Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-07-28
SnortS Of the Surf.

4 lady correspondent, Of the Washington
Union who has been "gong down to sea" at
Capc Island, gives tic following description
Of the cnjoymcuis Of the place
"Thc attendant upon the bath was taking
4 prominent part in the conversation, as usual
while Immediately behind her erouched her
daughter, a negro girl Of twelve or thirteen
years ofagc, laughing, and rolling the white
Of her eyes in ecstasy 4, an that was going
forward. Beside a large tub ofwater in the
centre of the lOor. knel, or sat several ladies
Just from the surf, in al the various stages Of
disroLinr, each in,en, upon her own arrange
ment. and utterly regardless Of what was pass
ing around her Others were preparing for
the bath, laying aside their dresses, or rather
suffer them to bo laid aside by their maids {;
while the latest comcrs were removing their
.hawls and bonncis. and exchanging greet.
inrs " with their acquainiances. For the first
few moments we we're dcalcued and bewldcr'
Ell the sight oi 20 many females only par
TALLY dressed, and tha, in garments perfectly
saturated with sea waicr-lhc busy maids
passing and rcpassing, or drying and combing
inc tie hair uf ihSir mis,rcsscs--lhc snbducd
laughter and whisper OF gossip Of bcyy Of
lonely, chatting girls, murmurinr along in an
urdcr current OF sound-paric' Of romring
children, apparently quite indifferent TO the
dense atmosphere, which made Us struggle
for breath. and to crown an, the sudden burs.
ting forth Of chorus Of girlish voices into
one or ,hc widest, sweetest Of negro melodies
that was caught up and flung back by tie
roar of the waves vithoui--all combined to
form a picture odd indeed.
Following the example Of o,ho-s, wc e'-
changed our double wrappers for 4 wOolen
bathing dress, covered our hair, and with the
friends who had accompanied US, We hastily
made our exit from this crowded nabcl, and
on crossing the threshold, were met by our
male escort equipped fur the sea. The sight
outside that met our vision, vas still more
bcwilJering than the ono wc bad lch.
The sight VI nearly one thousand persons
in various coslumcs-lhc shrill laughing Of
the bl,hors, heard above the roar Of III 6 surf
parties Of children in the arms Of nurses,
struggling for brcalh-thc ladies, many in
wright plaid dresses, with hn'Iiul trimmed
straw hats on their hclds-and, tocnd all tic
appearances olthe balhers as they came out
looking like a congregation Of rcsusciiaied
corpses. fevcrcd into all combine to form
\ pic,nrc like the illusion ola dream almost
leaving the beholjcr in doubt whether that
m which he looks is indeed reality, or the
mere creation Of disicmporcd brain. There
is nothing very exclusive in the bath here
where the belle is placed in juNtaposlilon with
her waitin, maid indeed il would he difficult
to distinguish :hem as no costume in the
world lends itself more readily or more con-
veniently to the purposes Of disguise. One
pcculiarity is the utter disregard Of many OF
the male bathers, being knocked down by the
breakers and drowned. They will move on'
and when warned that they are almost outside
or the breakers, they look as though they
wondered a, the wanion waste Of words be-
slowed upon so insignificant piece OF Inlor
nation. How many ofthese reckless baiher'
escaped downing we cannot take upon our
selves to answer.