The Washington times., 1904-06-19
WESTINGHOUSE FINE
BATHING BEACH
Ideal Spot for Recreation
In Summer.
BOYS AND MEN SWIM THERE
Cold Weather Of Last Week Cut Down
Attendance, But Warm Days
Will Come.

Boys in various parts of Washington
from the fashionable northwest TO The
densely populated southeast-are won
deriEg how much longer the weathe
man intends to keep them away from
the bathing peach. For the past week
the atmosphere in the immediate Nisn-
ity OF that great pleasure resort. as well
as in other parts OF the city, has been
too chilly and penetrating TO permit the
army of boys to enjoy the usual amount
of bathing, and little is the wonder,
therefore, that an air of gloom has fall
len over the younger citizens Of The
Capital.
Ever since the present cocl wave
wep over the city the beach has been
practically deserted That is ~ say.
there have been only a few hundred
daily who have had cour-
age enough 10 face the chilly blasts.
and when one remembers what a scene
Of life and activity the shores OF the
placid water presented less than ten
days ago. the Designation CT deserted
does not seem too fatceful.
Cannot Last Long.
But the lull in the excitement and
sport at the beach cannot last long,
probably less than three or four days
now. The sun at its present position in
the heavens IS bound to shine with more
warmth and with it's rays put TO flight
the cool winds that now sweep over the
city. Then. again. will the beach become
a picture OF life and gayety. a magnet
which draws hundreds and hundreds Of
happy youths.
Take a typical August day in Wash
ington. when the air is hot and sultry
and the spirits of mortal men. like their
collars, dropping and wilted, If it is de-
sired to know what the bathing beach
does for that portion OF the city popu-
lation which spends the summer al work
and at home. Gaze at the vast throng
of boys as they jump and dive about
IN the water. watch the elder contingent
as they swim here and there. seeming
TO breathe the very life of enjoyment
and fun. and then one Will realize what
q blessing II is, this beach the city las
provided for its residents.
Opens at 10 O'Clock.
At 10 O'Clock in the morning the beach
is thrown open 20 the public. There is
usually a fair sized crowd waiting TO
take the first plunge OF the day. and no
sooner is the locker house PCT at their
disposal than the youngsters begin a
wild scramble TO get into their suits.
Coats. trousers. shoes. and stockings
are tossed into the lockers in great
haste. the abbreviated costumes are
slipped on. and for the next few min
utes there is constant ~splashing and
suffering as one after another dives
into the water.
AS the minutes fly quickly by the
crowd OF bathers rapidly increases.
The handful which was the first to APP
pear soon becomes a shouting throng.
and by II o'clock the surface OF the
water is dotted with hundreds Of bob
bing heads and Shining bodies.
1t is a strange sight, this bathing
beach on n hot day. Costumes OF every
description. adorn the bathers. Weird
color combinations are some and strange
mishts are others. but they answer
the purpose. and when one comes TO
hin II over that is all that is really
necessary The bathing beach is not
Atlantic City. People don't 90 there
shapely forms. To swim. 70 dive, 10
frolic in the water is their object. and
little need they care whether their suits
contain the cOlors Of the rainbow or
don't fit as well as they might.
Rules of the Beach.
For two hours each morning the
beash IS at the disposal Of the public.
From 10 until y o'clock the bathers are
permitted TO remain in the water. and
a recess Of two and a half hours is
taken to give the superintendent. the
lie guard, and other employees an p
portunity TO eat lunch. At 230 O'Clock
the beach is again opened, and bathing
Is permitted until shutdown.
1t Is I'm the afternoon that the great
est throng warns TO the beach. Boys
who work during the day then make
their appearance. and the shores are lit.
orally alive with dripping human forms
Young men employed in Offices form q
large part OF those who take advantag,
OF the beach in the afternoon, and FIRE.
Quently men older In years are YounC
among the merry throng.
Located in the midst OF a grove Of
trees, the bathing beach is an ideal spot
FOR the great crowds 70 find recreation
The water IS always fresh, pouring II
twice each day from the basin. witt
which IL Is connected By a lock; the AFT
IS laden with the perfume OF the forest
and so picturesque is the spot that 4
is an inspiration in itself.
Few cities ave provided their resi-.
dents with such an ideal bathing place
and too much credit cannot be bestowed