The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-08-23
A Maiden's First Bath.

("Gaths" Long Branch Letter to the Graphic
And now it is the bathing hour. Seaside writer's
eXaggerate the habits OF exceptions of society.
There is nothing more interesting than what is
natural here. Take timd young womans first
battle with the breakers-a light built. trailish
chilly creature. She is tempted. after much per
suasion, to put bathing suit, and slyly and
ashamed walks out of the sand startled as
Godiva. Her little feet look accusations to hel
downcast eyes upon such lnlnodesty. Her belt
tied stature, shorn of skirts and in woolels
that reveal every deficiency Of plumpness and al
scrawny places depresses her confidence yet more
The breath OF the air searches out her shining Skin
if the little cupids riding the spray laid claim
to her unseXed She scarce dared look at those
bold. gazing DANES who sit on the dry sands undcl
parasols and seek to penetrate ner utCopnto. Tic
nischievous boys. chasing each Other with naked
legs and lodging around her look formidable as
Arabs hunting slaves for the harem. Then there is
4 man. real man. with pot belly and big. blue
veined feet and lazy, impudent, prying stare
20, Lord, she SAYS, 'let 90 back Its awful
| didn't think it like this. Don't let lis gor
But there is retreat. The cold water touches
her feet and lays its cold clutches about her inste
and deriving audacty enters the trousers, and then
rotously the fringe Of surf leaps and chillS her C
the knee Her breath seems to leave her She
lays hand on the rope and gasps: Il can't stand
it" At this rough, well meaning man throws {;
handful of salt water over her jacket which goes
to the skin. Get out o your pains. he cries
v ltn ftNttcr OF The ncdrt ana Il nervous SptlSn
she runs up on the sands and looks at the sea with
terror and relief Then there are little coaXings
and she ventures i'll again on condition that nobody
approaches her, and once consents to duck to the
neck. Led on by encouragement. She tries the
nearest breaker and pitched headlong. but sustain
ed by the hands OF friend arises dripping from it
as nervous ever. That thing the brcaker) is
terrible believe one more would kill Inc with
the heart disease
The second breaker barely lets the sentence end
and the new sense of those hundreds of pounds
of brine, precptated informally and roarngy
upon her, is espouscd in and fear upon coun-
tcnance cool and coquettish with shades of mean
ing and sagacity, when ashore. Nothing now pre-
vents her escape but the male friend. who holds
her firm with the nerve and delicacy Of a doctor
Courage" he says. You are doing brarey
Don't you howl. If you go frightened you will
never appreciate the sea. Its coming = there :!
Raised i'll those confident arms to let the body OF
the wave pass beneath. she feels only its bnovancy
and sense develops-of admiration tol
mans strength. As terror subsidies this confidence
in the bather grows. Her own confidence in hen
appearance and performance brings back the happy
vanity. Yielding to instructions implicitly, IA sense
of purity even of bathing attire. revives, and a
steady glow replaces her bushes. Her arms are
around Mr.. Smiths neck. She floats, face upwards
on his band. They tumble together and don't
apologize.
"Ah!' says Mr. Smith. i've learned something
to-day Be kind to her and any woman will love
you"
well" says she, I'm sure never enjoyed my
self more in my life :"