Morning journal and courier., 1884-09-04
An English Girl Facing a Ground
 Swell.

lrIOHl Lle dll 4hdL VtAeIle
 As it is not at all rude but the proper thing to do, I thought would venture a lit tie nearer (not too obtrusively near) and see closer at hand how brave womanhood faced the rollers. There was a young girl lying at full length at the edge of the foam. She re clined parallel to the bench, not with her feet toward the sea, but that it came to her side. She was clad in some material of gauzy and yet opaque texture, permitting the full outline and the least movement to be seen, but not transparent. The color do not exactly know now to name; they could tell you at the Magasin du Louvre, where men understand the hues of garments as well as women. I presume it was one of the many tints that are called at large E'creamY. , It suited her perfectly Her complexion was in the faintest degree swarthy, and yet not in the least like what lady would associate with that word The difficulty in describing a color is that different people take different views of the terms employed; ladies have one scale founded good deal on dress, men another and painters have Q special land ac- curate) gamut which they use in the studio. This was clear swarthiness-a translucent swarthiness-clear as the most delicate white. There was something in the hue of her neck as freely shown by the loose bathing dress, of her bare arms and feet, somewhat recall ing to mind the kind of beauty attributed to the Queen of Egypt. But it more deli cate. Her form was almost fully developed, more than usual at her age. Again and again the foam rushed up deep enough to cover her limbs, but not sufficiently so to hide her chest as she was partly raised on one arm. Washed thus with thd purest white ness of the sparkling foam, her beauty gath cred increase from the touch of the sea- She cxvauod S1iUbt1U the IHatar Taacbad bar cba was luxuriously rocked to and fro. The waves toyed with her; they came and retired, happy in her presence; the breeze and the sunshine were there.
 Standing somewhat back, the machines hid the waves from me till they reached the shore, so that I did not observe the heavy roller till it and broke. A ton of water fell on her, crush! The edge of the wave curled and dropped over her, the arch bowed itself above her, the keystone of the wave fell in. She was under the surge while it rushed up and while it rushed back; it car ried her up to the steps of the machine and back again to her original position. When it subsided she simply shook her head, raised herself on one arm and adjusted herself par alleI to the beach as before.
 Let anyone try this, let anyone lie for a few minutes just where the surge bursts, and they will understand what it means. Men go out to the length of their Iopes-past and
  still further out and ride at ease where the wave, however large, merely lifts them pleasantly as it rolls under. But the smash ing force of the wave is where it curls and breaks, and it is there that the ladies wait for it. It is these breakers in a gale that tear to pieces and destroy the best built ships once they touch the shore, scattering their timberS as the wind scatters leaves. The courage and the endurance women must pos sess to face a ground swell like this!
 All the year they live in luxury and ease, and are shielded from everything that could hurt A bruise-a lady to receive a bruise; it is not to be thought of If ruffian struck lady in Hyde Park the world would rise from its armchair in fury of indigna- tion. These waves and pebbles bruise them they list. They do not even finch. There must, then, be natural power Of endurance in them.
 It is unnecessary, and yet was proud to see it. An English lady could do it; but could any other? unless, indeed, an American of English descent. Still it is barbarous thing, for bathing could be easily rendered pleasant. The cruel roller receded, the soft breeze blew, the sunshine sparkled, the cleaning foam rushed up and gently rocked her. The Infanta Cleopatra lifted her arm gleaming wet with spray and extended it in dolently; the sun had only given her more seductive loveliness. How much more enjoy able the sea and breeze and sunshine when one is gazing at something so beautiful. That arm rounded and soft
 Excuse me, sir. but your immortal soul" -a hand was placed on my elbow. I turned and saw a beaming face; young lady, elegantly dressed, placed a fy-sheet of good intentions in my fingers. The fair logger beamed yet more sweetly as I took it and went on among the crowd. When looked back the Infanta Cleopatra had ascended into her machine. I had lost the last few moments of loveliness.