Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-15

his neck In the water doing things TO the
hank beneath the surface. or course. he
looked like some modern Neptune. and
equally. of course. the piekax looked like
trident IL was evident however. that
he had no notion of posing az the river
god; he was too busy digging. and when
a couple OF inen made Inquiries he talked
earnestly about fumes and the necessity
of further improvements before the bathing
beach can become all that the city fathers
could desire. The beach IS good but IL
can be better.
They ought TO have cemented floors. like
the Sutro baths" said one OF the men TO
the other as they eyed the little basin with
Its walls OF living green.
Il reckon this place Is heaps safer than
the old one. hat II looks like a hole TO me-
The old Potomac for mine"
That's the way you happen to look al
It: but, you see. there used TO be drown
ings I'm the old place. and l guess Il got
on the nerves OF the authorities. This lit
tie basin is safe. all right only eight feet
ut it's deepest. with no mixed currents nor
hidden holes. IL isn't eXhiarating FOR
good swimmer. but It's wet. and-besldes
its time 20 stop contrasting the two places
since this little basin has been doing duty
for several seasons, with no bad marks OF
| Its records.
| AS the visitor walked ahead of the mer
/ she overlook a young girl who was on hes
way from the beach. and they made the
| long stretch carward together. matter
| of several squares She was a bright-facec
| girl. with soft voice and a gentle won,
anly manner. and II she represented Ia,
| average patroness OF the beach 1t is safe
, 90 say that the bather in the little basin
7 will compare favorably with her sister at
| any Of the summer places along the ATTAIN
| tic coast
| She was regular bather on women $
|
had broadened her shoulders and given her
strength. Her work kept her up until
midnight every other night and nothing
so freshened her as an early plunge. Shr
got up very early. had coffee and toast
and then hurried to the beach so that she
| could enjoy the water before it became too
crowded
Il was too late this morning though.
| lot of little boys were ahead Of me You
see some of them swim like cells and moth
| Ing so pleases them as to dive under and
stir up the mud. | only come on women's
days. so I never need chaperone. There
are nice women attendants and generally
a number OF mothers are on hand to look
after their children. Mr. Stevens keeps
everything under perfect discipline and
you can. really go In the water during the
mems hours and not be disturbed which
think is wonderful considering that
everybody goes. | know some very nice
women and girls who go down every wom-
en- day in the season. Sometimes they
At.aaO uh pei bitS anu lUeH again tEeg 90
alone. as do. They go because they think
the exercise is good and that every woman
should know how to swim
"One drawback is the long walk after
you get out OF the cars You see you have
to get up very early and do a good bit of
walking II you want to have a dip before
going TO work at D. as most OF the bathers
do. | generally have a cup OF coffee and
bit of toast before coming down, and that
gives me a fine appetite for breakfast OF
coursar~the old-tlmers complain right along
about the change OF water but that was
before my time, SO | don't miss IL, though
I'm sure l would like the river better n
only II were safe-and l wish the cars were
nearer. Still, I've got so now that l don't
get half the good out OF day unless /
begin II with half hour in the water
All of which was a tribute TO Supt Ste
vens and TO the women's hours at the bath
Ing beach.