Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-01
GAY SUMNER GIRLS"
A CONVENTION At AsBuRY PARK IN
THEIR BATHING SUITS.
They VIII Not TIE Tyraunized by the "Old
Hens"-A Novel Scene In Hotel
Parlor-The Girls Frolic Freely
Now.
corro,pondonco Of NO Richmond Diapa,ch.l

NV YoRW. August 80, 1882.
Asbury Park. albeit it IS but little
dot on the coast OF new jersey. has man
aged to stir up more sensations during
the past two or three seasons than q
dozen more pretentiOus watering-places.
OF course. as everybody knows, 1t IS
highly moral summcr-reGort. Nothing
improper in tho slightest degree is tole-
rated there. 1t is even asserted by old
timers that the waves show proper sense
Of decorum in dealing with the -bathers,
and that Father Neptune put his foot
down on his too frolicsome water ymphs
and would not permit them 10 take liber-
ties with the fair forms OF the pretty
girls, tossing them high mp in the surf
and again launching them ont feet fore
most like an on-coming catamaran, as
the sea does at Long Branch aud Nara
gansett Pier.
COMMITTEE OF MATURE NATIONS.
In addition to its police, who are all
selected for their pious demeonor and
severe expression OF cOuntenance III
dealing with recalcitrant bellies and
beaux who insist on remaining on tue
beach at forbidden hours. there IS a co-
tcrie Of censors composed largely OF
elderly ladies', which makes a regu-
lar social inspection Of the de-
lightful resort at stated intervals.
This they do on their own &C
count exclusively, for even Asbury
Park has not ovoluted so far ~ to
give the Committee OF Mature Matrons
and Maidens, rs the younger element
STYLES these self-constitutod mentors, any
formal authority. Naturally the young
sters rebel at such arPus-eyed dictation,
and there have been instances where a
new and gay arrival, when she has been
taken in hand by some prying commit
teewoman, has been known to be so i'm
polite as to tell the investigator to
"mind her own business. Such rude
ness OF course could not be tolerated
/ LATITUDE II BATHING-RoBEs.
/ There is no resort IN the United states
where SO much latitude is allowed in the
wearing OF bathing garments Every
! lady seems to have brought to AsbuEy
Pork her own selection in the way OF
bathing-robes, and the result IS y stun
ming array Of fanciiul costumes that
would mako the fortune OF an enter
( prising photOgrapher-but the pho
tcgraphers OF the place are all OF the
other kind and would not "take q
pretty girl in her shOrt-skirted ana
suuQ-ftting bathing-gown for the world.
So the dears and there are lots OF
them-wear the short dresses ns long as
they can, and on almost every occasion
within certain hours. One Is surprised
to meet on the boardwalk a be7y OF
handsome women, logged out IN the
most approved costumes OF the modern
water-nymph, lcisurely toddllng down 70
the sands and chatting pleasantly Just rs
free from restraint rs though they were
on Broadway in their regulation gar
ments on q shopping excursion.
sHAPBLT LDBs,
ivory necks and shoulders there are IT
dlstractinr abundance, and there Is nC
effort made to conceal them either. Inc
mass Of black or golden hair IS caught
ND in natty little silk cap that looks too
cute for ANYTHING, and the lower limbs
are encased in dark or brown hosiery
contrasting charmingly with the color o
the skirts. which are brief enough 10 SUI
notions Of ballet dancer.
One sunny forenoon last week there
was a gathering in the parlor of one o
the Ashury Park hotels. 1t wns regu
lar conventiOn-and such IA convention
Never before in the history OF dellbera
tive assemblies was such n scene VII
messed. There were about twenty-five
girls present each in her bathing suit
and they had met to resent in prope
and becoming manner the attempted
censorship OF those ladies whom some O
the Younger and more daring girls lrreve
rently dubbed the "old hens.
A WAR or WOMEN.
A lovely little blonde in white fan
mol snit trimmed with blue and wcarinf
the incest of hosiery put a russet-shod
tiny foot upon the edge Of chair ano
called The meeting to order. She state'
that they had been tyrannized Ions
enougb and IT was about time something
was done to check the impudence OF TIT
cold hens.
"a chorus of "Thats it," "Th'
mean things" and similar expression
greeted her remarks.
1--WE bathed at Capo May and Nahan
md everywhere" she said, Eat Dlepp'
and BRIGHTON too, and nowhere woui'
snch interference be permitted. We ar
American girls and We know how 70 be
have. if we are inclined to have LITTLE
fun while We are about 1t. This p,ac
doesn't belong to those old Miss Grun
dys. and we shan't allow them to mono
police il.
BAND OF BUSYDODIEs.
A tall. splendidlyformed girl, will
flashing black eyes and GTcclan nose
rose from her seat on the sofa by tn
window and said that the best way woult
be to DO Just as they pleased and saul
their prosecutors.
"Ihey are simply a band of busy
bodies" she said, archly, "and | don
think we had better say a word to them
1t might crafty them to have an opei
quarrel about 1t. They insist that W
should wear more decorous bathing
clothes. Why. what's the matter wit
us now, girls!
" W q are All IlSilt N"iHO ia " N''N' "
from the chairs, sofas. and ottomans.
"Thev can't wear anything but gunny
Tag suits themselves, continued the tai
girl. land thew are afraid to bathe whe
anybody is around.
A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
Owe make 10 reflection upon thel
looks, for that would be mean but the
have no right TO compel lis TO he rs III
calmly as themselves, and that IS Jus
what they mean to do. They insist tia
We shan't wear our suits unless we ar
ready to so into the water. Now, | Ink
the freedom of bathing-suit, and II
choose to wear it few hours in the day
time for my own convenience, its nc
body's business"
Several other girls spoke in the sam
independent strain. Finally the httl
blonde took off her silk cap and WHIP
ned out sheet of paper.
"Here girls. she said. "here's som
resolutions three of us wrote out thl
morning, ana if you like III read them.
They we're read and cheered to Tn