Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-07-07
ATAsLANTIC BEACH.
How the Bathers Disport Them
selves i'm the Waters.

. NOTfeNnOAtCllNN AAAAtAAN fA.'N-
In the first place, little while before
the bathing hour, a couple OF sturdy
Young men having very much the APP
pearance OF sailors come down 10 the wa
ter's edge with light Suri-bOat. They are
attired i'm claSe-htting swimming SUITS,
with bare feet, legs and arms. After
placing hie-preSeryer or two IN the
boat. they put it into the water until
they are about knee deep, when Jump
inc in, they put in their oars, and, care
fully keeping the bow toward the break
ers mil n few vigorous strokes until
the little cockle-Shell of craft sud-
denly disappears behind it. The wayas
are so high and the boat so buoyant
that some times all but few inches oil
the bOttem can be seen rs 1t goes over
the breaker. These men are called the
"life-guard," and are stationed at ire
uuent intervals along the Oathlng
grounds. There is seldom any real
need of them, aS there is little or no UNI
dertow on this beach, which Is what
makes surf bathing dangerous. But
once i'm a while some ventureSome
swimmer gets little fatlgued when out
TOO far and signalling a boat climbs IN
for a few minutes rest The lie
guard are alSo very ODligin@ IN assist
inc lady bathers who are timId. They
are also serviceable in keeping perfect
order among the bathers. and preventing
the possibility of ladies being insultcd
while i'm the water by any Of the rough
element, which, though notably scarce
here. ALWAYS forces itself in where there
are crowds The boats being out the
bathers begin TO appear from the bath
houses. They generally come down
the beach in parties, and motley look
inc SIGHT they are. There is the gray
headed old father, with a corporation
which shows the effect OF good living,
which is generally set oil 70 the best al
vantage bv bathing suit which would
be a comfortable tit for his son, whose
weight Is about 100 pounds less. The
mother fair fat, and forty who looks,
i'm her flannel robe and immense straw
hat. ii no fairer, much iatter and more
like fifty. Then there are the daugh-
tiers. arrayed in more or less coquettISh
suits. with skirst thereto OF greater oil
less length, the older the demOlselie the
longer the skirts generally. There Is
almos, invariably yOungSter or two,
who are frequently attired in suit:Ot un-
dcrrlo.hing, and a general air OF embar-
rasSmrnt pervadeS the whole party, eN-
cept these Youngsters, who are inyarla-
biz the first 10 reach the water and the
last 10 enter 1t.
RATHER ENIBARRA SSING AT FIRST.
So the groap goes down on the beach;
.r Il. Lob M auHh Af her
gigsle a little and say 1t Is so awful
cold Then look az the people who are
watching them, and feeling that they
are being laughed at, join hands .ail but
the childrenl, and the head OF the family
taking the lead, they rush in, wet their
heads and get thorough ducking. In
a moment they emerge, splutter and
sprlttera little; one of the girls or the
nn-hp Gets knocked over by a wave
that She did not see; the others laugh at
her: she Joins in, and in a few minutes
they are tumbling around and jumping
over the breakers, Is much at home as
though they were in their native ele-
mpnt.
This fun is INDUCED in for few
Minutes when the maternal heart feels
TOR her Youngest. who are playingm the
sand ON the beach, and she directs p1i'r
fy,iI'aS To- 20 and bring them into the
wafer. The obcdient and well-dlscipllned
husband does not advance any opinion
while in water up to their
knees. But he goes Tor That
child al once, seizeS him, and bears nm
into tine water The child Shrlcks anu
kicks. and is frightened almost out oil his
wits. and when his mouth Il widest
open, with a dCSpJrlng cry the NOISE
suddenly ceases; and young hopeful has
taken i'm about pint of salt water and
FIRMLY believes himself drowning. The
r,r,ntS are incNoraolc, however, ana
not until the little fellow has been thor
nughIv scared and ducked l. ne allowed
IN resume his iuianule gambUlS upon
the sand. The young ladies' are now
TRYING 10 swim, and throw themselves
ont HAT upon the water, kick up their
pr.ttv little white feet and force undcr
their curly hair, fairly drink the wa
ters." and believe they are on the way
toward becoming great swimmers
HOW THE Old FATHERS Do.
This scene Is now enacted dairy, amt
assure YOU my account utIt Is not ~ al
nm exaggerated one. There are, "l
course. many who have bathcd seas IN
after season and know all about H.
They don't swallow SO much salt water,
have the knack OF going gracefully ana
..-iIv oyer the wave or under 1t even
without any discomfort. The move
mrnts of these are pleasing 10 watch a.
the others are ludicrous, amt no little
excitement is oc,aSioncd sometimes oy
the bold swimming seaward OF some
Young fellow who has no more tear IA
ihe water than on land. Another thing
which lends great charm to the whole
is the boundless good humor that Pre-
walls. every one is enjoying hIm-
s,li all cares and anXietles are thrown
aside. and all for the time being are re,
,r,rIlrss Of the future and the past, amt
existing only in the present moment
are happy.