St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-26

get one or would dare to sell spirituous bev-
erages. Even a temperance bar would be
looked upon with suspicion; and suspicion
where women are concerned is only another
word for condemnation. One of the hotels
is suffering for lack of its usual patron
age this year because two or three
women were allowed to remain there
last year without being turned away
when the rest of the women frowned upon
them. These were fat women with
bleached hair, who went grabbing with men
not their husbands. while their husbands
were in the city. Nothing wrong is known
against these women. They were a little
loud and free, and they did not have their
marriage certificates framed and hung in
their bedrooms; but that was almost enough
to do for that hotel. 1t will have to be very
strictly managed for a season or two before
it will recover.
GRABBING
is the all-abSorbing sport here; and since it
neceSsitateS a surprising diSarTangement OF
dress, and nobody thinks of men, or consid-
ers them at all. those males who happen 10
be out walking or boating every day are
subject to some very rude shocks when they
come upon bevy of girls wading in the mud,
with their dresses punched at their waists,
and their stockinged limbs and well-laund-
dried linen startiingly displayed. Staid
fathers and lanky young brothers are
pretty certain to be in these picturesque
wading parties. and their presence, accord
ing 10 an odd feminine feeling, is not only
a protection against snakes. and against
the necessity of handling the crabs and
landing them after they are caught, but
ii is considered that they throw a
metaphorical blanket over the limbs OF the
women. who, consequently. go right along
with their sport when a stranger happens to
row or walk by them. just as if his presence
was ONO practical account whatever. con-
fess l cannot feel that way. like Grabbing
the pugnacious crawlers do battle so Tor
their freedom. and are so numerous, and
require SO much skill in the catchng-but
wien strange man If any man at alp
comes my way leap ashore, drop my
skirts and pretend to be very busy mend
Ing my net. | can't help it.
II used TO feel squeamish Just like you, !"
said my Boston friend Bessie, who comes
here solely for grabbing. but l think no
more Of being seen in Grabbing trim than
do of looking at a statue. You'll get used
TO it If you begin by having an old gentle
man or a boy along with you to give the
thing tone of propriety.n
And l am sure there never was a more
discreet and sensitive girl than this very
Bessie, who is
HORRIFIED AT THE SIGHT
Of the low slippers that / must say are
rather ostentatiously displayed on our hotel
piazza by the younger married women.
Perhaps she is over-sensitive on account
of her consciousness of the condition
of her own feet. for a sight of them
would surprise even battle-Scarred soldier.
You know these crabs are more stupidity
courageous than anything L know of except
a bulldog or a game-cOck. They don't run
as the Jersey and Maryland crabs no, but
rear up on their hind legs and tight net or
stick until they are bagged and
dumped in a basket. Bessie said she
was not afraid =, of them. and /
bet her a pair of gloves she didn't dare TO
walk h the canal from QuOque Bay to
Quantuck Pond, distance of about two
hundred yards of solid crabs. Over she
went, out Of the boat in her bare feet in
stead of her bathing-shOeS She got along
about a third of the way without mishap.
and scooped up the crabs almost as fast
as she could raise and lower her net.
Suddenly we heard a yell, and saw Bessie