Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-09-09
The Mysteries Of the Surf:

The Mysteries al the surh'
A correspondent writing from fash.
ionable resorts OF the North 10 the Al
lsnta Constitution says:
Surf bathing is revelation! l went
in Yesterday with lovely and modest
woman from the North, with whom
had but short acquaintance, although
had seen good deal OF her. AS We
stood awaiting the coming OF hnge
wave she clutched my arm, aud posing
herself cue one foot, bended the other
leg, and pulled her stocking over her
knee-trying yainly to make II cover q
strip of white. She thought uothingof
this, nor did |. In an Instant the wave
was on us, ard we were riding The swell
as happy as pair o: ducks.
That evening the lady went sailing
with the same party that had been bath
ing with her 10 the morning. As size
stepped over the side OF the boat she
exposed about four inches Of her
pretty silk stockings, and her face was
crimsoped with shame and mortiiication.
Now, why this difference' II vase
ac,ly the same limb that had been ex-
posed TO the knee all the morning with
out any thought ofconfusion. As came
into the hotel corridor yesterday young
lady screamed:
"Shut the doorl Quck! There's some
body comingi'
She had put on her bathing suit fora
trial trip in her mothers room, and was
horrified that a man should see her in
that fix. A half hour later she
and | were lying on the beach, the
waves purling over Us at every throb OF
the sea, and she, with her shapely fig
ure bended, was writing her name in
the sand with her toes, while her merry
laugh rang above the roar OF the waves.
But if the dressing on the beach and
the Inconsistencies with which the
most modest OF girls stand the exposure
consequent upon 1t is remarkable, tbs
conduct OF a crowd in bathing il still
more so. That is tho miracle Of social
life, | think. The girls clad in this
prankingly pretty dress--,be passing
pressure OF the waves outlining the
curves of lbe body-with the warm flesh
glowing and throbbing beneath the
single garment-the girls Thus atiired
run hand and hand in the wster with
their sweethearts, romp and frolic, and
are ducked and hanlej out 10y the feet,
or are clasped around the waist, or catch
the fellows about the neck as big wave
comes-and yet there is not the slight
est prurient suggestion, and no hint OF
gallartry. don't believe o scandal was
ever born in the surf / cannot conceive
of sentmen,sl attitude amid the roll
ing breakers.
| am compelled TO confess that o
month at the seaside does not confirm
the general idea Of feminine symmetry
that all gallant men are supposed TO en-
tertain. !, is the rarest thing 10 fDd g
girl with straight limbs, graceful car
rage, firm flesh, full chest, and uure-
strained attitudes and poser. In ma
iority of cases they are wabbly and un-
certain; with stoop in the shoulders, q
minciug step, toes turned in Ube num-
Der of pigeon.toed girls developed here
is positively alarming), and general de.
biIity of gai, and fabbiuess Of attitude.
| noted at one OF the resorts several
days ago the handsomest woman i ever
saw on the beach. She was tall and
slender. but dyinely formed. Her pref
ty head was poised like queens upon
swan like neck that swelled iuto snowy
bust and shoulders. A bathing shirt
loosely tied about the neck aud with.
out sleeves, gave perfect play to ber su-
perb body Black silk stockings and
feet that left perfectly outlined foot.
prints, Sc: regularly 10 The sand at about
thirty degrees divergence. There Was
something royal in the unconscious
grace and beauty OF this woman 40 she
walke1 into the water the cynoenfe OF
hundred eyes. Utterly dwar6og her
escort, she seemed disregardful OF bic
presence, aud whom the foam was clus-
teriog about her krees, raised her elcam,
ing arms above her head. Land went like q
fash into the body Of an incoming
breaker.