In a message dated 1/6/2001 9:27:38 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< My Aunt Still Got the 1927 Noble Pile in Kansas City, Missouri -
 but I got the sled >>

Who won?  And whose taxes are lower?

I should think that the waxing of metal runners has more protective benefit
for the runners than it has speed benefit for the sledders.  Which might
explain why the wax is still there, and why the runners are still there
underneath the wax; doesn't the friction of the runners melt the snow/ice a
little bit, and the sled actually runs on a thin, narrow film of water, or
does that just work for ice skates?  Or does it work for ice skates,
Zambonis, etc?.

Caveat Lector: The above extremely definitive information comes from a Native
(southern) Californian whose flexible flyer had wheels on it for year-round
use,  as opposed to one of our Northern Tier types (whaddaya say, ][<anuck
][<en from Up Near Ithaca?) who lived all his/her life in this miserable,
initially white, but rapidly turning gray coating  and may think there is
some benefit (cultural or otherwise) to be gained by freezing your ass off,
skiing into trees, etc.

Ralph

PS--Nice piece on the Sloane house; let us pray that your woids of
encouragement may have a salutary effect on whoever buys the place.  Maybe
you could trade in the sled?