Evening star., 1895-06-06
BOYS ARE HAPPY NOW
Opening of the Popular and Delightful
Bathing Beach
Omccr Cotter Is on Hand and Dis
courses With His Accustomed
Wisdom md Philosophy.

Old Sol had not gone very far on his
course today when small, struggling
army started in the direction of the Wash
ington monument. What it lacked In num-
bers it more than made up In enthusiasm.
The objective point was the bathing beach.
Today 1t was thrown open to the public.
and. as the summer resort advertisement
reads, better than ever before" With the
81 600 appropriation granted the beach by
Congress, Superintendent Stevens has
worked wonders New and commodious
bath houses have been erected, a new div
ing stand put in position and an extra sup
ply Of swimming trunks purchased. Last
year scarcely a day went by that the de-
mand for swimming suits did not exceed
the supply.
Omcer Cotter jolly ms Usual.
The first thing the small boy notices at
the beach this season is a solitary little
house apart from all the rest
IT'S de lighthouse, Chimmie," observed
one of the boys. where Davie Cotter is de
keeper"
''Yis. and where he will kape his weather
worthy himself with broad smile as he
came from behind a bath house upon the
boys.
do you know. sur, feel like gettin'
DOyS
again. continued the paddle king, turning
to The Star reporter. This excitement Is
me loife. And love the boys and enjoy
their society. All, give me a good boy wild
just enough devil in him to make him sea-
sonable. We have very little trouble now
The boys are beginning to realize l am their
friend. and If have to use the paddle now
and thin, it's only what their parents
would have me do. Yis. know the old
timers. livery wan of 'em. and they have
been coming down here livery day for two
months watching and longing for the time
to come to open.
Boys Want Too Much of 1t.
'The only trouble have is in getting the
boys out of the water" he continued. Its
great sport for them and they hate to come
out but too much bathing is worse than
none at ALL and so / have to strictly en-
force the rule of three-quarters of an hour
Do they try to fool me? It's amusing to see
the tricks they resort to. but with a wink
l was boy myself vance, arrah, and l
know thing or two. When I furst came
here the way found out If boy had been
in vance wss to feel his head. If it was
wet, that settled it.
The Tricky Young Rascnls.
'Would you believe it, sur, it wasn't a
week before they was fooling me. Do you
see that bunch of weeds over there.
mean the big. high bunch Qndicating), well,
sur, one day five boys, wan after the other,
came to me for bath houses. Surely, sez
I, you boys have been in before today
Wild that l grabbed the furst wan and
pulled off his cap. His head was as dry as
a bone and combed and brushed SO nice,
ah, sir, it was beautiful.
4 was sure they had been In before and
rubbed my eyes for fear 1 was dramin'
So l lets them in and kapes me eye on
them. Wan was holdin' conversation wild
boy I had just called out and was point
in to that bunch of weeds. Up the walk
he comes, careless loikeD and dresses. Then
he sneaks over to them weeds, and tanks
him. as we uster say in the army. Would
you believe it, sur, them weeds was a
CROWN barber shop. The boys had look
ing glass rugged up and a brush and comb
in there barbering of each other. 1t was
the funniest soight iyer saw"
Popularity Of the Beach.
do you expect geod season.
1--WE will bate the record before the 1st
of August. This Is the most popular place
in the city. The ladies are finding that
out, and the last two weeks of last season
they fiocked here
'Is the beach safe this year?'
Surely. The beach always has been safe
enough. It's the foolish people who are
not safe. You tell them not to go beyond
their depth II they cannot swim, and the
first thing they do is to disobey you. The
beach has a gentle slope. and there is no
res son why there should be any accidents
If people will only exercise a little care.
We propose to take Just as much precau-
ticn as ever, and, with life guard in
beat and several outlooks. do our best to
prevent accidents. l wish you would say
in The Star" concluded the officer, that
before the season closes we will give
grand swimming carnival. There will be
prizes offered in all classes, but the con-
testants must be patrons OF the beach,"