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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 10, 1904)
TT: TJITZ4. O 4- fr Pictures from l'luitos by a lice XVlllg Ul V SAMPLE IE who lias never hoard the music H m of the ring of steel against Ice; who has neer fcit the bracing delight of the keen air of winter against his check, an he skl.-rrmcJ the frozen pond; who has never known the intoxicating effect of the shimmer of I lis sunllglit on the glassy surface, the frosty atmosphere and the merry laughter and Joyous shouts of the bevy of skaters about him, has not taken advantage of nature's most pressing Invitation In the northlands to "come out and play with me." All seasons of the year have their attractions to the lover of outdoor sports, and none of them are productive of a keener zest than that afforded by winter the pleasure of skating. When the Indolent and indifferent are huddling around tires Indoors the ikater' is on pond or lake or river enjoying as only the active and agile of the race can enjoy the keen delights of the sport. Not that skating requires that one be an athlete to appreciate it; one must certainly be athletic to become proficient as an expert skater, but the genuine delight that comes of pleas ant exercise in the open air Is denied to none save the actually crippled, and in stances have been known of one-legged men Skating with one skate fixed to a crutch. Skating originated with the tribes of northern Europe. Caesar found the Ba tavians, whom he could not conquer,' In dulging in the sport. As far back as he 19 known to human ken, the inhabitants of the dreary wintry region of the Baltic with, bis " skates fast bound. Skimmed th-3 half frozen sound That the poor whimpering hout.d Trembled to walk on." Tils descendants keep it up to this day, in company with other customs that have como down from those good old prehistoric times. In the region of the Baltic skating is more than a sport; It Is a commercial factor. When the canals nro frozen over and closed to the boats the people do not abandon them us avenues of communica tion, but merely put on their skates and go about their business Just the same. This fashion resulted in the adoption of a new movement In the scientific military tactics of tho latter part of tho seventeenth cen tury. The duke of Alva, who had been sent by the good emperor of Spain to carry out his most Christian Intentions to ward the heretics of Holland, and who was most arduously endeavoring to put into practice all of tho kind and wholesome In structions his Imperial master had given htm concerning those contumacious per sons who had incurred his displeasure in a number of ways, not tho least among which was reading the Bible In their homes and undertaking to raise enough to live on, found, when winter had turned the marches Into ice fields, that his Spanish soldiery were at a decided disadvantage. Just ns the Batavians had skated around tho Im perial legions of Rome, so did the Dutch skate around the Imperial soldiers of Spain, and sorely did It cost his most benign maj esty. But Alva wasn't one of those old dogs who couldn't be taught a new trick, so he added a pair of skates to the equip ment of each of his stout musketeers, and 5- -- YY lJUtCl OjJUl IS Staff Artist GROUP OF MERRY SKATERS. very soon he had an nimy that could skate as well as that of William of Orange. If the Spaniards had hern us valiant at sea ns they proved on the canals, both winter and summer, Alva tnlht have eventually executed the general warrant that was pronounced against the heretic Hollanders. It will be noted that skating was not al ways carried on as a mere pastime. So much for the antiquity of the skate. In the very nature of things the principle involved has survived to this day, and with practically no modification. The narrow blade of Bteel Is the counterpart of the thin strip of bone on which the first bar barian essayed to skim the Ice. nnd as long ns the sport Is followed that will re main the basis of It. Changes had been made In the detail of fastening the skate to the foot. It would be a wnste of time to undertake to follow all of these, so the present clamp will be accepted for what It - V A - GLIMPSE OP CUT OFF LAKE is without debate. Some eeeentrlc In dividuals still persist in using strapa, and expert skaters, particularly racing men, want the skates firmly rlveUd to the solo of the shoes they wear when on the ice. This Is a nice, convenient way of putting on and off skates, but the great mass of those who go down to