Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-08-12
A LETTER FROM ATLANTIC CITY.

pie here-so many, indeed, that it seems
as if there must be scarcity somewhere
else in the world. II looks as if no one
has been left back home.
The water was fine, and kept saying TO
everybody, "Come in! Andthe people
went in until the ocean was crowded.
The water was reported to have a tenn
perature of Is degrees today, but if you
think that means warm you are mistaken.
When you first wade in and the little rip
pies lap around your feet it feels mighty
good, and you believe the II degrees
yarn. AS wave hits you about the mid
die you gasp and the temperature drops
about twenty degrees. Then while you
are trying TO getup your courage to"duck. ;"
a breaker sweeps over you and you are
ready to swear that it is at zero. But
after that first shock it is all right and the
temperature exhilarateS.
Oh, the genuine pleasure OF surf bathing,
where the long rollers come in from
somewhere away out in the Atlantic !
There's not thing but water betwixt
Spain and Atlantic City, and you can i'm
agine that the waves have travelled three
thousand miles. long roller comes in,
and if you catch il right you ride gently
over its crest with the very poetry OF mo-
ton. If it catches you wrong, on the
contrary, and the towering wave breaks
over you, you are submerged in the briny
water and come up splashing and splut-
tering for the next one. With ceaseleSs,
unending industry the pillows come roll
ing in, as they have rolled in from the
time when the earth was young. But
while they come so certainly they do not
come regularly, and you are liable to be
suddenly overwhelmed when you are no:
looking. But that just adds zeSt TO the
pleasure. You don't know which is most
enloyable-to ride over the billow before
it breaks, to drive through it as it sweeps
curling and roaring upon you, or boldly
breast it as il breaks in foaming fury when
ii can no longer hold together.
Today, it's said, there were more than
fifty thousand people in the surf at one
time-men, women and children, old and
young, all happy and full of life, many OF
them shouting in pure enjoyment OF the
delightful sport. It's interesting to watch
them. Some stay very close TO shore,
for they fear the waves, which seem much
more difficult than they really are; others
90 out to prudent distance, where they
can enjoy the water and know they can't
be harmed if they try; then best of all,
is the point where the pillows pile them
selves up in enticing slopes and carry you
up upon their breast, passing on and let
ting you gently down behind the receding
wave. There's no doubt about the gen.
uine enjoyment of bathing in the surf on a
favorable day. How the boys at home
who love the quiet beauty OF the Potomac
at the old "flat rock" and the favorite
swimming holes" would enjoy the in
finite variety and constant excitement of
the oceans ever inviting surf.
know that the ladies who read the
Register want to know something about
the styles in bathing suits. Well, there's
not a great deal of change since last year.
Perhaps the skirts are little longer now
than formerly-some of the real stylish
ones reach almost to the knee. Many are
cut short at both ends. The prevailing
color is dark blue, though red is also pop
ular to certain extent-and trimmings
are to suit the tastes Of the wearer. You
do not see many of the striking costumes
that were worn some years ago-the thin,
clinging kind that made youthink OF mer-
maids, and which, when wet, chung so
closely to the feminine form that all really
modest men would look the other way.
The authorities do not permit batherS to
appear on the beach in costumes that are
really immodest, and persons who disre-
gard the proprieties are quickly escorted
away by an officer.
The fashions in stockings-this para
graph is intended for the information of
ladies alone, and we desire our men
readers to skip 1.-THE fashion in stock
ingS is quite varied. Red, blue, black,
brown, green, tan, white, pink, taupe and
many other combinations may be seen.
Some are well filled, others are intended
to have tucks in them. Some seem to
have been knit - er-oh, sort of bow
legged. Well, the truth may as well be
told-it is evident, if Atlantic City sights
are safe criterion, that there are about
as many bowlegged women as there are
men. Now, ladies', don't make fun here
after OF men who have no capacity for
heading off sheep in a lane, else we'll tell
what we know about your sex.
The most beautiful costumes seen on
the beach are those which are never per-
mftted TO get wet. Their fair owners
look mighty pretty as they stroll alongthe
beach front, but they are extremely care
full not to get into the water with their
fine suits. After sauntering up and down
for an hour or two, and having been ad-
mired by all beholders, they retire and
carefully put away their unmuSSed cos
tunes until the next appearance. A body
trembles to think what would happen if
wave should ruthlessly beat down upon
some OF the elaborare coiffureS that have
been erected, evidently, at much pains,
and which are almost as big as load OF
hay. What a scatteration of rats and
other mysterious articles there would be
The board walk is one of the great
features OF Atlantic City. This is an ell