Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-26
BATHING IN NORTH CAROLINA.

barbarian in the Wilmington Herald, who
1t seems, Is resting at some Ocean House on
that coast, there beheld we quote the savage's
own words
" A troop of savages, resembling in appear
ance the Esquimaux Indians, running down
the hill, and making for the breakers. 1t was
impossible TO escape, they were too close upon
us and, II the truth must be told we felt Gu
nous, after the first surprise was over, to see
the ending of this strange adventure.
Here they came, clad in the strangest STYLES
OF costume, skipping along and running like so
many sea-chickens to the beach for second
glance showed that they were diminutive in
size, and that their strength lay in their weak
ness. Soon they reached the water. and i'm a
trice were tumbling and tossing about in the
waves. Impelled by strange curiosity, what
could we do but follow? Naturally difident
and retiring, it required an effort to play at
hide and seek in the waves with the Esqumaux,
albeit they had left their tomahawks and ar
rows on shore; but, as the first plunge in cold
bath Is everything so, with the dash of the first
wave, We were among them. Gods we soon
began to like the sport. The Esquimaux were
friendly for, occasionally taking one of them
by the hand, We found it soft and pleasant to
the touch; and, when n big wave would come.
and our arm would, of its own accord, slip
around the waist to support an Indian who
seemed incapable for the nonce of standing nm
against the volume Of water, a sort of electric
thrill, it the chilliness of the water or
what was 1T it!-would creep through our frame
as though we had been struck by gal-vanic
battery.
There was fresh breeze landward, and the
waves tumbled in finely. So did we ali. Lifted
up occasionally off our footing by full-grown
blllow, we would be tossed and whirled over
and under among beyy Of half-smothered Es-
qulmaux; while an animated contest was going
on between the advancing wave and the rece-
ding undertow, as to which should have the
party; and heads were bobbing up and down.
and feet and arms were alternating above and
below the surface. The Indians presented a
moist appearance, in their grotesque costume
and laughed merrily and loud when a sudden
blllow would roll them, like sea shells, upon
the shore, twisting, turning and dashing them
in all directions
We found out, after a while, that we were
enjoying the luxury of a sea bath with the girls,
those bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked, insinuatinp.
irresistible enigmas.
Oh! We bachelors who live in the interior.
you do not know what sport Is. You never
had the good luck, just as the sun is sinking
IN the west, to 60 into the foaming waves with
pretty cousin, who required, Of course, all
your sustaining power to breast the surge No.
you never had. Just think Of it, You take
her hand and put an arm around her waist,
and you are prepared for the wave. Let it
come. If you can stand ii, well and good.
Ii you are rolled over, q la cirque, in a series
OF somersaults, twitched here and there, tossed
up on the beach, and then dragged back again,
and rise half drowned but together-what bet.
ter fun can there be? Your cousin believes
In you for the time being and if you should
press her hand or her waist tightly-what mat
ter tits a necessary precaution. Look like
drowned rats, you say. Very we'll, sir, 1 give
you over as hard case.