The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1894-09-01
straw hats or caps. We all look redicu.

groteslne and fantastic disgnises. But
on we go, crosA the walk crowded with
people, descend the stairs under a pier
where hundreds roll in the sand, and ont
to the avenues Of dampness fenced in
with four IL inch ropes strung on iron
posts driven deep. reaching ont several
rods into the ocean. and plunge in. The
temperature of the water is.taken every
morning and bulletined at the bath
houses. as we'll as the hours of the tide.
In July the temperature runs from GO to
20. In September it gets up to so. Nice
then. The morning we tried it first it
was 63. Whew! hut it was cold. Tie
water isrhiine and you are in an ice
cream freezer. Beyond the first breaker
all is clear sailing. The water is so
dense and heavy with salt, it up bears
one, and swimming easily and floating
on the back is glorious. Just the slight
est motion of the arms keeps one level,
and the billows go under you like the
everlasting arms. 1t is divine to lie
there and rock, now on the crest OF
big wave, now:in the hollow. 1t is great
fun to go out several rods, and swim in;
each wave sends you like Il pile driver,
then the relluent wave sucks you back
till another blllow scoots you on again,
and the surf pitches you high up OIL the
sand. Great fun, too, TO wallow in the
c,,,j ;uc4 media fbo krool,or onJ lot 4
tumble you about in the white soap suds.
only the returning water on that shelly
ing shore peppers one with shells and
pebbles, often abrading the skin. The
under-tow is so strong that this fusilade
of pebbles is like shot out of Gatllng
gun.
The women hang to the ropes and
hardly venture beyond the breaker, the
timid things, but are really in the most
perilons place. 1t is the breaker or surf
that knocks. The amusement on the
beach is to see the ladies catch it in the
surf. Some times half II dozen Of assort-
ell sizes, fat and lean, gothic and rotund,
thin creatures and creatures Of breadth
of beam and redundant fullness OF PROV,
bead a rope in a string, and take the
butfeting of the breakers; it knocks
them galley west" bnries them, fills
their mouths with brine and sand. and
they sputter and scream and laugh, and
get up and hang OH and are hit again as
by the end Of s. barn flung il a cyclone
Ii the pretty geese would go out ten feet
further, they could have perfectly
lovely time. As it is, they are often
Knocked loose from the rope and rolled
in the sand or turned end over end, and
as the laughing, shrleking mermaids gel
on their beam's-end. there is such !;
ridiculous scurrying down Of skirts ant
pulling up Of stockings that a craven
image would laugh at the spectacle.
Bathing guards in swimming costumes
are on duty constantly at each of the
grounds during the bathing honrs. The,
are po "erfM swimmers, with legs ant
arms tanned to the hue OF bronze hI
exposure to the sun. Each has stou,
belt around the waist to which is attach
ed ring Mt the back. If their services
are needed they first snap the end of {
! light braided cord, running from spindles
on the SSeeach. to their belts before plung
ing in, in order ti.::sat assistance may bt
given rescuer and rescued from of shore
Owing to the constant vigilance Ct thest
guards no lives have ever been lost al
Asbury Park. but narrow escapes are not
uncommon, two OF which occurred during
our stay, one, young lady. so far gone
as to need the services of physician.
Though the sea water is usually fear
fully cold to one not accustomed TO il
and though one may be mantled will
goose-liesh and teeth chattering till the,
are liable to fall out, one does not TAXI
cold. Two rough towels we'll piled
brings on the reaction and one comes on,
of the bath-house feeling like IL fighting
cock and with Il cooling sensation thai
lasts all day. A daily sea bath, if o
short duration, is a splendid tonic ant
gives one an appetite like an ostrich.