The news., 1885-07-21

that this year, at any rate there is
no foundation fer anv such charce
against the modesty Of the Cape MAY
ladies, perhaps because they are of
a style that needs no adventitious
setting eff in the way of excessive
abbreviation of attire. A man look
ing for information on this subject
to-day watched the rise and fall of
the bathers in the inviting pillows.
A bit of wreckage hoated ashore near
him. 1t had black eyes, dark hair
streaming to the waist, and too wavy
to hang in strings, and plump cheeks
softly Drowned. A big breaker had
tumbled it somewhat, but it did not
seem seriously damaged. 1t didn't
look frightened, and the man ven
tured to introduce himself as a meek
and lowly seekerMwlxnowledge.
Are-that is, dotney wear-I mean
welfare bathing suits shorter than
usual this year ?"
Sparkling teeth Illuminated the re-
ply. Why, don't know l think
there have been enough to 90 around
so far"
Desperation-neryed the man tried
again. You didn't understand !
meant to ask, that is, wanted to know,
you know, if, mean whether, that is,
if it is true that the ladies' skirts are
shorter than usual this season"
A little, neatly slippered foot stole
from under the red-braided edge of a
skirt A slender hand, tipping long
white arm, pulled the skirt until it
almost covered red-stockinged knee.
The teeth cleaned again, almost wick
edly: Do you call that short ?"
and before the rash man recovered
from the shock a light laugh and a
head of dark hair were plunging into
the breaker nearest shore, and some
thing red and alluring flashed mo-
ment above the water.
Taste in bathing suits at the Cape
this year runs toward the old quiet
blues and grays. Dark blue, set off
with narrow red braid, and cut ever
so little to fit the figure, is the favor
ite. A novelty in surf caps is a sort
of oil-cloth sunshade of bright blue
or red, but for attractiveness the red
handkerchief, tastfully knotted into
the hair, takes the palm. A new and
very tasteful notion is the wearing
of collars in the surf-not the white
lace frills around the neck, but real
stiff white collars. fastened at the
throat with q little pin, or sometimes
with a red rosebud securely pinned
on. The little device sets off the
costume wonderfully The collars are
made of some material that does not
wilt " in the breakers, as before they
were wet at ALL Bare arms are some
times INDUCED in, where the arm is
a fine one, but sleeves are still most
common. Stockings, dark ones, usu-
ally, and slippers, are still requisites
of the Cape May costume in the surf
A local paper yesterday mentioned
that lady, guest at one of the ho
tells, wore so well-fitting bathing suit
with her red stockings that she was
universally admired. To-day twenty
three different ladies came to the beach
by way of past that hotel, and all wore
cardinal stockings. The men couldn't
tell which was the which.
Fishing excursions are very popular
with the summer visitors. A party
of three ladies on one the other dav
came back with q story of having
caught four hundred and seventeen
weak fish. The oldest and best de-
veloped fish-story teller of the native
population shivered as he heard this
tale, and, going out, wept quietly
for half an hour.