The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-10-04
IDLE CHAT ABOUT OCEAN RESORTS.
PARTI. OCEAN GROVE -ASBURY PARK.

not seem to suit anybody. They 60
into the water from time to time
many who possess extra fancy cos
tunes never go in-but for the most
part everybody is lounging or strolling
about the sand, pretending to be
deeply interested in shOveling sand
into small tin pals, or in digging holes
and building hills. There they are III
their bathing costumes-which need
10 description-right before the eyes
of the surging crowd on the board
walk, who, of course, make more or
less fastidfOus remarks about them,
which is but natural when one sees
two, four, and more, males and fe-
males, in all conceivable positions
lying in bathing costumes before ones
eyes.
Is it proper? Eminently so! Why
it must be, if tho practice is tolerated
and INDUCED in even in the sacred
precincts of Ocean Grove. In most of
the European sea resorts they have
separate bathing places for the two
sexes; but then those snObbish Euro
peans are not going to tell us what is
proper or not. And surely, nobody
ever got blind of looking on bath
ers! Still, think we are very inconsist-
ent in our views about such matters
One evening l was in crowded
drawing room of an Ocean Grove
cottage, when l overheard the follow
ing ordinations from the lips of fair
damsels:
Goodness gracious, just look at
Mamie"
"The bold thingl 1 think she's doing
it on purpose!''
"What will the gentlemen think!
It's shameW
"Mrs.--, please, 60 and tell her to
behave herselfp
Of course, everybody looked in the
direction Of Mamie. The gentlemen,
being we'll hammered, only for the frac-
tion of second; then their eyes wan
dered up to the ceiling IN search of
flies. Being of a very timid and bashful
disposition, hurried to the window to
hide my bushes and to look at the
stars. There was trouble even in the
constellation; for just then Venus
gave the dickens to her adored "Mars'
for making goo-goo eyes at the
"Virgin." When thought that every
thing was properly adjusted, l went
back to the company. What had
pretty Mamie been doing? Ac7
Himmel, es ao0r schrecklich! My very
pen bushes while l write it down
The naughty Mamie had been reclin
ing in rocker, reading magazine
and while doing SO, had exposed al
inch and a half more of black hos'
than was either necessary or conven
tional. And that, dear reader, wa
considered highly improper by al
assemblage, every member of whicl
had been lounging in bathing costum
for hours i'm the sand that afternoon
Truly, Dame Fashion is a quee
teacher of what is proper, and what i
not so!
v The ocean breeze is not only exhila
rating, but also wholesome for all bu
3 people with weak lungs. On Sunda
d afternoon we were promenading o.
= the boardwalk, and one of our com
s pany was looking for her niece. w
f found her at last, lying on the san
It with another young girl and fou
q young fellows.
# "Agness," said the aunt, 'shadn't 20
# better come out now? You have bee
o out there fully three hours and al
10 afraid you will catch coldw
\ "Oh. aunty dear, just let me sta
% half an hour longer! It's so good fl
,r my health, and enjoy it sop' The
g holding up her arms, she added: Loo
10 at my arms and neck, how brown the
et are from the sun! Isn't it beautiful
ID It's really wonderful what your
y girls will do for their healthl Tn,
Id evening we had supper with the san
ir cold supper, for they do n
l cook ut Ocean Grove on Sundays.
es 80 happened that Agness was sittiI