How to Become a Skater

Annotation

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. In 1878 George Smart, otherwise known as Fish Smart, com menced a string of victories which made him famous at home and abroad. During '79, '80 and '81 he won no less than fifty five races, never once suffering defeat, although meeting such cracks as Harrison, Carter, Hawes and G. See. But the most memorable race ever held was brought off at Mepal, on Decem ber 18, 1878. Among the competitors were William Smart and G. (gutta Percha) See, with two other young skaters, who subsequently became prominent, George Smart, Turkey's nephew, and George See, Gutta Percha's son. In the first heat the veterans, Turkey and 'gutta Per cha, succeeded in defeating their opponents, but by a singular stroke of luck, were pitted against each other in the second round. Gutta Percha won this event by a close shave. This was followed by another sensational contest, for in the third round Gutta Percha had to run against his own son. A scene of indescribable excitement prevailed when, in spite of Gutta Percha's greatest efforts, his son brought him home the oft repeated adage, Youth will be served. In the meantime George Smart, Turkey's nephew, had vanquished all his opponents, which made him entitled to meet young See in the final. He won easily, and thereby commenced the rank which he was to hold among skaters for more than a decade afterward.