The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-05
THE NARRAGANSETT BEACH.
A solemn Chapter on the Revela-
tions OF the Bathing suit.

HGathn in the Cincinnati Enquirer;
The sea beach at the bathing hour has
been much exploited at this point, and
l am not sure that l did not frat call
attention to it when came here seven
or eight years ago. At that time the
bathiug dresses, such rs worn at pres
emit, had not come into universal fash
ion; we were little provincial, and
when we saw a fine woman come to
the beach in red stocking and white
skirt and breeches, with her arms
barred to the armpits and, perhaps, a
"a uare cut bodice upon her neck, we
were little surprised, as it were.
Since have been here this time see
every reason to qualify my former
sketch all the bathing dresses are now
composed OF a ekirt to the knee,
breeches under the skirt, loosely cut,
full hose to about the knee, and, gen
orally speaking, arms bare to about
half way up the muscle. The bodies
of the dresses now extend up to
the throat, and full pro-
portion Of the women wear their cor
sets beneath the jacket. Three-fourths
of the bathers wear turbans, some
times red, sometimes blue, sometimes
black, occasionally bandannas. In a
few cases you see large red scarf
worn round the middle, with the ends
hanging almost to the feet. But 80 far
from the present dress having any inn
modesty about it, / saw it put to the
test day or two ago, when along the
bathing house front walked q young
woman with illusion over her arms
and bust, and every person stopped
looking at the legs of the female bath:
ers to look at the arms and bust Of
that girl. So msnifestly the most i'm
modest dress is that which is worn at
dinner and OF evenings, in the privacy
of homes or the publicity OF hoEels.
The bathing dress which merely, ex'
poses the muscles OF the arms and legs
is commended by health, and seen q
few times ceases to awaken any excite
ment in the manly heart. Although
everybody at Narragansett exposes the
limbs, YOU hardly ever zee there leg
without a stocking over it, whereas
if you 90 into the vicinity OF New
York or to Atlantic City or Watch
Hill, you will find large proportion
of the bathers with naked EGGS and
feet and with such large arm holes to
their jackets, that they might as well
have mad the top Of the corsets cut OIL
and the fountains Of life fully exhib.
tied az in some OF the fashions OF
three quarters Of q century ago. The
experience OF the sea bath is tolerably
clear evidence that not in her feet but
in her neck and shoulders lies the
animal attractivenesJ OF woman. The
hest point about Narraganeett is that
women who thus show their hose are
of a socially and spiritually refined
type. The mere hoyden or maid sell
want or actress whom you see dis
porting herself in the surf, with
her knees turned toward the spec
tators on the beach, may be seen
in other places as coquettish with
her charms, but at Narragansett
YOU see the engaged woman, the young
heiresp, the Considerate or obedient
daughter, or the prudent and particu-
lar wife, arrayed according to the de-
mands of the bath. Nobody thinks
any evil, and in point OF fact there is
but little Irritation in the water be-
tween the sexes. There are not enough
men, in the first place, 10 take care OF
Ali the women, and at NarTaganset THE
women prefer each others society in
general to that of men unless they
mean business and have good stand
inR. / was talking with an old 90
ouaintance who has family Of daugh-
ters and engaging wife upon his piazza
at Rarragansett, When:this questioned
dress came up, and he said; ut Is all
nonsense 10 pretend any woman can
learn TO swim as long as she wears her
Qarters below her knees. She must
9arter herself above the knee 80 as TO
set everything free there, where the
bones and cords have relay."