Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-17
To the Sea---NO. 3.

les, we were face to face with the great sea
that never for one moment ceased from beating
the shore since the time when the mountains
stood above the waters" Rocks and hills have
been beaten into fine sand by the waves, CONT
neuts have arose and sunk while the sea alone
has kept it, place during the urcounted cycles
since the morning stars sang together" So it
is the water that is permanent after all; the land
is always changing. 1t is a clear day, the sun
brings no oppressive heat. The very act of in
haling the air from the sea is not only delight,
but the pulse actually beats quicker, and the
whole ply steal system is in a glow of exhilara-
ton like the effect Of some stimulating medicine.
And there can be no doubt that a soiourn upon
the sea shore is great medicine for torpid
liver, and perhaps all bilious complaints We
felt Il force OF this proposition - we gathered
shells along the white sand floor Of Rockaway.
And there are multtudes that seem to partake
the common joy, as they come pouring out of
the long line of hotels that are built on the quiet
waters of the bay, each having little wharf and
plank walk across the narrow neck of land to
the surf The children soon learn to chase the
breakers, following the receding wave and then
running before the next one that comes rolling up
the beach Sometimes larger one would over
This being ON the southern side Of Long Island, it
gets the full force Of the Atlantic with impede
ment this side the South Pole And the under
tow is powerful that tits unsafe to battle outside
1.-THE buoys. one venturer was drowned here only
II few days before, and notice that the bathers
all keep good hold OF the ropes Sometimes we
would notice dozen girls and their fellows " in
n squad where the water was about four feet
deep. First comes a moderate wave up to their
shoulders and they laugh and jump in great glee
The next one brings the water up to their eyes and
they shrek and scream amid the thunders of the
surf as il breaks into foam upon the shore, while
they cling to the ropes for dear life Then comes
the big breaker of all that bures them out
ufsight, and roars along the beach ms they
their breath to repeat the programme. On one
rope we saw two young ladies-we took them to
be school girls from some seminary although
the very picturesque bathing dress, with hat
rim tied down over the ears, does not leave the
distinctness rs to age OF sex, very apparent. The
bathing dress brings upon common level the
" rich and poor to meet together; and God is the
maker of them all The people, lmean, not the
dress Although, doubtless, it might be said that
" solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like
one OF these" Even Adam and Eve cast out OF
the garden in ulster and paletot made from the
skins of beasts, could not have looked more hum
BILE than of these birds stripped of their plum
mage and habited in q bather's suit that seems so
much inclined to clingng" In short, the bath
ing dress can hardly be said to improve the appear
ance of the human form especially those persons
to whom nature has been very generous about the
regions of the abdomen. But these two girls,
from the excess Of their yiyacity could hardly
fail to attract attention They jumped up and
down with great glee, and cared for the big waves
no more than so many ducks. What rosy cheeks
and sparkling eyes must be concealed by those
huge bonnets? And as they come out Of the
water dripping along the path near US, we can see
that their lips fold over toothless gums, and nose
and chin come near enough to crack nuts, They
must be nigh ON to an hundred We gave up any
further speculations But it is pleasant to see
them bathing. 1t is pleasanter to see bathing
than to sea battle The little stockings seemed
to think so when their mothers would strip them
stark naked and carry them into the water kick
Ing and screaming until the roaring wave with its
white ioaming crest would
"Hush their bubbling cry"