The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-08-21
The ENGLISH Ar THE SEA-
SIDE.

TIE English are, from many causes,
Enthusiastically aquatic. 1t becomes
them to batne, and they know the sea
ami the fine favor of the breeze thai
has blown over sslt water. The
country is so narrow that reaching
| the coast from the interior is never g
matter OF great cost, either of time or
money; and though the Island is grit
| by waters that are uucomfertab.y
chilly, and day Is seldom yielded to
the past without drenching rain.
no recreRtions are more sought thsu
those that may be had where the
waves break in against the chalkY
cliffs of the south, or on the !ow
beaches of the northwest.
Coming into Liverpool from Amer
lea On a bleak September day, when
the clouds nave been packed under
the SKY 10 sunless masses, and tor
rents have been falling l have seen
the bsthers of New Brighton enjoying
themselves with ludicrous uncoDcern
for the inclemency of the weather,
though the waters of the Mersey are
not inviting, having neither surf nor
purity; and in storms 10 which the
most eager excursionist at Long
Branch or Newport would never
dream of exposing himself. the Eng
lIsh seaside is crowded with app4r-
emily Satisfied pleasure-seekers, who
do not complain of the wet. or feel
the communicative dependency of
nature.
The therapeutic value OF saltwater
has become an article of general faith;
and for the benefit of those who can.
not leave their homes it is supplied
from a salubrious part OF the coast in
cans daily, each containing three gal
Ions, for which, including delivery in
London, the charge is sixpence. The
saltwater bath in ones own room is
poor substitute, of course, for a
plunge into the sea itself; for in the
former tne immersion. with its
quickly followed exhilerstion, COM
prehends all the utility, while in the
latter there is. after the stimulating
shock of the first dip. a potent glad
LESS IN the exhalations of the water
and in the beat of the waves, which
lash the body as 8 whip in the hands
of some ardent votary OF pleasure, who
would drive all tagging misanthropes
to his alter. But though the bottled
ocean is better than no bath at all,
the English are much too fond OF the
open air and tina sea itself to accept it
for the actual thing, and while using
it when 0ut-ofdcOr bathing is impos-
sible, they continue to flock to the
shore IN larger numbers each success.
slve year. and new wstering-plsces
are springing up. sometimes on sites
discovered by the astute promoters OF
some ambitious ioint-stock hotel and
bathing concern, and sometimes where
quiet old fishing villages have stood |
for centuries without seeing one tour. |
ist. A map Of the south coast from |
Grsvesend to Penzsnce needs constant |
revision, so often are the little places
10 the bays of the great chalk cliffs,
which previously have scarcely found
recognition in the most voluminous
gszetters, seized upon and fitted for
summer visitors, and on the Welsh |
coast and on the sand hills of Lancs-
shire the increase of bsthiDg-places
is American in its frequency aud OK
petition.
But, looked at from Trtuviile or
Manhattan Beach, the English do
not know bow to battle, or how TO be
picturesque. They go to the seaside
IN their overcosts, and wear dark
colors. which are not pleasing to the
spe :tator. and which give the throngs
d penitential seriousness Vt aspect.
TIE spectator has claim to be con-
sidered in the matter; good society
is always expected to be interesting.
And the climate, with its msssing Of
clouds and bazy atmosphere, its vari-
ability and Its sombre tone, is not
wholly accountable for the sobriety,
not to say righteousness, of the
scene. nor for the Inconvenience of
the customs. They venerate what
has been bequeathed to them, and
look with suspicion on any innovs-
tioD; and they have yet to be con-
WINGED, that 1t is not comfortablceor
necessary to be transported to the
waters edge in a sentry-box on
wheels that it is net immodes, or I'm
safe for the sexes to battle together,
and that the bathing dresses in use
are not what they should be, but so
b deems that In one sense at least the
association OF the sexes is dangerous,
in 30 far that in matchless sloveuli-
mesa these garments prevent any illu-
sion, they also cover or misrepresent
every natural grace. The much Bet
ter wsy in which these things are
done across the Channel is ignored,
Or regarded as being very improper.
- Harper'S Magazine.