The Portland daily press., 1895-01-12
SEA BATHING IN WINTER.


PIunges in the North Atlantic During
January.
Sea bathing as a winter pastime has
something of a frosty sound, even In
the warm carpeted bath rooms. II
man talks about cold plunge in the
morning, when the thermometer hovers
around zero, he is looked upon with awe
as a phenomenal shock resister and
man of uncommon courage, writes the
Asbury Park, NJ, correspondent OF the
New York Herald. What, then, must be
Thought of the man or woman who, to-
tally disregarding the icy winds of win
ter on bleak Jersey coast, will dip
pleasantly every day in the briDy deep
and not shiver at all?
There are several winter bathers in
Asbury Park. Two or three take only
an occasional dip, but Catain A BRAN
Baker, a wealthy resident of the Park,
who lives in handsome cottage at the
corner of Fourth and Grand avenues,
goes in very often. The captain is
character, with physique to match.
There has never been time within the
past twelve years that Captain Baker
was not the most observed man in AS
bury Park.
in the summer months his tall, power
full frame looms up like Leviathan on
the board walk. He invariably appears
in light blue outing shirt. pair of
linen trousers, and very seldom-only
on extremely cold days-with an overcoat.
If perchancs he wears an ovecroat the
undercoat is left off. Captain Baker is
seventy years of age, and was one OF the
old fortynlnsrs. He is strong and robust
and walks with soldierly bearing.
The Captain believes that only the
men who don't smoke or chew are able
to stand winter surf bathing. He says
he bathes about twenty-five times in
Noyem Der, and about dozen times in
December, and regularly from April to
the middle of January, and would keep
it I'D all winter but for the fact that
Senator Bradley's bathing houses are
just little bit too icy for use. The
Captain bathes every day from April l.
to Septem ber15. He goes in twice day,
remaining in the water not over ten
minutes at time. He claims that to
battle longer than that time is injurious.
People think it is good for them to
bathe over half an hour at a time" says
the Captain, but they are not benefited
by it. They make a big mistake in do
ing this, and they lose considerable
strength, instead of gaining it,"
The Captain maintains that if the peo-
pie after their daily bath would lie in
the sand, out of the sun, for about nalf
an hour, they would feel much better,
and would improve their health to
great extent. He does not go into the
icy waters as much, he says, as he would
had he commenced to battle some twenty
five or thirty years ago, claiming that in
that case he could stand the winter
baths longer and could take dip in old
Neptune in the coolest days of the win
ter.
In going into the water he always
wears the regulation bathing suit, and
enters the water at Founder Bradley's
Seventh avenue bathing grounds. Gem
orally the Captain Isl accompanied by
two elderly ladies, who are stopping
here. They are Miss Armstrong and
Miss Milliken, whose modesty forbade
them to tell me of their winter baths.
They requested that nothing be said
regarding their dips in the icy waters,
saying that they have ceased it but
few days ago.
Captain Baker says it is just as pleas
ant to go bathing in the winter as in the
summer. The air, he says, is a little
cooler, but then one does not mind that
after taking dip now and then. Once
in the W alter, he claims, that it is just as
same to him as in the summer, but says
the trouble comes in when he finishes his
ten minutes bath and comes up out of
the water into the cold winds and air,
and while he is dressing. little walk
after this, and he is again in fine spirits,
and says he could stand another bath,
but as his own rules forbid his taking
but from two to three dips week in
this sort of weather, he waits until his
time for another bath comes.
The Captain claims that not being a
smoker or chewer helps him to a
great extent, as tobacco destroys animal
heat and nerve power. He never over
loads his stomach and takes plenty of
outdoor exercise. The Captain never
frets or worries.
He takes life easy and never allows
any worriment to enter his mind, claim
| ing that no one would fret if in good
health He avoids all the excitements
| possible, for they always, according to
| his doctrine, lower the strength.
"If people would do like this. says the
Captain, "they could battle as well as
| | do, and today l feel as though / am
| no more than forty years old in my
| feelings and reality" r'@+-s
GnENn rpEgEIV Dali NAV