St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-15

1E1or Fun and 3FroIic-Inciden ts
of the Promiscuous Swiin-Thel
III fWind-Up of a Good Time. So NJ
,I@ as. 6ZaYEs p nd
The projectors of the bath barge
would have ofelg. amply repaid for afb
tlIeiT care and ifofethought if theyo
could have taken a peep into the BARGE
last evening from Z to 9.o'clock. A score,
of young girls. from ten to twentyt We're
having the best time imaginable, Splash1I
ing aboutiin. the clean warm water os
the pool clad in the funny bathing
Suits-for were barhin& su lis ever anyS
thing else but funny-looklng?
On entering the barge the girls
passed through a covered passageway
to the dressing rooms on the outside of
the barge. There they exchanged their
clothes for the many-colored bathing
suits provided by the woman's auxiliary.
Full of fun and FRANKS as lot Of
lambs OreoltS or any other young, care
free animals, the DatherS scurry along
the side of the pool till they get their
courage up sufficiently to venture into
the water. This the holder ones do by
clambering, down one of the short
flights of steps placed at intervals along
the sides of the pool. Only those who
have watched children get into the
water can picture to themselves this
perfOI nance. First their bare Feet
touch the water, and chorus
of shriH little yells goes up
that frightens those more timid
who are still lingering on the brink,
causing them TO beat wild retreat 10
the seats along the sides, and we'll up
out of the way of the batherS.
At Last They're In.
Courage returns, however, and anoth-
er step is made into the water, more
little shrieks el1cit bubbles of laughter
from those in safety as well as some bits
of mild derision that act as goads to the
venturesome ones. Then some one,
even more ventureSome, makes big
step and lands on the floor of the bath,
with little rippies like ribbons of silver
clrcling about the girliSh neckS and
arms. Explanations of pleasure at the
warm sOftness OF the water, little
ecStatic jumps OF luxurious delight,
playful challenges that act like
''stumps," as they say, induce the fear
full contingent to make the venture.
And now the pool is pretty we'll filled
with girls of all ages and colors and ma
tlonalities, although English is the only
language, heard.
Ii you ever saw a bevy of black birds
in convention assembled discussing the
prospect for corn, you may have Some
idea of the sounds heard for the next
two hours in that barge, aud the fun
they have! Every little while some
irrepressible girl climbs up the side of
the bath Or'by extra effort onto the long
plank that bridges it half way, and,
running along, expresses her ecstacy of
enjoyment by prancing up and down,
while her companions, whose light
hearts make laughter easy, shout and
challenge and call; and, in fact, express
themselves Ill every way that girls can
think of. r..-.-.---. ~
Soon all but one sedate girl, the re-.
porter, ana little tot of seven or eight,
who is restrained by maternal injunc-
ton, are in the water, kicking and
splashing and swimming and ducking
for all they are worth. The little tot
looks at the reporter, and asks: -,
Are your girls in the water?" -..
No" says the reporter. ~
why don't you bring them? 1t
don't cost anything, and it's so lovely
| in there.'' =
She made a serious little mouth
| when told that the reporter had no
little girls, and said that her mother,
would not allow her to goin, because:
she thought the water too deep. but.
some day wien she don't have to wash
| she says she'll come here herself" and
the tot looked up with smiling eyes. So
| hope allures us all. ID
The time is nearly up. A few take
| advantage of the shower baths that are
ranged along one end of the pool. then
generous supply of towels are levied
| on, heads are c0mbed, clothes are
donned, friils adjusted and a crowd of
| clean. bright-taeed, comfortable girls
emerge from the barge and go their
several ways to their homes, blessing
| the kind heart that conceived and car
| RED out the project of the bath barge