Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-05
SEA BATHING.
Hosv tho Women at a Fashionable Hatsr-
ing Place act.

sSeB s~OC AOes
London World, Sept. ~
The subject of bathing is one Of sb-
sorblng interest to the seaside idler. Not
only is your own dip a joyful event in
whatever fashion you take it, but when
this is over, other peoples bathing will
serve as an amusement for you for good
part of the day. 1t is wonderful how
people crowd round the little bathing
huts at the fashionable French watering
places, and strive to get seat as near as
may be to the plank along which
the performers trip from their dress
ing rooms. The strange and divers
modes of dressing which are adopted by
these bathers are as interesting as the
promenade toilets, and often as elaborate.
Here is a lady whose bathing dress is
hidden by the big cloak which is wrapped
round her, and sun-hat half hides her
face. But when she reaches the waters
edge and throws off her cloak, it is very
evident that her marine costume is of the
simplest sort. She walks away into the
deep water, and presently throws herself
upon it, fiinging out her cleaning arms.
She can swim she revels in the water; she
goes out farther and farther; at last the
boat rows after her; she climbs into it.
Is she tired, theni Not bit of it. She
stands up, dripping in the sunshine,
laughing with enjoyment, while the
boa.man rows further out She is 60
ing to have a plungei Presently she
comes swimming back to the shore and
stands moment to get breath before she
wraps her cloak round her. Her hair is
streaming wet down her back; her skin
looks dazzling white with the sea water;
her face is bright and sunbu1ned. She is
as bright as the sunshine, as fresh as the
morning. This woman knows what it is
to get some real good out of life. But she
is all by herself here, at fashionable
watering place, and what merry child
of nature she looks among the women
who delicately duck themselves at the
waters edge, with refined air, as if they
might come to pieces under larger wave
than usual!
The lady who has been out swimming
appears untidy and undressed among the
elegant beauties; she may harmonic well
enough with the sea and sky, but not
with these others. They preserve per-
ception of appearance, even when they
have been under the water. True, they
keep their heads dry, the clusters of curls
must not be disarranged. And they look
very nice, although there is certain
stiffness and artificial elegance about
them. The beauties are beauties still;
they do not SWIM, and do not look as if
they could; but still they are very pretty,
and their lovers sit gazing upon them
with contented admiration. The
men who are not omnipotent in
knowledge fancy that now they may be
satisfied of the reality of their charms
which have captivated them. Could
anything be more trying than dripping
blue bathing dress? Yet Amoret's lovely
contour is just as perfect as when she is
in full toilet, with all the arts of the
millioner exercised upon her. And so,
satisfied, charmed, delighted, the lover
who, like Viola, may yet swear "by in
nocence and by my youth" watches Am
oret trip up the plank. He has no idea
ho " much trouble the little lady has taken
to please him. He would be surprised if
he could guess how incessently she
Iabors that his eve may be gratified
1t is wonderful how kind women are in
this respect-how they devote them
selves to the task of pleasing their adj
mirers. The task is an arduOus one, when
once woman has fairly set herself to it.
A painted face must be painted always
and ever with equal skill, or disillusion-
ment is the result. False curls, dyed
hair, must be guarded and kept out of
the water; must be worn, and worn with
care, even in the sea. Aperfect figure is
very charming thing, and the lady who
L IN odd inc q
little to her charms is very happy wo.
man when she is dressed and finds herself
the center of admiration. But once
put on, she must carry it with her every
where, until at last the grave becomes
her refuge from this incessant compan-
ionshlp. Certainly it is impossible fol-
her to leave it IN her bathing-hut and &C
down into the water to stand dripping,
with all her defects revealed, before the
curious eyes of half dozen admirers
who have secured posts at the very verge
of the waves to gaze upon her!
This is an evident possibility, and SC
the fashionable beauty who visits the sea-
side goes prepared for all emergencies.
Her corset maker has fitted her for the
sea as we'll as for the promenade. She
braves the ocean safely, knowing that she
will look as we'll in the water as out of it.
Of course, it is quite impossible that she
can swim or trust herself in any
reckless manner to the waves. She
may be graceful and show herself
to advantage, but she must treat the
sea as dangerous acquaintance, apt to
take liberties if not kept at distance.
Her curls, her rouge, her powder and her
waist are all matters which must ever be
kept in mind. So she forms one of that
elegant crowd in elaborate bathing
dresses which keeps bobbing up and down
at the waters edge in what seems to real
swimmers and lovers of the sea very
funny and rather inane fashion Whether
she gets all she might out of her Dip is a
question best not discussed. Nothing
would induce her to sacrifice her appear
ance to her health or comfort. And
after all it would be a great less to
other people if she were less careful of
herself and elaborate in her toilet. She
is very interesting to the others who
have taken their own dip early, and
have got plenty of time to look on at this
handbook beauty, taking her habits of
London or Paris into the very sea with
her-she looks odly out of place under
the open sky, in the rough water, which
when it gives beauty, gives beauty OF
such different type from hers. She is
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