ICE SPORTS.
Ice Sports. Edited by B. F. Robinson. (Ward, Lock, and Co. 5s.)—The best chapters in this new volume of the "Isthmian Library" are those on "Tobogganing" and "Curling." We would that those on " Speed-skating" had been longer. One would like to have heard more about skating on the Dutch canals and the Friesland meres. Mr. T. A. Cook's " Tobogganing " is very complete with its plans of the runs at St. Moritz, illustra. tions of attitudes, and measurements of toboggans. Of course, the same objection can be urged against the specialised toboggan- ing of Switzerland as pertains to all highly developed and localised pastimes. The tiro is a nuisance. This volume is ostensibly written for him, but nevertheless in this pastime, as in tennis, though not so much, he is in the way. Remarkable, too, is the fallacy, which exists in all enthusiasts, that their own pastime is not expensive. Skating alone among ice sports is the simplest and most natural and least expensive, and surely there is no finer way of keeping the cold out than a long run. Bandy is not ruinously extravagant, we will allow, but we cannot all play hockey on the ice. It is the fastest game known, for you do not have to change ponies as at polo, or rest with the frequency lacrosse requires ; the pace is made for you. For the pleasure of reading we prefer the "Curling" article with its humorous chat ; it has the real atmosphere of the game about it. The " Sledging " chapter is very disappointing and short, awl below the average of the others. If this is all Captain Ferrand has to tell us, his views are somewhat narrow. He ignores & whole continent, for the Americans and Canadians do know some- thing about it. Dog-sleighing does not come under his notice at all. We fancy, too, that what records there are will be found in the Western Hemisphere. This is the only weak chapter in an excellent volume, which we may heartily commend to lovers of frost and cold.
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