Show WHOLE REGIMENT ON SKATES use them in their winter 14 norway I 1 jorwa y during a considerable portion 1 or of the year Is covered with snow and her winters winter which in fit other oilier coun conn 1 1 tries talc s are arc of short dur duration atlon extend to ie five or six months and antor in the mc t northern parts to a longer long period during alil i time it Is impossible able to leave the beaten roads for thep uIse nt at least of traveling find and when fresly enow dw happens to fall even the nl ni catlon ly by means me ans of them la is stopped IlI until kllc sledging Is a able ble to be continued by means of n 11 machine which liy by being dragged by horses along the road restores the former track by clearm cloa rug away the snow in pirt and flattening find and leveling the remainder the thinness lio however aver of the population widely scattered over such an immense extent of territory renders it lit in many places impossible to keep heep the roads open by those these means mean it liia witt iral then that tho Norwegian should devise some mode 1 by v which to leave his hut but generally removed from roads and traverse the forests forest in various directions ions with sufficient fent celerity to follow the chase his favorite occupation o I for or this purpose ho he devised the ski skies or snow sh skates ates which consist of two thin narrow pieces of fir of unequal lengths the foremost part pare being point ed cd and turned t upward the longest which measures about I 1 seven feet Js is used on the left foot a and nd the other which is about two feet shorter on the right the latter Is called aanden from the right foot being abed more than the left aily in turning ill both skated skate sare arc about three indies inches in iii width and an inch in thickness in ili the enter center where the foot f 00 t is 13 1 3 placed which is firmly bound to the skie by ick loops aps itt at the side hide made of wl willow wallo llo or the fiber of fir roots to which are fastened leather thongs the skies ski es are smeared with tar or pitch and the under side Is hollowed in the center into a groove to prevent their slipping laterally and to enable the sk leloN r or skater to keep a straight course the arms of the skie lobor luber were a rifle ille to which was attached a broad bro d leathern strap passing over the shoulder and a short sword ile he carried with him besides a stiff staff token seven feet in length and rather more than an inch in diameter this which was held lit n his right hand was armed fit at one end with an iron spike and above it was placed a circular piece of wood the use of the former was to penetrate the bozen snow and of the latter to prevent the staff sinking in ili giving thus a firm support to the bearer the tok or ski estay tay as it was called was likewise as has been before observed of considerable use to the skie lober in enabling him to moderate his speed make certain wheels and preserve the necessary balance during the descent of steep s the skie lober to the skate exercise united that of the ordinary or light troops of which it constituted a part and it performed all the duties differing from them only in marching on skates which gave it a very great superiority the skie lober moved with singular agility and from the depth of snow were safe from eiery pursuit of cavalry cavelry or infantry on the other hand they could attack the column ou on march and harass them ince incessantly on both sides of the road without incurring any danger to themselves cannon shot produced little effect against them dispersed as they were at the distance of or paces and their movements movement were so BO rapid that at the very fu instant stane you would expect to see them a second time they had already disappeared to reappear again in a quarter where you were not the least aware of them th ahk real superiority of the skating soldiers however was chiefly shown when the enemy halted after a long march whatever wh at ie er precautions might then be taken they were in constant danger from troops which had no occasion for path or road and traversed with indifference marshes in lakes rivers and mountains enen een in those parts where the ice fee was waa too feeble to bear the weight of a man the glided safely over by tho the mere rapidity of his motion |