Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-07-18
0Norcester Daily Spp.

LADIES SWIMMING SCHOOL IN Paris
Quarnier's Swimming School for Ladies' opens
in the month of May, and it is difficult to i'm
agine more novel or prettier scene than it
presents on warm AFTERNOON. Neither at
concert, race, nor ball, i'll Paris, have beheld
so many beautiful faces as at this school one
reason, perhaps, being that many girls from
ten to fifteen are visitors to the bath, who are
excluded by their age from sharing in public
amusements.
The young ladies of the arstocratic Fa-
bourg, st. German, the daughters of the
wealthy 'fiuanciers," the families attached to
the Emperor, all meet here, with the same IN
tention-namely, to SWIM and all who are
able. gambo race and laugh in the water for
getful of party and social distinctions. The
costume is generally of some dark material,
gaily trimmed with red or blue worsted bind
ing which does not lose its color. The upper
part of the dress resembles a boys blouse !;
the lower, pair of trowsers. 1t is all in one,
and tunic is sewn to the waist and falls to
the knee. Some of the girls go i'll without any
kind of head dress beyond their own fine hair
neatly plated; others wear nets of gay colors,
or of a slightly netted scarlet or blue scarf
neatly arranged.
A basin about $50 or 100 feet long, and about
% or 30 feet broad, is surrounded by broad
platform, enclosed by the dressing rooms and
sClSShCu dIh6 lTOul lle sun anu from PUBIC
observation by an awning stretched over ALL
The machine is so arranged that the powerful
current of the Seine rushes through it /; it is
IN fact, large cage sunk to the required
depth.
The part of the basin which is from four to
five feet deep, is crossed by bridge, and the
smaller portion thus indicated is used by those
who wish to battle only, Or who are not suffi-
GENTLY good swimmers to exercise as yet in
the larger one. But the large basin is the CEN
tire of attraction. AT the end where the water
is deepest, flights of steps lead down for those
who like to swim smoothly and quietly off ;
but far the greater number prefer leapng in,
either from the platform, or from the little fan
citul construction, half arch halt temple, rails
ed at the end of it, and which gives descent
any height you please-between ten and thir-
ty feet-to the surface of the water.
Fearless, gay, and graceful, they plunge be-
meath the flood to reappear almost instantly,
gliding down the stream without any apparent
effort; floating, swimming ON the back &C.,
vary the amusements, which more than hun
dred ladies may be seen sharing together,
their evolutions being watched and stimulated
by as many lockers on-their mothers and fe-
male friends who are seated around. Little did
think, when | inscribed myself on M. Quar-
nier's list, that should be hung on hook at
the end of line, and then thrown into the wa
ter with directions to initiate frog to the best
of my ability it was even so.
dear, how helpless you feel how you
wish you had never thought of learning to
swim! But you are ashamed to say so; you
know you cannot be drowned the man ad.
justs his line nicely to the level of the water,
you feel quite sure OF that. So he counts,
Gone, two, three" and you perform froggy
awkwardly enough, putting out your hands
when you ought to keep them in, stretching
your arms forward when they ought to be close
to your body, kicking in anything but measur-
ed cadence, and getting good mouthfu, not.
withstanding you, silly creature, stiHen your
neck, and try to keep your head up by that
means. That ends the first lesson.
After two or three lessons more, you swim
off from the steps at the end, where the water
is deepest the man on the platform preceding
you with pole, as you attempt to make your
way down the large basin. This large basin
is constantly watched either by Quarnier him
self Or by the swimming master These are
the only individuals of the male sex ever pres
emit Madame Quarnier is, as may be expect
ed, perfect swimmer, and takes an active in
terest in all the proceedings.