Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-11
ROUND OF SOCIAL PLEASURES
How the Omaha Elite Are Learning
to Swim.
TENNIS TOURNAMENT RACKET.
The Cool Evenings Prove Favora-
bic to Lovers or the Dance
Breezy Resume of So
cial Gossip.


Omaha society has a new craze which
promises to rival the now almost forgotten
roller skate mania. The latest is the swim
ming school recently opened on Howard
street, and the ''fadr has in Its favor the
fact that a valuable accomplishment Is ac-
quired. The splashing of the water, the lit
tic feminine shrieks and gasps and the litter
ings and laughter may possibly convey
to the ears Of the masculine passers-
by some idea Of what might be
witnessed If he could get beyond the hand
somely painted screen which blocks his
view during the forbidden hours Of the fore
noon and on Monday nights.
A reporter, or perhaps reportress. found
her way beyond the screen the other day,
and found one OF tho gayest scenes which
was plunging about IN a bath tub-beauty
not exactly unadorned, but closely approxi-
mating it. Surely the venturesome youth
who discovered Diana and her nymphs did
not light upon a more bewildering scene.
The tank, or swimming bath Is about eighty
feet long, and Of a depth ranging from three
70 nine feet. There, splashing and tumbline
about In the water, shrieking, laughing and
gnspiug, clad in costumes of rainbow hues,
and of designs most conducive to freedom OF
movement were thirty or forty Of Omaha's
bellies. The whole surface of the miniature
lake was a maze Of cleaning white arms and
lhukulu IdCCbs ab oho Shu tho W.
ginners, with an immense amount Of %sputter-
ing and frantic plunges, were making the
first attempt, supported by q band around
the clest which was connected by a rope to
q wheel which ran back and forth along q
pole near the ceiling. The in.
s~tructor, Miss Estabrook, who, by the way,
IL an accomplished swimmer, manipulates
the ropes, and does 1t with infinite patience
md care.
20, yes,n she said, ''they all learn in a
little while, after they master theirstimidity,
but it is astonishing how they dread to get
into the water. That young lady over there
skirt, simply the drawers and sleeveless
trunk and her limb are consequently un-
trammeled and her stroke is graceful
and strong. This is her fifth
had quite q struggle to get her onto the
three foot platform. That's the way with
all of them, they shiver and gasp and
imagine themselves drowned for O few les
sons but 1t soon wears of and they are able
TO swim half an hour or an hour at q time.
NOur best WINNER is Miss Pollock over
there and she pointed to agraceful figure
poised on the end Of q springboard in the
f'ns 90 nsr , Divers ,oia attitude above With Sss ba sas
'She could support herself in the water for
half an hour without very much difficulty.
The one in the black bathing suit is Mrs.
less swimmer. Miss Nina Marshal, the
young lady in cream and blue, is also a good
swimmer. Miss Luna Dundy, Miss Agnes
Reed, Miss Brandeis, Miss Pundt, Mrs. Jo-
seph Clarkson and Mrs. Lille are all doing
splendidiy. and would not be very
seriously ~incommoded by a capsized boat.
The others of the class who can make the
circuit of the tank are the Misses Jennie
and May Wallace. Heimrod, Reynolds, Lot
tie Hobbs, Pundt, Bertha Meyers, Lulu
Loring, Lydia Loring, Catherine Reyolds,
Mrs. Kate Marschner and G. S. Poor. Miss
Sloan is absolutely fearless and in q short
time will be oneof the best"
Others now under instruction who are
making good progress and who will soon be
able to experience the delightful sensations
Of swimming, diving, floating and all the
rest of 1t are: Mesdames Thomas Orr, DR..
Burrows, S. Il. Alexander, John Williams,
II. L. Lalley, A. G. Powell, Scipio Dundy,
s. J. Howell, r. S. Pease, Misses E.. E.
Howell, Matte Stone, Alice Andre
sen, Nellie Pratt, Viola Pratt, Fanny
Butterield, M. Butterield, Fanny Croft.
Florence Coombs, Emma Drake, Welton,
Balbach, Larlmer, O'Neil, Nichols,
Woodman, Lena Marschner, Hungate, Mile
stone, Rindscopf, b. Seligson, Fanny Gil
bert, Mabel Hellman, Daisy Doane and Car
Iie Goldsmith.
They all seem to get an immense amount
Of enjoyment out of it, und certainly to a ma
tive Omahan the sight of the bellies OF society
c~leaying their way through the water, plung
ing headlong from the lofty spring-boards or
floating upon their backs is q novel one. On
Monday nights there are upwards of forty in
the water and between 100 and 200 visitors
The uproar which these nymphs create car
be imaoined