The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-09-10
AT ATLANTIC BEACH.


cockle-shell of craft is suddenly lifted
up on the crest of wave, and as sudden
ly disappears behind it. The waves are
so high and the boat so buoyant that that
sometimes all but a few inches of the
bottom can be seen as it goes over
breaker. These men are called the
''life- guard" and are stationed at fire.
quent intervals along the bathing grounds.
There ia seldom any need of them, as
there Is little or no undertow on this
beach, which is what makes the surf
dangerous. But once and q while some
venturcsom eswimmer gets little fatigued
when out too far and signaling a boat
climbs in for few minutes rest. The
guard are also very obliging in assist
ing lady bathers who are timid. They are
also serviceable IN keeping perfect order
among the bathers and preventing the
possibility of ladies being insulted while
in the water by any of the rough element,
which, though notably scarce here al
ways forces itself in where there are
crowds. The boats being out the ba theirs
begin to appear from the bath houses. They
generally came down the beach in par
ties, and motley looking sight they are.
There IS the gray headed old father, with
a corporation which shows the effect of
good living, which is generally set off to
the best advantage by a bathing suit
which would be a comfortable fit for his
son, whose weight is about a hundred
poulft1s lsss. The mother, ''fair, fat and
forty" who looks, in her flannel robe and
immense straw hat, If not fairer, much
fatter, and more like fifty. Then there
are the daughters, arrayed in more or
less coquettish suits, with skirts thereto
OF greater or less length, the older the
demoiselle the longer the skirts general
ly. There is almost invariably young
ster or two, who are frequently attired In
suit of underclothing, and a general
air OF embarrassment pervades the whole
party except these youngsters, who are
invariably the first to reach the water
and the last to enter it.
SO the group goes down to the beach !;
they wet their toes, look at each other,
CYCLE little while and say it is $50 awful
cold.' Then look at the people who are
watching them, and feeling that they are
being laughed at, join hands Gall but the
children), and the head of the family
taking the lead, they rush in, wet their
heads, and get thorough ducking. In
moment they emerge, splitter and
eplattcr q little; one of the girls or the
mother gets knocked over by wave that
she did not see; the others laugh at her;
she joins in, and in few moments thew
were tumbling around and jumping over
the breakers. as much at home as though
they were in their native element.
This fun is INDUCED in for few min
utes, when the maternal heart feels for
her youngest, who are enjoying themsel-
YES immensely playing in the sand on
the beach, and she directs pater famil,as
to 90 and bring them into the water.
The obedient and well-disciplined hus-
band does not advance any opinion
which he may have that they are en-
joyiug themselves as much as possible
in water up to their knees. But he
goes for that child at once SEXES him
and bears him into the water. The
chilb shrieks and kicks and is
frightened almost out Of his wits and
when his mouth is widest open,
with despairing cry the noise sudden
" ceases. and young hopeful has taken
in about pint of salt water ans firmly
believes himself drowning. The parents
are memorable, however, and not until
the little fellow has been ,horoufihly
scared and duckcd is he allowed to re-
sumo his lntant1lc gambols upon the
sand. The young ladies are now trying
to swim, ard throw themselves out flat
upon the water, kick up their pretty lit
tie white feet and forced under their
curly hair, fairly ''drank the waters" and
believe they are on their way toward be-
coming great swimmers. 1
This scene is now enacted daily. and
l assure you my account of it is not at
all an exaggerated one. There are, of
course, many who have bathed season
after SEASON. and know all about it.
They don't swallow so much salt water;
have the knack of going gracefully and
easily over wave or under it even with
out any discomfort. The movements
of these are as pleasing to watch as
the Others are ludicrous, and no little
excitement is occasioned sometimes
by the bold swimming seward of some
young fellow who has no more fear in
the water than on the land. Another
thing which lends great charm to the
whole is the boundless good humor that
prevails; every one is enjoying himself,
all cares and anXieties are thrown aside,
and ALL for the time being, are regardless
Of the future and the past, and, existing
only in the present moment, are happy.
What do you think the beautiful word
"wite" comes from2 1t is the word in
which the English and Latin languages
conquered the French and Greek. Ihope