Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-07-26
PORTALS NEW YORK LETTER

New York, July 23.--lt came about
in this way: The Cynic ard were
sitting by one of the big windows of
the Red Room Of the Astoria, looking
over the comic papers, with their
perennial July jokes about the bathing
suit and its shrinking qualities.
''fou women are such fools," he
went on. never begging my pardon for
the strong language, for he knows full
well that am aware that under all his
oynism he does not think Portia fool.
= You will scream when puff Of wind
unfurls lace ruffle of your petticoat
on a yacht, look askance at a maid who
crosses her knees and exhibits dainty
ankle clad in silk in a ball room, and
think the woman bad form who allows
too much frou frou OF rutiles to show
as she steps from her carriage. And
yet Mt Long Branch saw these self
same women In bathing suits Of
clingiug kind, cut above their knees,
sitting about the beach with tine
abandon of Eastern houris. Ma fol
| hare seen q debutante' with O low
cut gown at Sherry's in the winter and
in the summer with her high cut
bathing suit thigh from the other
end, ~ he said, with that peculiar
clbllu Va MS, duu bbll WI bbuf
Portia, man does not remain long in
Ignorance Of the curves Of her dainty
figure" and he turned to sip his
Vischy and milk.
promptly resented his remarks and
tried to stand up for my sex. But
betN cen you and me, had the poor
end of the argument. had to admit
great deal OF truth in his biting
sarcasm, and though the present styles
may be an improvement on our grand.
mothers beach garments, big flannel
boomers ending with ruiile around
the ankle, the shaEely blouses and the
big scoop hats shielding the face and
| turned lpp at the hnck. Yet doesn' t
| the 1900 mermaid venture too far over
| the border line of the uncony entional
when she attempts TO WOO Noptunes
We SO easily get over icing shocked.
| Things that years aye would have
broughta blush to damask cheek are
| now tolerated and talked of with the
| most SAVIOR faire.
First, came the bicycle skirt, just our
old walking skirt cut off to the ankles
then Dame Fashion shaped that a bit,
| cut off few inches, allowing the shoe
tops to be visible, and the girls with
the good looking ankle Kept on allow
Ing a moderate shrinkage of the skirt
until bIoycle exhibits became bit
| spicy, and the bathing suit next took
a start, and now it has gone above the
knee and the modest maid who covers
ner. ankles discreetly in the drawing
room has no ccmpunction about ex.
hibiting silk clad knees on the beach.
At foreign resorts most Of the bath
houses are on wheels and are pushed to
the waters edge, from which the bathei
steps into her bath. Beach bathrobes
are also foreign custom, but .the
freedom of the American resorts where
lovers of Neptune of both sexes loaf or
the shining sand, presents an exhibit
tion of an neutrality-suspicious. mass o.
legs.
Abroad, milady takes her salt dir
from one portion of the beach, Will,
her gallant Loohinvar pluuges in th,
briny deep from another portion. Thil
division of the sexes in delightful arc
innocent sport seems unnecessary, ant
there Is no reason that miloid ane
milady should not, take their dip IL
old ocean in each others company
Why not? We are fast believing In co
education, SO We will call this co-sea
bathing, but will confess, Beth, tha
| i Hhb u ltItlb lbso VI DHllbt oAuipit
J We are not ashamed OF our human form
divine, but custom has made it i'm
perative that we observe certain re
serve. The South Sea Island maide
thoughtlessly goes in the surf exposin
/ her bronze body to the admitting ray
of the sun, hut it behooves US ON Broad
way and fashionable beach resorts I
be more careful, and then, those littl
short skirts have ever been associate
with the coryphee ladies.
But ] did not begin this letter, M
dear, with an idea Of giving disserta
ton on beach dress reform. IT'S nc
{ my province; it is enough for me
tell you what / see and what Dam
: Fashion edicts for Neptune's glor
this year. Ex!raVagance enters int
one's beach clothes to great ezte1
this summer. A black satin bathin
suit is considered au fait, and theI
is a sort of satin that comes very shin
and very stiff and sheds the water Lib
a ducks back. Ard plated skirt {
: this material, with blouse waist AN
choker collar whose only ornament
: q gold horse shoe pin, presents matt
appearance. But We cannot all wei
black satin.
II Next to that, from a standpoint
J appearance, I.ouisine silk is most uset
= saw one at Cape May the other day
= the waist was made like shirt wais
. = of tiny tucks, the skirt was fitted oy
'. tho hips as snugly as milady's waikiki
). skirt, and hung in pleats on the sid
= tiaring out very full at the Knees I'll
!, silk was black and the only color reli
= was bright orange yellow around ii
y choler collar and in monogram {
. the left sleeve, which gave chic a
!, pearance TO the whole.
y Mohair is much in vogue, In fact,
', is the most used material this year.
comes In all eolors and one sees de
4 of blue, but this is bit old-fashione
y and to be distinguished now days o.
y must &C out of the heaten path. Viii
mohair is very stylish IL relieved
y black traid. Black mohair, trimm
y with color or unrelieved is equal
y fashionable.
70 Most of the suits are made with {
y undertaking in the waist This, ma
!. to fit we'll, does away with the niece
= sity of wearing stays in the water,
~ most reprehensible custom and o
"A which renders the wholesome NOV
~ ~ ment OF freedom In the water imps
~ sible.
A correspondent writes me of 81
worn at Cape May which has attract
universal attention aud admiration.
err is made Of blue and white ticking, s
ye tells me, though | at first insisted
must be denim, mo, Just the pla
-, | lad t;,ly;no 1ba ipeieiaG IT, h nc