the lee to have u good time will continue to use the clamp skate until some new and easier way of fastening the blade to the foot is Invented. Individual taste has some opportunity for selection In the modern skate between tho full rocker, the half rocker, tho flat skate, tho hollow ground skate and several of tho different styles of extension blades, but they all are on the one general line. Omaha and vicinity present splendid op portunities for the pursuit of this sport. i it UOINQ STUNTS"-TUE EXPERT SKATER HAS MANY . . . " ' ' b. V . tor Cut Off lake Is the favorite plf.ee, because It offers the widest expanse of good lee, but the smaller lakes and ponds around the city are all well patronized, and some private rinks have all they can do to care fur the people who come. Rink skating loses much of the charm of skating In the open, but it may be practiced with none of the discomforts that come with the outdoor exercise. When n man or boy starts to skate, the first thing he learns as a rule Is to rut a star. After he has mastered this feat he is of service In sweeping off the ieo for the other skaters. He eventually learns, nfter many bumps and bruises, how to stand on his skates without wobbling, how to start without Jumping, how to stop without sitting down, nnd how to turn around without stopping. After he has conquered the rudiments of the art, he ,-.i.U.- .. - . . .. .. ... a . ' - .. - 'h w. U ft -:- ON A COLD SUNDAY AFTERNOON DURING THE BKATINQ SEASON. begins to learn "stunts." One of the earliest is to cut a flguro 3; this Is too easy, and the next Is to "spread the eagle." After he has gotten this down to n satis factory stage, he can tackle the figure 8, a more Involved movement, necessitating the skillful use of both feet. When ho can make this properly, and as often r.s ho likes, he Is ready for nny one of a long list of fancy designs. Not everybody reaches this stage, though, and the really good skater who eau do "stunts," Is always certain of his crowd of admiring spectators when he chooses to give a performance on the lee. Everyone who ever skated, though, aspires to the degree of skill and agility that will permit of doing the fancy work, such as writing names, toe spinning and tho like, and the fact that all cannot v. ADMIRERS. at Cut Off Lake 11 Kit FIRST LESSON. learn l'-n't sufficient to deter any from to lug. Skating has its dangers as well as lis pleasures. An Icy bath Is the least penalty that is exacted from the carel.ss and un wary. Too frequently di'nth met In the dark waters under n bit of treacherous lee. One thing should always bo borne In mind by the skaters: Ice that will not bear a man standing will bear his weight If lying down, because tho weight Is dis tributed over more surface. If a com panion should happen to break through or fall In, tho safest plan Is to push him a plank, If one can be obtained. In case a plank Is not bandy, a line can lie formed of skaters lying prone on the Ice, tho ono nt the end grasping the hand of tho one In the water, and then all pulling gently together until the danger has been passed. Ordinary precautions will suffice us a rula or '.;." (1- . ", .,-.rr-vr5 f to prevent the unpleasantness of a duck ing, not to speak of the tragedy of a drown ing. New Year's Resolutions Nebuchadnezzar was conslderlns sumo New Year ri solutions. "I would llko to swear off chewing," he remarked, "but under present conditions It is impossible." Hunting tip some more grass, he finished his repast. Belshazzar observed the writing on ths wall. "I I think," ho resolved hastily, "after Januury 1 I won't have any more late sup pers." Shortly after, the course of events en forced l.ls resolution. Queen Elizabeth was holding her New Year reception. "I suppose," she remarked playfully, ) "you havo all sworn off the axe. It la very ! likely to go to your heads." t Noting the forced laughter which fol I lowed, she chuckled at her lt. t Sir Walter Raleigh hod Imported the first ; tobacco. "Isn't It magnificent?" he asked. "No," replied the sulky populace, "you'va .' Just started another thing to swear off at New Year's." New York Sun. j His Observation i "I note." said the Englishman who was getting ready to write 'Impressions of J America and Her People." t "Well?" asked his American friend. "I note, donchewknow, that different ; names aro applied to the same article cf ,' diet in various places, donchewknow." "For Instance." !( "In some places they call for 'am and ' heggs, and in others they ask for 'hegg tA' . 'og." Baltimore American.