The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-08
ELLEN OSBORKS
FASHION LETTER.
Black Satin Bathing Dresses As
Worn by the Bellies Of Mar.
ragansett Pier.

- ARRAGANsETT PIER, r. L. July
There is more bathing than In
any previous season. or so II
seems.
- II has not been thus far n hot
summer People have been slow in
gathering at the beaches. yet the
pounding. crestlng breakers have never
carried 80 gay a freight OF laughing,
screa ming girls; the sun has never look
ed down upon sands so bright with tents
and gaudy bunting and hooded beach
chairs: never have children dug and tum-
bled with 80 much abandon: never have
wet-hafcd nymphs disported themselves
with so much freedom.
Or 80 Il seems.
Tho beach at the bathing hour IS yell
low and warm with sunshine and wildly
red with parasoIs. IT CLEANS with fash
ing figures from which rainbows drop
and sparkle. IT echoes with the maddest
raiiiery and II hides the shyest secrets.
II In tho Pier as the Pier forever has
been ard will forever be,
NafrsRansett IL chanRefess.
There are always tales Of the bathing
dress. and the tales are true-and un-
true.
No one can see straight when the sum
mer Is at it's prime and the hot air rises
from the white. salt sands,
The plainest maid becomes a Venus
drifting ON the foam.
And the simplest dress Is one Of which
10 talk. when every day is a holiday and
the air breathes summer warmth and
happiness.
The wild roses creep as close to the
water m the tides WILL let them and-and
It's proseic TO snin the flower scent and
say that satin makes the best bathing
dresa.
Hut It's true.
Unless one could borrow the diving
ssills' wings.
Black satin.
A shiny satin that's ugly indoors
away from the dancing light and the
binding. rioting waves.
It's useless 20 compete in color with
nature. Her tnts are stronger. more
dominant and pervssivs than any that
can he woven In looms. The blaze and
the fash and the fragrance Of her sub
due even the summer girl--and the bath
ing girl.
she takes to black. and she robes her
self very simply. And she throws her
SELF upon the mercy of the sky and the
sea-
saw n girl this morning ready for her
plunge.
She were severe black satin that help
I'd the wilderness of her skin. Her skirt
was tight about the hips and stopped
Just below the knees. II Jared like flow
or petals. The bodice was plain II was
made with little gathers In the front and
hack. and II had a sailor collar--a hig
one. Of pale green Agra linen A pale
ses-grecn chemisette filed in the bosom
and there was deep. pointed green
gtrdle
Tho girl were black silk stocking ana
green ana black checked kerchief sh.
had white teeth and red lips In he
waves shs was only black speck bur
whom she had done bathing She sat ~
the edge OF the water. and let down her
LONG blsck. shining hair
Then she was siren Her eyes spark
led and her smile was dazzling
The wind blew her hair dry, and she
braided II and threw about her shoulders
q long cloak; then she left tho beach, hut
II did not forget her,
All day the syn hleached md bltnched
the blues and the sceriets ana the yeiiaos
that challenged II. but IL the girI IN black
had reappesred IL would still have been
Mind
And vet she was no, pretty, but she
was wise
Black nuhair Is cheaper than satin ara
better than a color black alpaca ia not
bad. nor black flannel unless clumsy Eut
f there be no gloss "a a glri's skin no
i!ghtness, no brightness no spring nor
grace TO her movements she had hvt',,
aulk, like Achilles. In her tent than dare
tho water at NarragauSctt in aught hut
black satin.
There are giris who can wear -ed a
collar 10 black suit no more n tho
hather have passed se-or perhaps blde
Dark blue rs not a bad color unless il he
made commonplace with white braid. An