreation periods would
be appeased by Saturday. Sunday
Monday outings. Then, at some time
more convenient, portion of the stafI
could plan their vacations in the So
called of season-and really like it.
How practical this theory proved to
be this summer, If 1t were proved
one way or the other at all, is still
submerged in a mass of vacation sta
tistics the travel industry invariably
gathers. But the week end holiday
condolences permitted those who al
ready are winter vacation devotees to
spend not infrequent, miniature vaca-
tions at nearby resorts and yet have
a longer vacation boarded for cold
weather spending. Anyway, it is GER
tain that the more ardent snow sport
fans managed their vacation lives
that way.
To the ordinary vacationist who
tempers the summer sun with sea OF
mountain breezes, the first crispness
OF falls air is sign of Information.
Not so the snow sports fan. Fall is
his spring, and he looks on the leaves
turning multicolored as the beach en-
thusiast looks upon the flowers that
bloom in the spring. But only in the
last six years or so has he managed
to spread his cult materially. He has
extended his influence to Washing
ton, which for the past several years
has featured snow trains, and the De-
partn1ent Of Interiors Yearbook of
Park and Recreation Progress esti-
mates conservatively that more than
half million persons will take part
in the sports this coming winter.
\k11NG has provided the magic
touch to popularize winter outdoor
recreation, the yearbook points out in
saying that snowshoeing, coasting and
tobogganing have been accepted fol
years as minor attractions. It took
the introduction and teaching Of the
downhill technique to dramatize snow
as vehicle for fun, the yearbook
states, adding as reasons for the phe-
nomenal growth of winter sports "the
consequent shifts in emphasis from
the spectacular sport Of ski jumping
to the more popular sport of downhill
ski running on slopes and trails, the
accompanying provision of special
areas and facilities, the opening up OF
suitable terrain through easier access
and cheaper transportation to outlying
districts, and, last but not least, the
revolutionary Improvements in safe
and practical skiing equipment and in
lighter, more serviceable and COM
Portable winter clothing"
In citing the growth OF winter
sports, the article points out that the
snow belt covers two-thirds OF the
United States.
IT NIGHT be hit ahead Of the sea-
son, but list Of does and don'ts
for novices on the ski trails Is at least
apropos Of the subject.
For the downhill runners:
After a spill, remember to get out
OF the way Of the down-coming run
ners.
At the cry Of track" allow the
faster runner room to pass.
For the uphill toiler:
Keep to the side of the trail, as
downhill runners always have the right
Of way.