THE WHEELS OF CHANCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 527, 7 June 1909, Page 3

THE WHEELS OF CHANCE.

;v;i: :.,: "/ROLLER, SEATING.;.'". }:':;';.:'• ; .London has had its day. of loving the frozen skating rinks, and Niagara in London has for sevoral seasons been crowded with a fashioiiable.'throng of skaters, but-fashionablo London has' this winter returned' to its first love;ahd once more' been thrilled -with 1 the fascination of. tho roller skates. .Sydney is still charmed with: the Glaciariiim, where .ladies in trim skirts arid' thin blouses skim over the ;floor of ice -that has' each morning to. bo {^rozon-afresh, for.them, : and as the real ice '..skating, is-comparatively new to Sydney,,per-, haps roller skating will not yet come into' fashion there.; But Wellington, where.thero is no Glaciarium to distract its .attention, is sloiv.tb realise the amount of pleasurp,to be derived'-from rinkiug, so it may not be till next/season that the example of London will bo;followed, and riuking once more come into l .a.period or popularity.'.! •"" ::-.- There is no;doubt, about the'fascination of the. sport. ..To the onlooker, it .seems.as .though the, greatest fun 'must eomo at first, .when-it is difficult'.'for the skater to balance "herselfr on her wheels;; when sho 'starts:-.'off timidly-' but with a fearful jo.v, lneaningto glide.gracefully round the rink, as so.many others are. 'and instead finds herself shooting off .violently to the nearest fence, ciaspifig'despprately'a.t the rail, and hesitat.inglong before'she once again starts off on a career .made up jiiorp. of .■straight rushes than .thb graceful curves that she so much admires.' 'Thero-'.is sport; and adventure in thisy but gradually-sne finds her balance, and gaining confidence,.it may not bd long beforo she is able oven.to. waltz to' tho band's music... For the rest of the season tho rink has her cap-, zturcd. ■' '-,'' - ..'•■':■' ■■'•'■''.'.

■■■)'■ Going to.the rink on a popular day the visitor! will find tho floor well : rilled with the, skaters in all stages of progress; and very interesting ; it, is to natch them.. There aro always numbers of young men and boys skating haughtily all,by themselves, for rinking is a pastime that one can enjoy more all-By one; self than'any other, >and tho skater who is alone does not look in tho least degree lonely. Very quickly they pass ono by, some skating, .with long graceful glides, others covering tho ground somehow with little short unobtrusive ', steps, like the lady under' the greenwood .tree'.who "danced as though sho moved on castors.". In, tho middle of tho floor twa young girls will be waltzing - gracefully,. and ■ quito regardless of tho more ordinary skaters, while on the outskirts of tho crowd a mother will bo teaching a timid little daughter how to skate, steadying the child so that'she cannot fall, and very, quickly making her a clever little skater. .This is a'delightful occupation for little children; they aro quick at learning and enjoy tho sport immensely. A Saturday morning at tho rink is a great pleasure for anydiild. .The lady who during the summer months acts; as instructress: at tho swimming baths turns her attention in tlio.winter to the rink, and teaches beginners there. 'She has quite a number of pupils.,: ...- , It is rumoured that several private skating parties are to, bo given at tho rink within a short time, "and these will probably lead to many more. ~. \ ' ' \• ■