Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-07-13
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY IL. 1859


LADIES SWIMMING SCHOOL IN PARIS.
Quarnier's Swimming School for Ladies
opens in the mouth Of May, and it Is difficult
to imagine more novel or prettier scene than
it presents ON a warm afternoon. Neither NJ
concert, race, nor ball in Paris, have L De
held 9, many beautiful faces rs ut tins sch.oi'
one reason, perhaps, being that many el.'S
from ten to fifteen are visitors tothe patn' VINO
are excluded by their age, from sharing IN
public amusements. ,
The Young ladies of the aristocratlc Eau
honro St I,ermain, the daughters Of the
wealthy "financiers," the families attached to
the Emneror, all meet here with the same
intention-namely, to swim; and all who are
able, gambol, race and laugh in the water.
forgetful of party aud social distinctions.
The costume il generally Ofsome dark mate
rial gaily trimmed with red OF blue worsted
binding, which does not lose it's color. The
upper part of the dress resembles boys
blouse; the lower, u pair Of trousers. It's
all in one, and tunic is sewn TO the waist and
falls to the knee. Some Of the girls 20 in
without any kind Of head dress beyond their
own fine hair, neatly plated; others wear
nets Of gay colors, or n slight Melted scarlet
on blue scarf gracefully arranged.
A basin of about $50 or lGO feet long, and
about 25 or 80 feet broad, surrounded by
broad platform, enclosed by the dressing
rooms and screened alike from the sun and
from public observation by an awning stretch
ed over all. The machine is 50 arranged that
the powerful current of the Seine PUSHES
through it; it is, in fact, Il large cage sunk to
the required depth.
That 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 sufficiently good swimmers to exercise, rs
yet, in the larger one. But the large basin
10 the centre Of attraction. At the end where
the water is deepest, flights Of steps lead
down for those who like to swim smoothly
and quietly of; but far the greater number
prefer leaping in either from the platform, or
from the little fanciful construction, half
arch, half temple, raised at the end of it, and
which gives descent any height you please
between ten and thirty-feet-to the surface
Of the water.
Fearless. gay, and graceful. they plunge
beneath the Hood to reappear almost instant
ly, gliding down the stream without any aP-
parent effort; floating, swimming On the
back, &C., vary the amusements, which more
than hundred ladies may sometimes be seen
sharing together, their evolutions being
watched and stimulated by rs many lockers
on-their mothers and female friends who
are seated around. Little did think, when
INSCRIBED myself on NJ. Quarnier's list. that
should be hung Oh hook ut the end ola
line, and then thrown into the water with
directions to initiate frog to the best Of my
ability; it was even 50.
Odear, how helpless you feel!-how you
wish you had never thought Of learning to
swim! But you are ashamed to say 80; you
know you cannot be drowned; the man ad-
justs his line 50 nicely to the level OF the
water, you feel quite sure Of that. So he
counts, Zone, 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 measured cadence, and getting
good mouthful, notwithstanding you. silly
creature, stiffen your neck, and try to keep
your head up by that means. Thus ends the
FIRST lesson.
After two or three lessons more, you swim
of from the steps at the end, where the wa
ter is deepest, the man on the platform pre-.
ceeding you with a pole, Us you attempt to
make your way down the large basin. This
large basin is constantly watched, either 10y
Qusrnier himself or by the swimming mas
ter. These are the only individuals OF the
male sex over present. Madame Quarnier
10, az may he expected, a perfect swimmer,
and takes an active interest in all the pro-
ceedings.