The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-08-19
Bathing at Newport.

The Home Journal says, among our varied
correspondence this week, lady sends us a
spicy sketch of her experience:
To one accustomed only to sea-bathing in
smooth water and in quiet, retired spot the
sound of the surf rolling and breaking. the
sight OF the promiscuous crowd on the beach
and IN the water. are nearly enough to make
one change his mind about taking a bath, but
the temptation proving irresistible to try it
for once, you proceed to join the throng.
The modus operandi is this You are shown
into one OF the fifty pgeOn-like houses, which
you find large enough to turn round in clever
ly. and furnished with looking-glass. and hay
ing most sensibly left all superfuities of cos
tune at your hotel quarters, you proceed to
array yourself in bathing costume. dla Bloom
er, then cautiously opening the door look for
a chance to dodge the carriages on the beach
start, until sight of your bare feet in such an
assembly scareS you back but the only way
Is to pull your straw hat down over your face
ana run as last as your feet can carry You till
you plunge INTO the water you are then one
OF crowd. Now give yourself up to the ey-
hllarating enjoyment Of bath in the surf. on
beach OF firm white sand, without pebble or
shell to hurt the most delicate foot. Watch
the white crested waves as chasing each other
they come toward you, growing higher and
higher, until with gentle Obeisance YOU receive
their embrace but beware (unlcss supported
by strong army lest you loose your footing.
and Tor moment imagine yourself carried out
to sea, you startle with loud shrieks the nvmphs
and nalads who are sporting in the waves
around you, though it is a fight of poetic fam
cy to trace any resemblance between the habi-
tue OF a watering place, dressed as it may be
In yellow flannel. with tresses carefully looped
up under an oiled silk cap and naad and |
wonder SO many youthful beauties are willing
to abide so severe test.
1t is all very delightful while in the water.
but, oh dear the coming out part is horrid
Hat slouched dOwn-clothes clinging-water
dripping, and carriages filled with people
dressed so nicely, are driven along the beach,
while you, poor soul, thinking of the run to the
dresslng-hOuSe, find you have forgotten which
one Is yours. all looking alike, and with only
iofty.hne chances out of fifty against your 60
ing right, make rush towards the one you
nope is yours, having forethought enough to
choose tnose which, having pals of water be-
SiuG 'hc aoor, you know are waiting for return
batherS) push the door gently omen, find nh
horrors you are wrong trying another and
another In despair, feeling all the while rs if
up Tor exhibition, until at last to YOUR great
JOY! you ma your own when drawing in your
pail OF water to wash the sand from your feet
You hastily unrobe and emerge with the happy
consciousness that not one Of the many stran-
gers around you can trace any resemblance be-
tween you and the forlorn-ooking creature SO
lately suing in vain for admission at so MANY
doors.
/ have read of susceptible youths falling in
love in the surf at Newport, but if the young
ladies look as they did when ] made my debut,
l can only say that were | a Celebes in search
of wife, it is the last place l would go to
look for one.