New-York tribune., 1901-07-14
REVIVAL OF SURF BATHING
MORE POPULAR WITH THE MASSES
THIS YEAR THAN FOR A LONG
TIME BEFORE

TIME BEFORE.
''New-York has not had the surf bathing fever
as badly for nearly twenty years as II has this
year" said the proprietor of of the biggest
hathhouses on the Coney Island shore yesterday.
He should know about It, for he has been in the
bathhouse business at different points along the
shores of Long Island for twenty-five years. The
appearance Of the beach at any one of the many
Bathing resorts near the city certainly bore out
his statement. The sands were black with more
or less water soaked. sunburned mass of humanity
that knew neither age, color.
There was big boom in surf bathing as many
twenty years ago." continued the bathhouse
man. I'VE did not have lighthouses for half the
crowd that swarmed out from the city. 1t was the
proper thing to out In the morning and stay
until late in the evening. The number of people
who spent Sundays in the was nearly as
great the number who spent it in church.
There were swimming clubs and swimming parties.
and instead OF taking their best girls to the roof
gardens the young men brought them to the beach
and ducked thcm in the surf. Oh. 1t great
business for us!''
And what happened to it?' was asked
That's something. young man. that we never
found out. The boom lasted for about three sea-
sons. Just men with money had decided that
II was to be permanent and putting their
money into bathhouses and beach Improvement
the surf bathing fad faded out. We had the same
people that had always been coming. but nothing
to brag about
For the last three years the owners Of beach
property have noticed steady increase in the
number OF surf bathers. This year. although the
has not yet reached its height, there is ev-
dence that last years crowds will be outnumbered
The surf bathing fad that died twenty years ago
has risen from the dead.
''Fads like cats" added the bathhouse man:
they have nine lives. The surf bathing fad IS
now in the midst of its second life and hope il
will use up the remaining seven without intermis-
sion"
SWIMMING CLUBS INCREASE.
The swimming clubs that were so popular a.
decade ago are being reorganized this year. They
are mostly formed Of young who get off at a
certain time every Saturday afternoon or who
spend their Sundays together. They number from
ten TO twenty-five members. and their meetings are
held a week in the surf of their favorite
beach. They usually suits alike. some hav-
Ing monoSrams or names stamped across the chest
Some meetings last six or seven hours. with a
short trip off the beach for a light luncheon This
trip can be made in most places without taking off
the bathing suits. Some of the bathing clubs adj
nit women members. but the practice is not gen.
eral. because women a class far behind men
In the DEVELOPMENT of the art or knack of sv,n,
ming.
One club-the Hacyon-meets every SATURDAY. az
Brighton There twenty young men on the
membership rolls In the winter they are mem
bers of popular singing society. Their games on
the beach range from leap frog 10 baseball In
the water they follow the leader" race one an
other through the breakers and do diving stunts
from n convenient float.
We find this swimming club business great fun -
said one of the members to a Tribune reporter
We have TO work hard during the week and need
the recreation Surf bathing is the only exercise
that is at the same time cool and comfortable In
not weather. We used to think the bicycle was cool
enough but that idea mas been exploded Golf good
exercise and not too strenuous for the summer bur
II is too expensive for most young men The pub-
lie links crowded with
On the golf links the crowd makes difference
on the beach 1t is case of the more the merrier
bring on the multitude"
WOMEN ON THE BEACH.
me fact that few women good swimmers
does not Keep them out of the surf. or at least
from coming the beach in bathing suits Eor
many the presence Of women in numbers is one
of the requirements OF a good bathing beach They
give the necessary. touches of color and thair
shrieks, as the turf tumbes them about minsie
with the rumbling roar Of old ocean to make
the music OF the beach. Even the ones who don't
80 near the water pleasing 10 look at whom
one has tired OF fighting the waves and comes
back 10 the sand for rest In fact the women
VINO stay out are generally more pleasing than
those who go in That IS the reason they st,,.
Why don't you come into the water?' pleodsd q
tall brunette of petite blonde on the Nanbot+a
beach the other afternoon
The brunette was dripping with water which
made her black bathing suit look like silk and
6p-
ure Her hair was the supreme touch She had
discarded the OF oil silk and every black braid
ghstened and shone in the sunlight
You ask thatr exclaimed the blonde ..JF ,,o,
nad my hair you'd be satisfied with a sun hath
You know the salt water only adds TO the ustre ~
your black tresses. but 1t changes mine from gold
to mud" N
She stayed on the beach, and. as the majority of
the other sun bathers had light hair. there must
be something in the theory of which she spoke.
III had girl of whose affection / was not
quite sure I'd bring her to the beach and .clnch
the thlhS' said the man who is hired by one Long
islahd oeach resort to save lives He is tanned to
the color OF roasted coffee already. and two race
track frequenters are making a book on the exact
shaue OF color he Will show when the bathing sea-
son closes in September.
HOW HE WON HER LOVE
You can't make me believe that n chan can
make sure OF woman's love simply by bringing
her to the beach, said from town who
was listening. and who had tried the beach racket
and host of other things with a certain girl who
refused to be thereby.
you've got to make her think you saved her
ltfe." said the lifeguard. There are ways of
doing it. and there ways he added with a
twinkle in his eye.
Tell us easy one" demanded one of the men
The easiest l have seen was worked OUT
couple In the surf, and liked them. The man
couldn't swim. and her ladyship knew Just enough
teased him cut the life lines as far as he dared
go, Then she struck off toward the with a
wheel steamer She turned to como back but had
gone too lar She went under, and it frightened
second time hen rSe yeird and sn, hs ehSp aG"M mns
was holding 10 the life lines yelled. | swan out
got wny nsr "r a9h ddP She ha
within my depth. The fellow reached where