LONDON'S LATEST CRAZE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 496, 1 May 1909, Page 12

LONDON'S LATEST CRAZE.

. London's latest' craze—roller skating I For some weoks (writes a London correspondent) I hare tad it on the tip of my "Swan" to write upon the topic. As many of my readers know, there is in West Kensington ', a huge arena known as Olympia. This has. in its time,.been used for; many. purposes. • Cast year it : housed an "ideal home!' sxhibition. At other times it has offered an abiding place; to ~the Military Tournament; .It will therefore be plain that Olympia ia of considerable size.' At the end of, last year .; a polished wood floor was laid down in the great-hall, and Olympia opened as a rollerskating rink. The proprietors at once found that ■ a largo demand .existed for. the sport. The first to be bitten with the' new mania were the shop girls. Since then' many society .women have followed the example set by thoso .of lesser ; degree., Something . like 10,000 people, are now visiting Olympia daily. In. the morning, the' learners -hare, their chanco. In the afternoon, society , and ; the stage. •In the evening—a . motley .crowd gathered ..from every quarter west', of Seven Dials. -.- AH are "on the roll," as the slang phrase has it. In fact, "Do yon roll?" is the question of the hour.. If you do not roll, you lack the supreme social cachet. Yon belong to tie multitude which may or may hot be sufficiently up-to-date to be. entertaining. Hero are a few well-known society women, who.'have been, seen' of-.late at .Olympia:— The Duohoss of Bedford, Lady • Evelyn Guiness, Mr. Robert and Lady Juliet Duff (now on their way to - Mexico for, a. little amatenr.- oxploratio^),' : the Maehioness, of Dpnegall,- the Hon.' Sire. Lyridhiiret, Bruce (better known I ,.by .her hom do .theatro, Miss stago has been 'fully as well reyresehted as'society. !