Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-09-09
EOW GIRLS BATTLE.

EOW GIRLS BATTLE.
There is all the difference in the world in
the manner in which girls bathe. A skilled
observer can, at moments glance, tell
from what city bather comes. The Phil
adelphia girl usually trots out demurely on
the sand, looks at the water, shivers and
smiles, and then gradually approaches the
surf First she dips her toes in the water,
gives little scream, retreats a step or two,
and again. with look of desperate on on
her face, advances slowly toward the sea.
She gets wet an inch at time, and shivers
twice for every inch. Should the crest of a
wave slap her on the back Familiarity, she
screams Justify and looks appealingly at
the young men. The Philadelphia girl has
penchant for losing her foothold, getting
down under the ropes and then having
good looking young man extricate her from
her predicament. She hugs closely around
her rescuer until she is firmly on her feet,
then, slowly releasing her grasp, apologies
with downcast eyes.
The Boston girl makes her appearance on
the sand in picturesque and tight.ftting
suit. She advances with soldierly stride,
pauses on the waters edge, strikes an
attitude, and acts as though the who le
world stopped and gazed breathlessly
at the vision of womanly grace and
beauty Then she wades out in the water
and awaits events Suddenly big wave
strikes her. doubles her up like ball,
pIoughs her aquiline nose in the sand like
road-scraper, and lands her far up on the
beach shapeless mass of red hose, blue
skirts and culture. She rises, looks around
in dazed sort of q way, and goes up and
dresses, and all day long talks about her
bath and says it was ''jusJ lovely"
The Baltimore girl always goes in the wa
ter with her "fellah." She glances around
as though half afraid. and then wades bold
ly out after him. She cings closely and af-
fectionately to George or Chollie, whatever
his name is, and gazes up in his face with
a glance of mingled love and faith in the
strong arms about her. When the waves
come George or Chollie bobs her up serene
ly to its top, and all is well.
The Chicago girl is boss girl in the surf.
She never loses her feet-can't do it. She
plunges and founders boldly around. Sud-
denly she startles the entire shore by series
of unearthly yells. The bathing master runs
to the assistance of the frantic girl. She
emerges from the surf with q bound, and
falls breathless on the sand and kicks. A
man jumps over her foot, and, near the
southeast corner of it, discovers a small
crab, clingiug tenaciously. This generally
concludes the Chicago girls bathing for the
summer.
The New Yorker watches her chance, runs
down to the water when no one is looking,
dives headlong through wave and then
suddenly appears on the surface couple of
rolls out from the shore. Then, for half
hour she swims around like mermaid and
J.k- l. xx,i,n CHI
emerges from the water she looks pinker
and prettier than ever.
The Washington girl, in white flannel
suit, red stockings, large pokey bat trim.
med in red, walks slowly to the beach, as if
conscious of her beauty, turns around to
look if she is watched, and then gradually
runs into the water, swims around for few
minutes aud rises, Venus-like, from the sea,
intent upon creating sensation. She never
stays in the water over twenty minutes at a
time.
The Cincinnati girl, however, is the best
of all. Regardless of who is present, she
rushes into the water, but will not allow
her hair to be caressed by Neptune. She
will remain in the water an hour or two II
necessary, and will allow favored few to
teach her the secrets of the surf. To those
who are not so favored, no matter in what
deep water she might find herself, the
"Don't, sir" and the mo, sir" to the prof.
fered assistance become very decided and
frequent. She is fond of "ducking" those
she does not like, and will be more than
agreeable to those who have the good for
tune to bask in the sunshine of her smiles.
She is graceful, not too timid, and emerges
from the water roster and healthier than
ever. Is it any wonder, then, that the Gin
cinnati girls are such strong favorites at the
bathing grounds ?-Cfncinnati Graphic.