Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-12


The picture just given represents nymph
making leap from the platform in the cen
ter, another flying head first from the steps,
and n third taking running jump from an
other step, while in the water may be seen a
whole school of bathers. Observe the COS
tune universally worn. 1t is sensible and
beautiful, and destitute of that horrible ap-
pendage, skirt, which hampers the move
ments and adds to the uglineSs of women who
hattie at seaside resorts Is.re the costume is a
snug, sleeveless garment cut to fit the body,
and covering it only from the neck to the
knees Nor is it any more indecorOus than II
skirted costume, for it covers the form
enough to preserve the decencies and even the
deliCacies, and allows perfect freedom of
movement Imagine a woman learning TO
swim in skirts
After several visits TO this bath made up
my mind that clothes contribute largely not
only to the appearance of age, but to the
feeling of age. Gray haired and withered
women looked like young girls in these bath
ing costumes, and disported themselves with
a grace and energy characteristic of youth
They forgot their years when the garments
that represented them were laid aside What
a pity they could not be permitted 10 wear
such clothing as would enable them to forget
it all the time: How persiStently our COS
TUNES and customs enforce age upon women.
A woman in her forties stepped gayly out of
her dressing room III blue flannel hath suit
that made a child of her at once why, |
don't feel bit more than 10 years old she
said, in delighted tone, with face all
aglOw at the precious few moments of free
dom from conventional clothes that was Just
then ahead of her. She didn't look more
than Il, at most. She had delicate and ex-
tremely girlish figure, with dainty, white,
childlike arms, and face that had something
OF the expression, As well as the roundness, of
childhood in it still BY and by, when the
bath was over, and she was arrayed in her
long skirt, hustle and bonnet, and. she dig
nifty of her station, she looked her 10 odd"
years TO day. Yes, am sure that dress
is the worst enemy women have 10 fight
1t is the most active agent in making them
old. We are suffering from too much .ivili-
ZatiOn.
Many good swimmers are among the
hathers. They paddle about quite at their
ease, cheering and encouraging the timid
Any one chats with her nearest neighbor if
she feels like it, and the neighbor replies un-
he>itatingly. Here, too, the absence of the
conventional garments has wrought a good
result 1t has removed the constraint which
curses women when they are thrown together
i'll an informal way In the costume of the
bath they act quite like men, and indulge in
no foolishneSs in the way Of drawing lines.
Everybody is the equal of everybody else
while i'll the water. After they are arrayed
in their street clothes they become prim and
rigid again, looking well to the Lines" as
drawn by the fiend Caste.
The next picture represents the swimming
teacher with pupil in tow. Ordinarily the
rope is held in front Of the swimmer, and il
the main agent, In the early stages of the art,
of keeping her head out of the water. Only
an advanced pupil has the rope fastened at
her back. Then she is truly at sea, for if she
becomes panic stricken she has nothing TO
clutch at but the unsubStantial atmosphere
and the unCOngenial water. The teacher,
herself a natator al adept, calls out: Push
out more to the des with your feet; paddle
slowly with yOIr arms; feet down; down;
keep your arms under water" and other
mandatory instructions The pupil struggles,
claws at the water, gaspS, but persists, and Is
frequently graduated with honors.
One young girl who swan well told me that
she taught herself this season by hanging
about the steps, without a teacher. Finally
she gained confidence, launched out, and
fOunl that she could swim as well as any one.
One day, while splashing around in the
bath, | saw an elderly German woman.