The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-08-19

O.ong Branch Letter to the Indianapoli
JournaI.)


Journal.)
About I011 o'clock the white flag is rails
ell, which Is the signal for bathing. when
preparations for that rare sport are immedi-
ately commenced, and small parties start
for the booths on the beach; these booths
are mere board houses, about four feet
square, just large enough for well-deveI-
oped crinoline to get in. They resemble
pig-pens more than dressing-rooms for la
dies and gentlemen, but they are all alike,
and answer the purpose. You will see
fashion4bly attired lady or gentleman enter
one of these narrow dens, and in few mo-
ments emerge minus all the ''toggery'' that
contributes TO make up the inviting exterior
clad In a flannel jacket and pants, the latter
oming only 70 the ankle. generally in their
bare feet, with an old straw hat tied down
in the most ludicrous and unInViting man
ner, 70 prevent the wearers froIa being sum
burned, the reflection of the sun on the wa
ter being quite severe. Bathers WI en- dress
ed for the bath, all look alike; but those clad
in such meager habiliments for the first
time are generally nervous, and act very
much as If they were ashamed of them
selves and glance down at their pants, es-
pecially II they are ladies. in manner that
is highly amusing to all veteran salts. They
venture In the water cautiously and not
unlike young ducks, but, finally, after being
bufteted and tossed about by the surf for a
half hour or so, they Invariably put on bold
lace and march out of the water as if they
Here is an excellent opportunity for a sim
gle gentleman fundamentally inclined to see
what amount of frauds there are upon the
market. The young lady who NAV aDDear
to possess handsome figure, and is ALWAYS
gotten up on the expensive principle, with
profuslon OF false hair, hoops, pads, and
all the parqphernalia known to female peni-
us and penetration, may prove to be a mere
skeleton when she is disentangled and ex-
tricated from the mysterious and complica-
ed concerns which surround her. While
upon the other hand, if the lady is inclined
to enbohpotm ana Is laced up daily with a
block and tackle in order to make her waist
appear small, or compress her proportions
into an unreasonably small quantity of dry
goods, the fact will reveal itself the moment
she is well saturated with the surf She can
take none of her "make-up'' into the water
with her. The ocean is honest. While the
bathing-dress viii not adhere to the skin. 1t
will do SO readily to any other substance.
like q corset Orr shan't tell what else for
the reason that / am not du fait In such m at
tiers. But the woman is before Won. devoid
of all deformities, and you can form an ade-
quate idea OF what you will be called upon
TO disburse Your stamps for, should YOU en-
ter into matrimonial alliance with her. 1t
would be great consolation to know these
things in advance. The water is a great
leveler of distinction. 1t treats all Of it's
patrons precisely alike; the rich and the
poor, the strong and the weak, are all swav-
ed to and fro, knocked down or thrown upon
the beach by its resistless waves, as If thew
were mere blocks of wood. Every one is in
the best of humor. and if any unlueky nov
ice in sea bathing should swallow a mouth
ful of salt water and stop to cough and the
succeeding wave take him amidships. and
send him sprawling toward the shore. his
mouth wide open, to reeeivea fresh supply
the crowd, as well as the hundreds on the
beach, will shout with delight