Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-09-10

waist in the midst of the waves, and
holding by belt attached to her waist
young girl who is going through tn,
prescribed movements of swimming Thi
| Meriel is quite character, and, IL fact
the important institution OF the entir,
beach. He battles all the little children
who, after elinging tight to his neck, have
| sufficient confidence in him to be hello
| under the arms and allowed to float ovei
| the waves. He teaches both the womer
and children to swim, when the sea Is
sufficiently calm, and when the waves are
| high, carries them into the surf, where he
! throws them high above the breakers,
| which sweep over his head without his
| ever losing his foothold. He seems TO be
| endowed with marvellous powers of endur-
ance, for during these last two days,
when few women dared venture into the
| surf, he has bathed stalwart men who could
not stand alone, and in spite of the high
winds and consequently extremely cold
weather he constantly returned to the sea
after seeking each new subject for bath.
The poor mans hands became transparent,
and his face actually green, but lie seemed
oblivious of all pain, since he possesses a
rather pretty wife, who is lame and an in
different helpmate, besides three young
children. Some of the ladies,
PLYING HIS sUFFERINGs,
Occasionally gave him a glass of cognac to
strengthen him for new trial, for the
force of the waves had fatigued each strong
man who had bathed, and poor Mr.. Meriel
had to endure the same amount OF fatigue
some twenty times. His wife told me that
he was SO tired from his labors of the day
that at night he could not close his eyes.
1t is great wonder he does not become
consumptive; for, whereas, he holds the
persons he bathes in such manner that
they receive the waves on their back, he
receives them square on his chest and in
his eyes. He is brave fellow, and very
much liked ell gentlemen on going by
him give him shake OF the hand, ard
ladies all have kind word for him. He
has rented ground from the Commune, and
at his own expense erected these cabins,
which he let's to the visitors; he also fur
nishes costumes to those who do not bring
their own, and supplies all bathers with a
small tub of hot water, to be used as 3
foot bath when coming out of the sea-a
necessary ceremony. as prescribed by the
best medical authority. One little cabin
they use for themselves, which is divided
into two compartments in one are hung
the costumes for rent, and is found the
table on which is kept the account book,
and in the other the hot water is heated
for the foot bath, and the family meals
cooked; but, when the days labors are
finished, they return to their little
house in the village to sleep. The whole
family are exceedingly dark, like the ma
jority of the peasants of this part of the
country, so black in fact is their skin, that
it is easy to take them for mulattoes or ma
tives of some southern island Opposite to
this establishment is another kept by the
widow Roussel, whose speciality is warm
baths, for many persons OF delicate health
on coming to the coast begin by taking
warm baths before confiding themselves to
the waves; she also rents cabins, but they
are of less attractive appearance. She has
young son who bathes the children well in
calm weather and teaches them to swim !;
but when the sea is rough the poor fellow
is so often rolled under the waves with the
little ones he has in charge that his services
are at that moment little demanded. The
majority of
THE WOMEN swIM,
And swim well in fact the two best swim
mers at LangruDe are both women one
invariably goes with her husband, and they
swim so far that they appear in the dis
lance to be swallowed by the waves, as
they are no longer visible. The two some
times race as to which shall first reach the
shore, when it is always the wife who is
-. IL
mer is a most beautiful young woman,
whose charming pleasant face and eyquis-
itely nodded limbs give her the appearance
of a mermaid as she gracefully throws
herself on the waves. She ia particu-
larly conspicuous when the sea is very
rough, for no one is as daring or as con-
fident, nor does any one venture as far
as she upon the angry waves. Her
movements are SO perfectly graceful and
easy that none of the spectators entertain
any fear for her, and as she repeatedly
rises above the foam, or throws herself on
her back into the waves, the water but
seems to caress her as beloved object,
and the sight is one delightful to witness.
The children of both sexes are here taught
to swim when very young. When the
weather is pleasantit is papa or mamma who
holds the little one and instructs it how to
use its hands and feet, and on seeing the
tiny creatures of three and four years of
age join their little hands before padding
in the water, it seems to be a prayer adj
dressed to Neptune that he may have pity
on their tender years. When the weather
is rough these same little ones are confded
to Meriel as too precious articles to be
trusted to any less steady feet.
ODD SALES.
1t is on the Place au Marche that the
dry goods merchant stations his
wagons on passing, and after literally
drumming up the people he proceeds
to sell his wares at auction, when the
good peasants of Langrune almost have a
fight over objects the auctioneer's elo-
quence causes them to desire. The saltim-
banques occasionally make a visit, driving
up in their movable houses, when their
entertainments take place in the open air,
free to all, but they manage to take
up at least six collections during the even
ing, and succeed in the end in reaping a
good harvest. In fact they exercise more
talent in their collections than in the per-
lection of their performance, and when the
audience becomes well interested they de-
mand certain sum before continuing the
exercise, which they invariably obtain, and
much more. Occasionally circus will
wander around, with usually but one
horse, that it may in reality be called a
one-horse affair. Their performances
differ little from those of the saltimbanques,
with the exception that they take place
under tent. When in the evenings it
is cool, the children and grown people all
jump rope, or joining hands in one grand
circle, dance around, singing some infantile
song. Everybody appears young and
seems to possess both . light heart and a
light conscience the atmosphere seems
pervaded with their joyousness and hon.
esty, and those that believe the French.
man does not possess those domestic quail
ties we are taught to admire, need but to
come to Langrune to see them practiced in
the highest degree. VAL.
HOW TO TREAT A WIFE.
First, get wife secondly, be patient.
Nou NAV have GREAT trials and perpleXities