right alone in the sideways attitude, and let the skater continue on it in a large curve as long as he is able; this impulse exhausted, he should quickly bring his body up to full front, and pass it again to the sideways attitude applicable to the other foot ; he should simultaneously with this change of attitude put down the left foot (which will thus become the employed one), and give a bold stroke or push from the inside of the right, which for this purpose must be slightly turned in (Fig. 14).

The sideways position will thus undergo a continual alternation, in accordance with the use of one or the other leg, and from the complete change required the skater must make the intervals of striking as long as he can ; the skating will thus be large. After a while he will be able

to make two alternate circles, which form the second 8 on our list (Fig. 15). To ensure perfection of balance, it will be necessary to execute the large spiral; this can be accomplished by taking a sharp run forwards, then the turn on both feet to backwards, and half a

STROKE STROKE

FIG. 15

1.B.R

dozen alternate back strokes to obtain velocity : this gained, the skater, poising himself in the sideways attitude, should continue in the largest spiral possible until he comes to a state of rest.

This is the new style of inside edge backwards,

and was designed by us as a substitute for the old, which we cannot recommend, but which is done after this manner :-The stooping body is full front, the feet are turned in, the knees bent, and striking goes on as fast as possible. The skater is literally "backing," his face and body being turned from whence he came, and not, as it ought to be, in the direction in which he is going (and, indeed, while adopting this ugly attitude, it cannot be otherwise). He saws away, however, at a smart pace until, if the skaters are numerous, he is suddenly brought up with a concussion, which displays to his vision a shower of mimic fiery shooting stars, almost rivalling the real ones of the heavens in rapidity of movement and brilliancy of coruscation. To see two skaters, as one frequently does, "backing" from opposite quarters, and brought together by some curious affinity that seems to affect young skaters, is certainly a situation most ludicrous. We refer the reader to Plates III. and IV. which illustrate the difference between the correct and incorrect attitudes in skating inside backwards. For a further description of the old inside edge backwards see also next page.

Few indeed, very few, learn the inside edge properly, either forwards or backwards; it is generally hurried and slurred over by those who think they will become good skaters more readily by practising the outside and excluding the inside edge.

By and by, however, when they advance in skill,

and become aware that several parts of fine movements consist of the inside edges, they are unable to participate in them with the ease of others who have adopted a more systematic way of learning. It is of the last importance that the skater should ground himself thoroughly in the method of getting impulse by the changes of the feet and body on the inside, as well as afterwards on the outside. edge, as this will enable him to develop all the resources of his art when keeping up long and difficult figures, instead of coming to an inglorious standstill in consequence of inability to make use of the despised inside edge. We are afraid the inside edge is only known to very many skaters as forming the concluding part of their figure 3, which we call 3 C. Why, we are not surely debarred from it because we can skate it per se!

We freely admit that there is greater beauty in the outside, yet we contend that the sideways attitude gives the inside a totally different aspect to that which it has when done "full front;" in fact, causing it to approach at once by a giant stride to the outside, and but slightly in arrear of its merits as a "thing of beauty." It is the miserable attitude generally given to it that has brought it down so low in skating estimation, and rendered it thereby hitherto so little serviceable to figuring. The inside edge has generally been learnt with the body full front, the unemployed leg suspended out at the side, and ready to be used as a prop (which, in truth, it really appears to be), whilst both knees