AT THE RINK.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 203, 21 May 1908, Page 9

AT THE RINK.

Skating • was in full swing, in Wellington last night. Not tho skating oiio reads about —on miles and-miles' of ice-bound canals, rivers, ..or lake where ■ tho flyiiig blades hiss-over tho keen ico—but tho next best ■ thing,' linking, 'oil ' tho - rollers. • Tho Vivian .Street Olympia Rink was full of people. Some of. 'tlieni were skators,'' others .wero.tryiug to be, while the rest looked on .and-, laughed. ...The thing looks so easy, so graceful, so—and hero the novice yields to the fascination of tho gamo and calls for akatos. They are strapped , oil, and tho: attendant assists him to his feet. ;. ..

All, right, sir?" "Yes,.,-but I'.. fool—What!" Here Sir Novico.ombracos tho attendant; and indulges in some curious'movements of tlio feet, which arq . trying to , run away from lum. Ho recovers confidence again, and warps himself along near tho railing, and so on 'to tlio •rink floor, whero tho skaters are flying round md round. Ho, stands'still fqr a while, watching, tlio'long, graceful sweeps of tho old lands," and gradually bringing hini=3lf to believe that lie has only to throw out his feet alternately, and tho same result will bo achieved. He swings his left leg forward alid outward, but, alas! the right leg. acting apparently of its own volition, swiitly slides out in tlio opposite direction, his arms wave wildly about, vainly clutching the air, the states riso ceiling-wards, and Sir Novice fetches the floor with a heartrendma bump with his head. After about nmctv-mnc sijch exnorioficcs, varied at times by .collisions and subsequent explanations, lie, gradually gets his " roller-legs," and races round with the best of them.

> If tho American' people are ever to find a foreign market for tho, surplus product of •their fields and factories new fields mukt be invaded iu our/own American ships.—"Now York American." . The- Lirinoan Socioty intend to cclobrat» the' jubilee "of the presentation by ' Oharlos ■DaWin • and' Alfred Russel, Wallace of their joint essay on the Origin of Species". 011 July 1, ISSB. It is intended that a special meeting of the'Socioty shall be held on July 1,- followed by -au evening reception, and that copies of a special modal should. be awarded. It is also proposed to record the procctnliugs of ;tho commemoration ; in a , special voliuiio*.;• .