The morning times., 1896-07-26
Fair SEX 1T THE BEACH
Women Enjoy Their Hour in
the Water
THREE MORNINGS A WEEK

=
Wednesdays and Fridays-SoiBe
Pretty Costumes worn-But Few
Men Present-Incidents of the bays
When yVomenHaye Their Own Way
The free bathing beach Friday mcruin.
at O'Clock was the pleasantest SPOT in
the city 1t was not a choice morning
for swim, for the afr bad u dash OF
October sharpness and the water was
turbi1 from rain. 1t was the iast wornan's
hour of the week, however, and rely
ing on Officer Browne's assurance thai
snow couldn't keep the ladies away a
Times reporter awaited coiniug events IL
the superintendent Office, overfooking tho
beach. s-.f 49,.
The tide Tapped against the shelving
sand, and across the stretch of water the
stately outlines of Arlington stood out from
u magnificent background OF grcenery, that
In turn stood out ag iiust the SLY. a shabby
little brown tug lay beacned 70 the right
of the bathing grounds, and TO the left a
feet of tiny green skiffs boboed on the
yellow waves
A row or bath houses stood about stone's
throw from the water, and directly 'front.'
ing IL was the superinterdent,s shed. with
its one inciosed side hung with bathing suits
and Its rafters choked up with trOFes, metz
ard paddles and pair of rusty, furled
sails
Three men were chatting socially as
they worked at the tug, and a pugnacious
sparrow " as picking quarrel with little
brown wood iinnet over the ownership OF
a tres.
THREE DAYS A WEEK.
The one rule that governs the woman's
hour at the beach is that, on Monday, Wed
nesday and Friday mornings, from
Z to 8 O'Clock, no man uBac-
companied by q lady Is allowed in
the water. There Is no Charge whatever
for those bringing their own suits. and all
services rendered by the superintendent and
his life guards 10 the ladies are absolutely
free.
While the reporter was absorbing these
pleasant facts a substantial figure in black
jersey flashed from the bath house to
the water, and commemorate tumble around
in the waves as though IL were some mighty
grampus that had bluDdered out of the
sea or Fable into the peaceful shadows and
was lashing out its rage. Put it wasn't
grampus lit was simply the advapce quart
Of the mornings bathers testifying to bis
Keen enjoyment OF tie wafer and to the
n few minutes lie was ioiaed by another
young man in duplicate tights, WHO went
through similar gyrattoDs apparently with
the same degree of zess.
After swimming for about five minutes
around the spring board, rising from the
center OF the water, and sometimes diving
from it, there was an interchange OF shouts
from water TO bath house, and a young
woman, in picturesque sIanTeis. fairly flew
down the plank walk and bounding knee
deep in the water. stopped. with profess
sional caution, TO lave Ter head AID wrists.
A DARING SWIMMER
Gold, isn't it," she called out 10 the
young men, one of whom was her brother
Waters all right, but tile air is terrible.
Come on"
For an instant she stood erect and then,
with a swirl, fearless swoop she was uuder
tho surface. When her black head rose
from the water she was striking bee line
for the platform, and having gained fe,
climbed with agility to its gray flooring and.
seizng the ropes OF a hand swing. DIRE " her
self up until her feet cleared tie platform
by a yard. Then one OF the young men
gave her O vigorous push that sent her body
swa yiug over the water, and there she
swung by her hands, to and fro, higher and
hig her, asunconcerDetfly asthOagh she were
above her, and green turf to catch her il
she fell.
-,ner a bit she Stacked up, and, dropping
To the platform, stepped QUO to the ex-
treme edge Of the narrow spring board and
Joining her finger ,ipsabove her head-flash
she had cut the water like fish hawk
diving fog its prey. When she went under
the batch of spectators in the shed gave
a gasp, and when she bobbed up serenely
they eheered.
Meantime other bathers, both ladies and
gentlemen, had found their way to the
water, the former in dark flannels, indi-
viiualizssi only by the color of the braid
with which they weretrimmed: and the lat
ler in sleeveless, kneeiess, and almost neck
ess jerseys. which, looked at from strictly
itiIitarlsu Standpoint. was vastly the better
.er outfit Of thetwo.
TwOPRETTY COSTUMES,
While they were swimming around in
ligh giee, two young women tripped down
o the shore, and, having waded knee deep,
Proceeded like the others, to wet tier
wrists and crowns. They, too, were in
lark flanneiS that cleared the knee No
:aggy boomers were visible to mar the out
ire or clog the movement of the limbs which
we're simply shcathed in black hose Their
reads were capped and their pretty arms
we're bare The dresses were picturesque,
;ensible and modest.
As they besitated over their chilly duck
ng, Officer Browne swan shnreward until
lie stood before them, breast deep, and,
holding up his arm, challenged them to
plunge Immediately one girl tossed her
elf under with the abandon of 4 boy, while
he other crouched down gingeriy until
the water Topped over her shoulders,
whereupon she commenced 10 Lick it into
oam about her i'll vigorous but floundering
Efforts to swim
White the Officer swan about, INSTRUCT
ng and cncoura sinS by turns, a chorus of
approving calculations went up from the
he'd as pretty blonde sauEtered down
he weather beaten planks until she came
o the waters brim. Her dress was more
braided than the others; its
Yoke was cut a trifle lower, and she wore
10 cap to smother the golden beauty OF
er hair
Hurry oat,' cried somebody from tic
pringhoard, but the pretty blonde had no
otion OF hurrying. She contented herself
with wading out a Re " steps and then stand
ng there, laughing and dashing water at
be others, until a committee of one cane
'towing toward her. when size put out her
rms to ward him off and backed herself
o the sand
CoAXED INTO THE WATER
why doesn't she go out,''
why doesn't she so undef?"
These queries cane from beneath TIE
ailings of the shed, and tie reporter, Lean
Dg over. saw two young girls Standing by
heir wheels, both vitality Interested In the |
athers and both che wing gum.
Guess she doesn't want to wet her hair.
look at that other girl out there. Won't she |
e mad when she gets to coInbins out her !
angies.'