The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1945-02-22

No winter landscape is complete
without 4 skating pond thronged with
the village populace in holiday attire
and mood. To see d jovial group in
bright-colored Woolens skim over a
frosted lake Handicapped and abreast,
keeping in perfect rhythm, is compar-
able to a folk-darce. In fact. out of
such primitive group movements have
developed the rhythms native to our
melodic idioms.
In one respect this has NOT been
an oldfashioned winter There has
been sufficient snow and ice to make
all mid-applachian natives think we
We're suddenly transported to an arc
tic glacier This has been doubly i'm
pressed upon US because Of the alb
sc1ce Of the people Of the snow, the
dwarfs, elves, fairies, and the Gladly
Of the lake Joy Of the winter time
has fled the land Is it because chill
dren and adults are minus warm cloth
ing to brave the elements? 1t seems
to me the opposite is true. Most
people nowadays dress too warmly
and live in ovelheated houses. When
they venture out, mostly to attend
chores, they ovardress. weighted down
with furs and red fIannels Have we
given up skating for lack Of ponds
and lakes? Added to Mt, Lake we
now have Deep Greek and Harrington
Manor. Or is it because there is a
shortage of skates? In fact, the skates
Of today are far more practical and
plentiful. So today we have better
clothing, better places for skating,
and better skates. We have good
equipment but are lacking in energy.
We will skate VIGOROUSLY by looking
at professionals in movie or rink,
but we have no thought Of participate
ing in its many pTecarioUs thrills. EX-
cept for new skiing fad, which is
not dependably suited to our land
scape, which requires highly indi-
vidualised technic and a more expen-
sive outlay Of equipment-we have
gradually lost zest for skating par
ties. We are no longer a joyous people
frolicking on the winter landscape
tor the summer. Some wicked fairy
has turned us into groundhogs. When
we do come out Of our "holes," we
SILVER, jump, jerk, and shudder. We
fail to breathe deeply and deprive the
blood Of richer content Of oxygen.
We are, to speak plainly, pampered,
spoiled and flabby assortment Of gri-
pers saying harsh things about Win
ter weather while we mooch and
SLOUGH in the pub or flop down in
plush chairs to play number games.
Thus winter has become the season
where gang of giddy-heads" enter
into a mutual conspiracy for the adj
yancemcnt Of dizziness.
Ii is no wonder that many of child
hoods scenes come to mind. Certainly
there is nothing comparable in Oak
lands social calendar Of today. How
well ! recall the happy clusters of
people on Broderick's Lake, and gath
cred in animated groups around the
roaring fires along the shore. And
how well do remember DR.. Richard
Bartlett's skill in cutting fancy fig
ures-and DR.. BiXler who streakcd
like the whillwnd down Little Yough
On clear, moon-lit February night
one would see hundreds of skaters on
Broderick's, Wilson's and Mountain
Lake. Even Harris Pond had its quota
of customers. Zero or sub-zero
weather, coupled with a high wind,
did not deter the gathering Of happy
clans. thrill at the recollection of a
Handicapped pair of lovers swinging
down the ice in "high form with |
frost formed on their mufflers and
.,l,np, ,oI ,,,J H. A.,