The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-12-24
= 80. kfM ~ 4El| 80 - -
A Normandy Bathing Scene
Cincinnati Commercial.

1t was lovely day in August, at the small
seaside resort of Lion sur Mer, on the coast
Of Normandy. Along the sandy beach that
received the whitened, column of advancing
waves the little cabins Of the bathers stretch
ed away almost to the shadow of the cliff at
one end of the beach, shutting out the view
| of the otherwise low landscape, and in their
white peakedness suggested not little the
playhouses that children place rather totter-
ingly on the floor. On the higher ground
above them, some handsome summer resi-
dencesof the rich looked ont upon the Eng
lish channel, whose green waters that day
stretched ianguidly off to where, with a
strong glass, could be traced the darkened
| line on the horizon that indicated thai coun-
try SO widely separated from France by more
than q channel. Back of these handsome
houses an old Normandy village, in all the
quaintness of massive church towers, low,
shaded houses and winding, crooked streets,
whose worn stones still resound with the
wooden sabots of the simple peasants, was
inclosed in green, green country, thas at
last In one direction broke, in its smiling, in
to the laugh Of some. low hills. Languid
was the day, and lanquid likewise the scene
on the beach. Seated within the cabin doors
or out In the shade they cast on the sand 1t
self, all the people at the resort were collect
ed; for in France at the seaside they not only
dressed and undressed In the little cabins
they rent for theseason, but stayed in them or
near them the livelong day. The women
and girls were working and talking, or more
properly speaking, talking and working, for
with them talking was the business, and GRO
.cheting or embroidering the pastime. The
gentlemen were smoking and chatting with
that deliberation that renders French smok-
ing as mild sort of occupation as French
tobacco itself. The rules memorable that
regulated the hour for entering the surf gave
yet half an hour or more before the cries OF,
My suit, madame, my suit" would make
the beach lively with the running to and fro
OF small children, carrying very abbreviated
bathing suits, and then with the presence of
the costnmed bathers themselves. Suddenly
the door of one of the largest and best-ap-
pointed cabins is thrown open, and there
| came forth troop Of girls that, for French,
were pretty; they pass from the cabin door
to the waters edge like flash of light, and
with one joyous bound dash into the surf,
and 60 apparently floating away on the waves
as though borne thither without any effort of
their own. Who are those pretty girls, and
h. L. a. xual mo
nearly all at the same time inquire. We find
they are Parisians, and that they have learn
cd TO swim al the swimming-baths in Paris.
Our curiosity about these swimming baths
thus aroused, we--one day on our return 10
Paris--deseend the steps Of the great stone
quay and crossing wooden bridge, found
ourselves within one of the boats anchored
| in the Seine. II was one where women only
were taught to swim, but men as well as wo-
men were in attendance. The boat being
opened over the water, the river covered the
oval center, and at the sides only what on q
passenger boat would be staterooms, were
the dressing-rooms. From the sides steps
led into the river to a sloping plank that ex-
tended half across thewater. There hand
some parterre of flowers was the pretty signal
of danger that warned others that beyond,
and taking In half of the Enclosure, the river
was at It's natural depth. Ropes traversed
the open space is right angles, and floating
planks held out their inviting protection to
timld beginners. True to French surroundf
ings, q little room at the end of the boat was
the ever-present restaurant, at which place
most of the bathers take coffee before leaving
the bath-house. 4 Paris keeps up several Of
these bathing schools, either exclusively for
women, or those devoting a number of hours
every week for them, It Is considered some
thing unheard offor French girls well brought
up not to know how to swim. II is an &C
complainant on a par with. and almost as
universal as dancing. 1t is a little curious
that nation the least maritime Of those
most civilized should be the one to set the
almost universal fashion of teaching women
how to swim, but from early in May until In
August, when the fashionables- start for the
seaside, these swimming baths are crowded
Win the inost elegant ana fasldonable PEOPLE,
csp~sr WMhNN EEH