ed: I was asked to an 'ice-hill party' while I was in St.
Petersburg some years ago. I have always wondered, since, whether the
rascally British residents out there give their ice-hill parties only
when there is a beginner about; certainly the poor wretch must be one of
the main attractions; there was another visitor besides myself, I
remember, that night, and I really don't think I ever laughed quite so
much in my life as I did when he made his first few descents. We were
quits, of course, for my antics were just as ridiculous to him. At these
parties there are generally a few skilful exponents, who show off fancy
ways of going down, and so easy does the thing appear when demonstrated
by them, that the beginner is not greatly alarmed by the prospect before
him.

The platform at the top of the hill is roofed and walled round, and has
room for seats for spectators. There is something hot for them to drink,
and I should say that when there are beginners about, these spectators
must spend a remarkably pleasant evening, for the hot drinks and the
exercise of laughing over the misfortunes of innocent strangers serve
excellently to keep the cold out, and the scene is really extremely
pretty. The 'runs' are outlined by rows of Chinese lanterns hung upon
slender posts; they must not be too thick because of the limbs of the
beginners, which are likely to make very intimate acquaintance with
them, and even beginners must be treated with a certain amount of
consideration. There are a few snow-covered trees showing like ghosts,
here and there, in the semi-darkness, and all the snow which has fallen
during the season upon the ice-runs is swept to either side, and left in
a continuous heap or bank all along. This, too, is an arrangement made
to let down the beginner easily.

They took me, with my fellow-victim, to the top of the hill, and placed
us in seats upon the platform; they spoke bracingly and gave us good
advice; they described the delight of the experience before us--the
fascination of flying through the air, bird-like; some one said it was
'the very poetry of motion'; no one mentioned that there was much prose
to be gone through before one could hope to become one of the poets of
motion.

'Let's see how it's done,' said my fellow-victim, a man called Watson,
'and then I will have a shot.'

I congratulated myself that Watson intended to try the thing before me,
but I congratulated myself too soon. The skilled exponent, s