New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-06
GAY LIFE AT TROUVILLE.
FASHIONABLE FRENCH FOLK FREED FROM
MRS. GRUNDYS RULE.

lFRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrnUSEl
TROUvIILr, August %
This watering place is now very crowded. let
at this moment it seems deserted The sun has
just risen over Havre. The sands hard and yell
low are saturated with brine. for the tide is going
out. few batbers who do not wish TO spend, a
franc and half each for bathing costumes and
cabins have undressed on the sand and are swim
ming about. But for them and the fleet Of small
crafts in the ofing solitude would reign on the
strand. which, three or four hours hence, will be
alive with heath-seokers. pleasure-seekers, mer-
ry and active youths maidens and chill
dren and native folks of both sexes
with tanned faces and robust figures. rough
manners and strong voices who take their living
out OF the Thetisis often obstreperous romp,
and keeping company with her does not favor
polite manners. L am amused to watch tho great
tendency there is among the dclicatoly nurturcd
and those who naturally bow TO the decisions of
Mrs Grundy TO become free IN their ways and man
ners at the seaside. One sees young French girls
who in Paris ballroom would not venture 10 meet
with their eyes their partners gaze pull off shoes
and stockings in the presence of crowd and
under the pretext of getting into trim convenient
for shrimp catching, tuck up their skirts TO
their very waist and paddle about in the low
surf. Bellies and gentlemen 60 about shrimp catch
ing The bodies of the ladies' dresses generally tit
well. Too many skirts are not worn,
SO that the tucking-up process does not
form dsfguring bundle but has de-
cidedly coquettsh effect. l have seen
grave advocates and Deputies lay aside their
gravity TO GO a-shrimping.
Before o'clock every one is unconventional. not
only to free and easy, but TO almost barbarous
extent. At about a. m. the sands begin
TO assume lively aspect. None of tho
unwritten laws of Society beyond the
one of mutual politeness is observed. Fingers are
snapped at Mrs. Grundy. Wading parties are got
up A boy with a basket to hold shoes and stock
ings accompanies each of them. Crabs often pinch
toes and make ladies scream. Unexpected waves
run into shallow places and make the bellies fall
ints gentlemen's arms-or. what ~ verse. into tho
water from which they are picked up dripping 10
does not occur to anybody that there is even
possibility of catching cold on the sand of Trou-
Vile or a better mode of drying dripping garments
than by continuing TO wear thom. There is "A good
dea. of bathing at all hours of the day. II is
briskest when the tide Is nearly in. Both sexes
battle together. At full water human beings are
attached TO the ropes connecting high poles that
run into the sea as thckly pearls to the string
of "A necklace. They bob up and down, take hancs,
dance and founder about. Bathing men carry IN
elderly ladies who their joints being stiff, are not
able to jump quickly to their feet when Knocked
over by a wave. TIE water az this season is
pleasant alienation of tepid and cool waves. This
is duo TO the great expanse of the sands.
When the tide Is out and the weather hot big
holes are dug IN the sand by the natives and chairs
set in them which are let for sous an hour.
Ladies are very fond of occupying these burrows.
| especially when gigantic red umbrella Is placed
| between them and the sun or when there is 0Dcl
| sharp wind, which blows dry sand about. They
| work at fancy sewing, embroidery. or with the
crotcbet needle, and their tongues go all the time.
English girls and women are prone TO read novels.
Children and youths and maidens are as busy as
they can be constructing canseways across gulleys
| into which the water runs Hunting with
spades forked sticks for the small cells that live
| in the sand and dart into IL again with amazing
| CELEBRITY when unearthed IS another great
amusement As there is nothing harder TO
catch, few are canght. unless by persons
| experienced in chasing them AS they are esteemed
| a great delicacy, tho esquie hunter who has "a
| small basketful of them is an object OF envy.
| IL one desires steady GOODNESS one goes on the
on wooden piles and crossed beams and has seats all
| the way TO the lighthouse, which terminates IL aud
| makes 1t q landmark TO distant mariners The
| Friit butter, cheese and eggs arc sent in vast
| quantities 10 England The cheese of the district
Is rich and gp strong and goes by the name
a great reputation for its cream, but
| / have not been able 10 obtain any since came
here. The harbor Is formed by the double mouth
| of La Toucques a small sluggish stream running
| through "a vale which is at once rich and rustic.
One can go nowhere in this valley without finding
| Jreyon and Huet. The cottages show. without
architectural taste, good husbandry, and within
thrifty housewifery. They are constructed of wool,
| first run up OIL a framework and then arranged 10
give strength In vertical, horizontal and diagonal
patterns, the IDtersices Of which filed IN with
| clay and whitewashed OF coored yellow. Orchards
1 onynFN ytu ia i gnHh 0VYlQ
| try. Rose culture from mere love of flowers il
also greatly developed in the gardens
tiles than the inhabitants OF the other provinces of
| France. They as shrewd as Yankees Nobody
can beat Norman in making bargain. or prepar-
| ing clements for law suit but find more cyity
| in Normandy than anywhere else The selfish
| ness of the people is Intelligent
1Touvilie was discovered in 1882 by old
Dumas. He wanted quiet country or seaside
place where it would be possible for hfu to write
drama without any danger OF being interrupted. IL
| occurred 10 him that Huet had exhibited some
paintings of the Trouvie sands which gave him
| the idea of absolute solitude. SO TO Trouvllle
| he came The passage from Havre in rowboat
| was, the weather being fine. accomplished in four
| hours. He was carried ashore on sailors back.
| There was single inn II the place; IL was kept
by a sonsy, stirring landlady who boarded artists
for francs day because she liked them and did
not think them rich. and other strangers for francs
| so centimes. The charge for bedroom was
| fraucs even when 1t was double bedded. mot the
other day an artist who was glad to obtain an ILL
| lighted chamber at the end of court and over
stable for Is francs day. The first two.ffty
at the inn of La Mere Oseraie consisted of
beef broth weakened with vemecilli or other ltal
| ian preparations OF flour. sole ia Normand, gre
said chops, roast snipe shrimp salad dish of veg
etables and apple pie with cusard The pension
alone at the hotels now comes to 10 francs day
and the butter with which the sauces are made is
rancid. The hills which rise abruptly 10 the west
of .IrouvIe are studded over with charming villas
standing IN grounds bearing wealth of trees, In
Guiding the oak, pine, pear and apple, and vege-
table and floral products. NJ. Theirs in 1872 spent
part of the autumn in NJ Cordier's hillside chateau,
for which he paid rent Of 80. 900 for SIX weeks
and was only able to STAY there little more than
half that time. He planted cedar In the lawn
which has steadily hourished and promises to be-
cnme clnnt of its specics The Princess dc Sagan,s