60 ON THE BEACH AT DAYTONA. 
not yet hardened to open-air bathing, and 
from their actions it was evident that they 
found the ocean cool. They were wet enough 
before they were done, but it was mostly 
with fresh water. Probably they took no 
harm; but I am moved to remark, in pass- 
ing, that I sometimes wondered how gen- 
erally physicians who order patients to 
Florida for the winter caution them against 
imprudent exposure. To me, who am no 
doctor, it seemed none too safe for young 
women with consumptive tendencies to be out 
sailing in open boats on winter evenings, no 
matter how warm the afternoon had been, 
while I saw one case where a surf bath taken 
by such an invalid was followed by a day of 
prostration and fever. ‘ We who live here,” 
said a resident, “don’t think the water is 
warm enough yet; but for these Northern 
folks it is a great thing to go into the surf 
in February, and you can’t keep them out.” 
The rows of cottages of which I have 
spoken were in one sense a detriment to the 
beach ; but on the whole, and in their pres- 
ent deserted condition, I found them an 
advantage. It was easy enough to walk 
away from them, if a man wanted the feel- 
