New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-22
IN THE WATER OF THE SEINE.


IN THE WATER OF THE SEINE.
PARTISAN BATHING PIACEs-How THE FRENCH SWIM
MING-MAsTER STIMULATES HIS PUPIIs-A VISIT
TO CHAToN-A FREE AND EASY ISLAND AND A
JOYOUS PEOPLE.
IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIDUSEl
PARIS, Aug. 25-I think the French swim
mng-maser overdoes his business and indeed this holds
good of the general teaching Of athletic exercises in
France In fencing the tongue OF the master is active
as his sword with his "pay attention." "look me in
the eve" press" attack" courage" "nOw for it,
'lungew This called stimulating the pupil, and IL
used also in the water. broad band encircles the
upper part OF the pupils body to which is attached
rope held by the master gallery nine or ten feet
above the water in which the learner is immersed As
soon as the tyro gets into the water. or rather
is let down into 1t, the teacher, habted nau-
teal costume OF the Opera COmique, comprising
ribbons and sash, starts off with q series OF
orders like a drill-sergeant putting squad of
raw recruits through the preliminary movements.
Are you ready down there 2" is the first speech adj
dressed to the tremuous yOungser below, whose UNI
certain affirmative is the signal for running fire OF in
sructions EcOutezDiO ben jeune hODime: rGSseD6lez
pous; lerez Ia Ce; regardec drant cesi celia; main
tenant partez! Ola Ia! &c NEST pas eeLa reeomenoOHs;
r0a e, arant partezl Tres ben eedrtez les jdDbeS;
pariez! Zdti Quel fascoi Encore; ua deur Encore
an detr- Reposo,S nous Instant JeHe h0mBe vous
frites nm progres tres sensible Here the in Opera
CONTINUE costume looks he had done his duty nobly
and deserved well of his country. asked him why he
did not put the young ON the end OF board and
LET him strike for himself "What" said he OF the
gala garments aud have him humping against all the
clients OF the establishment with his board" Swim
ming has always been taught in this way, and people
must to according to the regulations OF the
establishment.
fresh
finger without knowing it. of the characteristics
Of the French nation-the love Of administration and
the absence Of initiative. Thus the lad must
he herpessed up in belt and rope and made learn
according 10 rule, with the sacramental det,
deur and the rest OF IT. Besides, he does not take 10
the water kindly he becomes excited swallows water,
has ft of coughing, and as soon rs he RECEIVERS his
voice the first he makes OF il is TO call the man
overhead 20 pull him up, who does it with shrug and
nom dun CHEN But when the FreDehman has once
learned to 20 through the water he derives much
Measure from it, he does nom every other act OF
life from which II is possible TO extract enjoyment
In the great bathing-houses of the Seine he
drapes himself in his peigRoir-a white muslin
cown-and basks in the one of the benches look
ing down into the water, where he himself for
a few minutes IN watching others disDoring; then he
throws off his petgoir and leaps into 1t himself The
same polteness exists in the water as on land If his
feet craze fell0w-swimmer he asks pardon IL under
the water he bumps against MN nc uakes the proper
amend as soon as his mouth rises above the waerline.
lie is capable OF submarine bow. He seldom ever
swms until his fingers wrinkle and his lips blue
another national INSTRUMENTATION in pleasure. Sam
Patches and Byrons are only found In the AngloSaxon
race The Gaul emerging from the water, resumes his
oown lights cigarette. and perhaps drinks sherbet
and lounges about on the benches for few minutes.
collection OF such sheeted figures in different groupings
snopests a tribe OF Bedouns at home on the desert.
This is in the city, where wooden walls surround the
bathing places beyond the city boundaries there Ia
no restriction In the environs provided the caIefoa
rds the loins OF the bather he swim wherever he
One OF these favorte places OF resort is Chaton
abou half an hour by rail into the country and about
ten minutes beyond Bougiral. 1t is uickly wooded
island n the Seine with every description OF small boat
noored on s shores repaired to the place the other
evening about five O'clock when II presented an AMI
mated appearance Several baconied inns IN the woods
were the headquarters OF gaiety Here tgayy habted
eanoiers sang with registering ldsssr dtier the. Fe dc
Badame Angoi accompan ying themselves on the piano,
and the chorus, bringing everything INTO requiston
nnder hand canes forks or umbrellas. In the inn at
the waterside my Gahe companion disappeared In one
of the small rooms TO reappear in his costume OF bather
soft white robe with blue border, covered his body.
and brighty.trmmed straw hat crowned him. At
firing myself In ike costume repaired 10 the water
side 10 the boat Of my companion. which was lying well
m ON the shore stout young woman came 20 his aid
n showing the boat the water. During the opera
non he threw of his gown and thus appeared only In
eacon, at which the young woman manifested no sur
prise on my remarkiDg 10 him, when were out In
the river that she taken his nudity u matter OF
course he said that the idea had occurred To him
be,ore- FOR bis part he did not any improperly 10
tie proeseding and added that If the boatwonen Iook