“ In a land which can be inundated in a few hours a sharp winter brings the best of skating to everybody’s door. Skating is, indeed, almost the only violent exercise for which the Dutchman has any liking; and in the winter he holds high carnival on the ice. The number of skating-clubs between Northern Brabant and Groningen is infinite; but it is in the provinces north of the Zuyder Zee — Friesland and Groningen — that the best skaters are to be found. These are the classical training-grounds of the Dutch ice-artists. ”

“ The champions of the respective clubs go into training as severely as professional pedestrians and bicyclists. For a week or eight days before the competition they live quietly and sparingly and drink but little schnapps. This abstinence from the national beverage, with its flavor of common gin in which a warm candle-end has been actively stirred, must be a severe trial to a well-regulated Dutch constitution - During the octave of training the champion does very little work, abandons himself to repose, and, oddly enough, appears but rarely on the ice. ”

“ Holland is the paradise of skaters. In that odd country, "where up trains run on the down line, and the cows are tied to the ceiling by their tails," a great many things go by contraries; and skating is one of them. ”

“ On the competition days the ice is reserved, during specified hours, to those who pirouette on skates for pelf.
The best skaters, and those who carry away the largest number of prizes, are usually crack members of crack clubs. As soon as the competitions and the value of the prizes are announced, the clubs scrutinize the lists and decide what prizes their members shall compete for. Those who are to represent the club are of course chosen for their skill; each society is therefore certain of being represented by its best men. ”

“ The weary waiting for a black frost to solidify the waters of deep lakes and treacherous ponds, which in England tantalizes the possessor of "Acmes," prevents his sleeping o' nights, and drives skate-makers to suicide, is to the Hollander an unknown mortification. ”

“ In the morning the "society" people disport themselves; in the afternoon come the tradesmen and their wives; while in the evening the ice is crowded with work-people and others whose business allows them no liberty till then. ”

“ Directly the ice is sufficiently thick (this winter it has sometimes not been more than three or four inches, owing to the impatience of skaters to be "at it," but it is usually much denser) a number of workmen are told off to keep it clear of snow, should any fall, and to sweep it carefully at frequent intervals. Then begin a succession of skating competitions. These competitions are got up by the local skating club; sometimes they are international, but clubs and individuals are constantly competing among themselves. ”

“ When there is likelihood of a frost, the only thing necessary to secure a good "surface" is to open the sluices used for irrigation and inundate the great flat meadows. The operation is superintended by representatives of the skating-clubs in the neighborhood. ”

“ As all the expenses of the representatives to, from, and during a competition are paid by the club, the rank and file of the members have an inducement to excel likewise; for it is possible in this way to obtain a good many pleasant holidays in the course of a winter without spending anything. The money won becomes the property of the club ”