The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-09-04
TALKING ABOUT BATHING SUITS


A favorite newspaper topic in mid
summer is always "the bathing suit"
and in Florida season for enjoying a
plunge in the ocean or the gulf or the
lakes or rivers, is very much longer
than in some sections of the country;
in fact, a part of Florida enjoys all
the year around surf bathing, and it
is natural enough to expect a great
amount of talk about the costumes
that are worn when indulging in this
healthful and interesting diversion.
Previously, however, the talk has all
been heard regarding one side of the
house-the women's side-and many
and wise have been the statements,
predictions, warnings and notes Of ap-
prehension because the women have
often chosen to wear bathing suits
that gave them opportunity to get
about in the water, and incidentally
displayed rather more Of their per-
sons than street outfit.
This summer the women have been
just as daring and just as much an
noyed by the horror-stricken folks
who carefully leave a bit Of space
between their fingers when covering
the eyes with tn ehand. All sorts of
rules regarding the length Of skirts
and the use Of stockings and the
height of the neck and other details
have been formulated for prominent
seashore resorts, and more or less
interest taken by the people generally
f, in their erforcement-but the climax
is unusual The women have risen to
declare that If they must cumber
themselves with yards of cloth and
uncomfortable stocksings, which al
most prohibit swimming, the men
should be likewise disciplined. One
writer, commenting upon the rules
laid down by the very careful guard.
ions of Atlantic City's waterfront, de-
clares that the bit of a rag which
covers few inches of the mems an
atomy when lounging about or wad.
ing in the set, is just enough to en-
| phasize their general ugliness. The
woman writer went so far as to re-
mark upon the straight sticks, and
knobs, which typified the arms and
legs of the men-bathers, and declared
that they were enough to scare the
fish.
The attention thus called to the ap-
pearance of the average man in a.
bathing suit is, of course, unkind. The
male bather and frequenter of the
sands and bathing beach does not
need be told he is no beauty, he
doesn't really expect to be seen at all
and he has likely come to the beach
to enjoy the sun and the water and
the sights, and has reduced his cloth
ing to the limit allowed by the regula-
tions to be comfortable. There is no
good reason why the women should
not be allowed to do as they please
at the beaches. That the majority Of
them go for the pleasure of the sun
and the water, and the sights, as do
the men, but they will get very little
pleasure or benefit from the water If |
dressed in heavy, clumsy clothing.
While always ready to contend for
the rights and privileges that have
been accorded the men we also be-
lieve that the women should be left |
to their own taste and judgment in |
dressing themselves for any and all |
occasions. For the beach the conven-
tons are certainly changed, as they |
would be under various circumstan-
ces and the Atlantic City prudes who |
are making fuss over the matter of |
stockings for the women are very
likely doing this to draw attention
away from themselves. That famous
Jersey coast resort that caters espe-
cially to the pleasures and entertain
ment of Philadelphians and their
guests is very generally rated as
about the livilest spot on the map in
the summertime. That the home
folks or visitors there would be easily