Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-02-02

in their nautical exploits, these iniantl
are supplied with breastboards on
which to float until they learn to swim
which feat is soon accomplished. For
at this season Venetian parents take
their babies into the canals for this
purpose as systematically as the lands
people theirs into the parks TO learn
to walk. And it is surprising and
amusing TO SEQ how familiarity and
eagerly they take TO the treacherous
waters, which are TO them what green
sward and sidewalks arc to terra -frma
children Indeed, at this time of day
it requires some extra skill on the part
ofthe gondoliertop pick bis way through
tho swimming, floating, plunglng pop
ulation, as thick IN spots as shoals Of
mackerel in their season, screaming
and hustling one another in the brine
as vigorously as If sporting on shore.
Where there is so much rollicking na-
kedness about, stalwart models OF men
as nude saving their waist cloths, as
the classical gods, and little girls and
boys ragless, or next TO II, at FIRST
blush on encountering them in these
watery streets Of large city in broad
day light, just as one does Broadway
pedestrians us the leisure hours of day
come on, the inexperienced eye is
somewhat startled, but soon gets ac.
customed to regard the sight as a very
novel and amusing episode OF Venetian
life.
On one occasion having entered
palace on the Grand Canal, there was
so many bathing from its steps that
the gondolicr had to pause Tor some
lime, before he could approach for
them to clear the way, aud we made
u triumphal entry between the drip
ping files oi bathers as if il were the
most proper thing in the world to do,
and nobody felt ashamed on one side,
| am certain. Salt water every where
is great leveler OF conventional ideas
Of modcsty, we all know, but with the
background Of Venice it gets an extra
renaissant touch. Imagination can
easily transform these warm living |
bodies into the stone cupids, amorini, |
satyrs, gods and goddesses, and all the |
other heather classical population,
carved in the long streets OF palaces,
as having just stepped down from
their pedestals, inches and entablatures
for moments wash and not to lose
the bathing season. Some OF the ca.
nails might be sweoter, IL is true, but
there is mono the less fun for that
And II is not always fun, either Not
a season passes but some of the chill
dren either slip from their boards or
get entangled in their ropes and are
drowned Almost in my sight the
parents Of one boy, having hauled him
out went up to dinner, leaving him to
dress and follow Waiting some time
and finding that he did not appear,
they grew anxious and decended TO
search for him, only TO discover that
he had pushed off on his board on his
own account, slipped from it and was
drowned. Bat such incidents no more
Keep children out OF the canals here in
hot weather than boys out of the
streets in America because now and
then one is run over and killed. 1t is
certainly so very convenient TO bath
ers to be able to disrobe 10 their own
bedrooms or front entries and take u
header into salt water from their own
ioorways that am not surprised to
see all Venice on u sultry day turned
into one great bathing os.
iabiisbment, gratis to all classes The
effect is very amphibious and droll
and only pIebian Venice can show its
population cooling off in this fashion
without ceremony in its canal streets ;
n the airest of non.costumes when
he dog star RACES - Venice Correspond.
nee NGD York Times