Evening star., 1941-12-17

a complete devotee of the sport, and
the only reason I have never done
any of 1t is the fact that cant
skate a lick.
Fortunately for my new program
of body building or restoration OF
the ruins, I have friend who volun-
teered to teach me to ice skate. MY
friend is Mrs. Dan Topping, the
former Sonia Henie, and the great
est woman skater of all time. she
met me at a rink at IL am. and at
11:O1 am. one of us was sailing
across the ice with the grace OF
feather in the wind, and the other
one of us was standing frozen ana
rigid. clutching a railing and pray
ing that an early spring thaW would
hit the rink before it was necessary
to let go of the railing.
Sonia was very patient with me.
It was nearly noon before she pred
loose my grip on the wooden rail-
and, like a kindly warden leading
a condemned man to the chair,
escorted me out on the ice.
walk like a duck" she explained.
pointed my toes north and soutn.
Bend your knees"
crouched until almost sat down.
Lean forward"
I managed this.
Then Sonia turned me loose and
stepped back to survey her handl-
work. There I was. out in the
center Of the ice, shivering, fright
ened, duck footed, crouching lump.
A stranger walking in would have
sworn that the lovely girl, standing
poised and superior on her skotes.
had put a hypnotic spell on me. 1t
was absolutely impossible for me to
move. for which I was profoundly
grateful.
start skating" Sonia called.
Finally 1 tottered forward a few
steps.
I discovered that by holding my
breath and picking my feet up and
putting them directly down. could
prevent the blades from sliding. At
the moment that was all cared
about. you're trying not to skate
Sonia corrected me, and her voice
was a bit sharper than it was at
the start of the lesson.
But I paid no attention to her
and kept edging back toward my
dear friend, the railing. Let me
get my hands on that thing once
more. I thought, and I don't care
how strong and beautifully condi-
toned she is, she'll never get me
away from it again, not even II
she calls Dan Topping to help her.
But Sonia saw my purpose. From
across the ice she came at so miles
an hour to cut me of from the
home base.
mo, you don't" she said. You
come right back out here"
She took my arm, and dragging
me along, said Now do it this way"
I begged for double runners. I
said I had changed my mind about
wanting to skate. I said I wanted
to 60 home. I said I had an i'm
portant appointment. I said had
Just sprained my ankle.
But she lugged me on and then
TT Happened on Ice
1t happened to me on Ice.
My toes that were turned out
turned in.
Suddenly my head was where my
feet had been and my feet were where
my head had been. Eearlier Sonia
had told me that she covers Is feet In
some OF her leaps and has spun IS
times without stopping. I broke
both Of these records my first time
out, and I'm not ashamed to say
that when I finally came to a halt
I crawled to safety on my hands
and knees.
After the lesson I told Sonia 1t
was funny that I couldn't do any
better on ice skates because I was
q good roller skater.
81 can't roller skate at all" she
said. II fall down just as soon as
put roller skates on"
You do" asked eagerly. what
about me giving you a lesson. Any
old time would suit me"
I'm afraid of them" she said.
swell I answered.
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