"Either  very  rough  or  very  smooth  ice  should  be
avoided.  The  person  who,  for  the  first  time,  attempts  to
skate,  must  not  trust  to  a  stick.  He  may  take  a  friend's
hand  for  support,  if  he  requires  one;  but  that  should  be
soon  relinquished,  in  order  to  balance  himself.  He  will,
probably,  scramble  about  for  half  an  hour  or  so,  till  he
begins  to  find  out  where  the  edge  of  his  skate  is.  The
beginner  must  be  fearless,  but  not  violent;  nor  even  in
a  hurry.  He  should  not  let  his  feet  get  apart,  and  keep
his  heels  still  nearer  together.  He  must  keep  the  ankle
of  the  foot  on  the  ice  quite  firm ;  not  attempting  to  gain
the  edge  of  the  skate  by  bending  it,  because  the  right
mode  of  getting  to  either  edge  is  by  the  inclination  of
the  whole  body  in  the  direction  required;  and  this  incli-
nation should  be  made  fearlessly  and  decisively.  The
]eg  which  is  on  the  ice  should  be  kept  perfectly  straight;
for,  though  the  knee  must  be  somewhat  bent  at  the  time
of  striking,  it  must  be  straightened  as  quickly  as  possi-
ble without  any  jerk.  The  leg  which  is  ofi"  the  ice  should
also  be  kept  straight,  though  not  stiflf,  having  an  easy


MANLY   EXERCISES.  171

but  straight  play,  the  toe  pointing  downwards,  and  the
heel  from  six  to  twelve  inches  of  the  other.
*'The  learner  must  not  look  down  at  the  ice,  nor  at
his  feet,  to  see  how  they  perform.  He  may,  at  first,  in-
cline his  body  a  little  forward,  for  safety,  but  hold  his
head  up,  and  see  where  he  goes,  his  person  erect  and  his
face  rather  elevated  than  otherwise.
