Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-08-28
Indecency 81 the sea.sIde.

For several years past, the 0bserper
has steadfastly eensured the indecency
which charscterizes the conduct Of but
too many of the visitors at the watering
places at this season Of the year. 1t
was to have been hoped that the numer-
Gus complaints made through the me
dunn Of the press, would have taught
quasi ladies and gentlemen better man
ners. In some localities the authorities
have endesvored 10 keep the visitors
within the limits of propriety; but, as
rule, deaf ear has been turned to all
remonstrances, and the scenes now daily
Witnessed are as bad as ever. This is
very extraordinary. It is the boast Of
Englishmen that we are a more moral
people than any other The Court Of
Divorce has, however, unfortunately
drawn aside the veil, and exposed q sad
number Of exceptions. Still, under or
dinary circumstances, English ladies
and gentlemen apparently keep them
selves within the limits of propriety
Not so, however, at waterihg-piacea
In these places, no sooner do they ar
rive than they seem to give up their del
corum with their railway or boat ticket,
and to adopt practices which at home
they would almost shudder to read Of
We do not wish to be ungallaut, but the
truth compels as to confess that at bath
ing-places the ladies are worse than the
gentlemen. They set the example, and
it IL, therefore, not surprising il gentle
men follow it. Why it should be so, We
cannot imagine. Parents, as a rule,
are especially careful as to the character
of the schools to which they send their
daughters, and of the acquAintances
they make. Married ladies at home are
models Of propriety, and set their child
rem excellent examples. At the sea-
seem to change, and they appear to vie
with their daughters as 10 who shall ex-
ceed the bounds of propriety.
Take, for instance, the case Of Mar
gate. This favorate. place of Cockney
resort is israpidly filing with visitors, and
soon scarcely lodging win be vacant
There, unblushingly, ladies and gentle
men bsthe almost Indiscriminately, for
the distance which separates the gentle
ilemen's bathing machines and the la
dies is more In imagination than reaIi-
ty. The men gambol in the water near
~ in natures garb, and the ladies,
although they wear bathing dresses,
conduct themselves as If they felt these
dresses to be an incumberance Lsdies,
at all events outwardly so, do not seem
to consider that they outrage decorum
By viewing from the pier and beach,
through opera glasses, the antics Of nude
gentlemer. We are not prudists, and
do not profess to be mere moral than
other people, bat we must confess that
We can not help blushing at the bare
faced eondnet Of certain portion OF
/ our ceantryEomen. Would any lady
have the hardihood to 60 into HYDE.
Park, either in the morning or evening,
when men and boys are bathing in tie
/ Serpentine, aud watch them through
race and opera glasses? We do not be-
Eeve that any lady, with any pretensions
90 character, would dream Of so miseon-
Quoting herself How lit, then, a lady,
modest and retiring in London, becomes
braxen and bold at hargrate? 1t is an
enigma which We confess We. can not
solve; bat the facts are patent to al who
viii not wilfully close their eyes TO the
/ scenes that are going on around them.
But there arises this question also, are
the ladies and gentlemen only IN fault ?
We think not The local authorities
have much to answer for IN this respect.
Families visit watering places during
the hot season for the purpose Of bath
ing, ard they must either adopt the IA
cilIties afforded for bathing, or forego
the luxury altogether. The local az
thorisles, We are ready to adnit can not
make ladies' or gentlemen moral or mod
est ous they can, and ought TO arrange,
the bathing so that a really modest
woman shonld not be compelled to have
her sense Of propriety shocked. Surely
AZ Margate there is plenty Of space at
certain times Of the tide where all psr.
| ties might .snioy the luxury of a sea
bath ARa az RaoA aisiAHee from one