An iron rim is attached to the wood, from the ball of the foot forward round the toe; it is turned up and then inwards, so as to catch on to the boot sole. There is a rim round the heel also, turned up, but not inwards, and with a hole behind, for a spring or a small screw to go through into the boot heel. This is the whole fastening; there are no straps of any description; the wearer trusts the rest to a well-laced boot.

I hesitate to recommend this plan till it has had a longer trial. The objection I see is, that it requires too accurate fitting of the parts; and I fear, as the boot wears, and becomes thinner and broader in the sole, it may not answer so well. Moreover, no boot but the one for which it was made would answer: with any other, the skates would be utterly useless.

Boot skates I have never used, but have heard them well spoken of. For ladies, I should consider them by far the best description. The skate iron is just inserted in the thick sole of a lacing ancle boot, and there is no fastening, beyond putting on the boot, and lacing it firmly. It is no new invention, and I therefore think if there was not some strong objection, it would have found more general favour with skaters. I find it advertised upwards of sixty years ago, as

"The new invented half-boot skait, sold by the in"ventor, Mr. James, No. 14, Newgate Street, and "by Thomas Olio Rickman, No. 7, Upper Mary-le"bone Street. Price one guinea and a-half.”

So, it has had at least plenty of time to introduce itself. One objection is, that instead of only a pair of skates, you have to carry a pair of boots to the ice, and may have some difficulty in the disposal, while there, of the walking boots you take off.

Whatever differences there may be in taste or opinion, as to the shape of the iron, or the mode of fastening, I apprehend there is none as to the best description of boot for skating in. Unquestionably the best is an ancle boot, lacing from low The sole should be ra

on the foot, up the front.

ther thin than thick, or it

raises the foot too far

from the ice. The upper leather-or cloth if preferred-should be stiff and well-fitted, so as to be capable of being firmly laced, that it may give full support to the ancle, where, in skating, all the strain rests.

There is still a desideratum in skate fastenings. Some mode is wanted that will be alike simple and secure, quickly put on, and more universal in its application than any I have named. The deficiency in all the new plans is, that their use is nearly limited to one particular pair of boots. You

cannot borrow your friend's skates on an emergency, nor lend your own. Nevertheless, I would not sacrifice security of fastening to any other consideration; and the general application is of less consequence, as every one who is particular about his skating, will set apart a pair of boots for the purpose.

In conclusion, I need hardly suggest, that to keep the irons highly polished, and the straps and buckles clean and in good order, is not too trivial to be worth a little attention.

CHAPTER IV.

INSTRUCTIONS IN SKATING.

Forward Striking; Serpentine; Shinty; Backward Motion; Treading the Circle; Spread Eagle; Fencing Position. We will now suppose the aspirant fairly equipped, his skates firmly fixed, and himself placed by the aid, perhaps, of some friendly hand, on the ice-on his feet, and left to his own resources.

FORWARD STRIKING OR RUNNING

Is the first movement to be learned. I will first describe what it is, and then the steps towards attaining it.

In executing it, the skater keeps his toes turned out just so far that his feet line at right angles to each other. Each foot is lifted alternately and set down, slightly on the inside edge, when it immediately slides forward, additional impetus being communicated by the other foot, which, from its position at right angles, can push against the ice without sliding.

The first step has enabled him to progress, say on the right foot, for a yard or two; he then sets down the left forward, while the right has taken its position at right angles to give the impetus. This movement, repeated on each foot alternately, enables the skater to attain great velocity.

We have supposed the beginner on the ice, and prepared to tumble through his first lesson. Let him, as gently as ever he pleases, attempt to walk or progress forwards. The toes should be turned outwards, and the ancles kept stiff. Even if he can, he need not lift his feet very high, and he must not try to push them out in the meantime, for he will probably find that the mere setting down will give him more impetus than he is well prepared for.

The great error beginners make is, forgetting to keep the ancle stiff; the object of doing so is, that the whole length of the iron may be lifted from the ice simultaneously, and in setting down, the whole edge reach the ice at once. If he bends the ancle and rises on the toe as in walking, the result will probably be a fall. It will assist a learner's progress a good deal, to practice walking on dry ground, or in a room, with skates on; it will teach him to keep his ancles stiff, the necessity for which I have so much dwelt on.

F