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The sketch from which we this week publish an engraving is accom panied by a letter which explains and illustrates it: The writer says :— ** Sleighing has been so frequently described that I will not bore you with a repetition; and skating is too well known to need any description. ‘Coasting,’ however, is but little known, I fancy; indeed, even in Halifax, it is fast becoming a thing of the past, and only remembered as a general amusement by some of the oldest inhabitants.ven the small boys, now almost all only supporters, are obliged to confine their erratic movements to out-of-the-way places and retired hills. For merly, probably, ere ‘ Old Chebruto’ (the Indian name for Nairfax) could boast a single policeman, they used to ‘ coast’ down the various hilly streets’ leading from the citadel to the sea-shore. Many accidents occurred in their terrific descents from the heights above, generally from coming in contact with pageing sleighs, or foot-passengers that crossed them in the streets running at right angles. A boy has been known to shoot between the legs of a horse as it was passing, being unable to stop himself or change his direction; another fairly carried an old lady down to the foot of the hill by catching her between the legs with his head, and continuing his journey with his fair outrider. The old lady having recovered from the first surprise of this unexpected and novel mode of conveyance, held the unfortunate charioteer by the hair, and We laboured him most unmercifully until she reached the ter minus, a deep snow-bank. Although, I believe, coasting is still carried on in Canada, the ‘blue-noses’ are beginning to look upon it with a degree of coldness. I however, I managed to see a little of it, and right good fun it was too; it did away with all stiffness and formality in a very short time. One had not much time to think of proprieties, when descending a steep hill covered with ice, at a pace that almost took away one's breath, and, as it frequently happened, a capsize at the foot of it. ‘This, however, was a trifle; up you jumped, shook yourself, dusted off the superfluous snow from the ‘sharer of your fate,’ and dragging the ‘coaster’ to the summit, prepared for another flight; the manner of which was as follows:—the gentleman seated himself in front, saddlewise, his legs extended on either side, and guiding his sledge with his feet; the lady sits close behind, holding on by the gentleman's waist. The descent for the first few yards was slow; gradually the pace quickened, until at last it became fast and furious ; and if the path was clear and free from sharp and broken pieces of crust, you effected your descent in safety; but if unfortunately there was such a spot, your feet caught, a cloud of dry snow flew in your face, and over you went. A smothered shriek from your fair companion, who was half- busied in the snow, yourself on your back, and the coaster, continuing its unguided course, like an engine off the rails without its driver, until it was brought to at the foot of the hill by a snow-bank on the opposite side of the road. You were then convinced that, like Phieton, you had miscalculated your powers. It may appear ungallant, but these mishaps were not always the result of accident; but the course of coasting, like true love, does not (nor should it if you want excitement) always run smooth.Having re-captured your fugitive conveyance, you drag it to the top of the hill, and try again, ee it would be difficult to describe in words the excitement of this amusement. At starting, you feel a little nervous; then, as the pace quickens, your pulse rises, till at length, when, in the midst of your wild career, you are prepared to go at a five-barred gate—should you come across one. Indeed, this is not altogether fancy; for at the foot of the glacis of the citadel (a favourite place for coasting, vide oketch), there is a railing that divides it from the road, which being buried in snow, the top is on a level with the railway, but still separated from it, by a space of about two feet, occasioned by the joint influence of wind, and the radiation of heat from the wood, as may be frequently seen along the bottom of a wall, after a fall of snow accompanied by wind. This rail the more expert ‘ coasters’ will sometimes fly, continuing their course for some distance on the level ground beyond. Another way of adding to the excitement, was by placing a large log across the descent, which, when covered by snow, of course left sort of mound; now if you came down the hill at a good pace, and crossed this, you experienced a bump which obliged you to hold on like grim death, and you congratulated yourself, and thought yourself clever, if you were not spilt. Altogether, if this is carried out, as it generally is, on a fine, bright moonlight night, and or are warmly clad in furs, c., with a pretty and agreeable partner ehind you, it is an amusement not to be despised, and adds in a very great degree to while away some of the long, cold days and nights of the still lower winters of ‘ Old Cuehruto,’
Newspaper Details
Illustrated Times
London, Middlesex, GB
Sat, Mar 12, 1859
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
David S.
CA 17 Apr 2026
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