TEE BATHING SEASON. 165 



broke. A ton of water fell on her, crush ! The edge 

 of the wave curled and dropped over her, the arch 

 bowed itself above her, the keystone of the wave fell 

 in. She was under the surge while it rushed up and 

 while it rushed back; it carried her up to the steps 

 of the machine and back again to her original position. 

 When it subsided she simply shook her head, raised 

 herself on one arm, and adjusted herself parallel to 

 the beach as before. 



Let any one try this, let any one lie for a few 

 minutes just where the surge bursts, and he will 

 understand what it means. Men go out to the length 

 of their ropes — past and outside the line of the 

 breakers, or they swim still farther out and ride at 

 ease where the wave, however large, merely lifts them 

 pleasantly as it rolls under. But the smashing force 

 of the wave is where it curls and breaks, and it is 

 there that the ladies wait for it. It is these breakers 

 in a gale that tear to pieces and destroy the best-built 

 ships once they touch the shore, scattering their 

 timbers as the wind scatters leaves. The courage 

 and the endurance women must possess to face a 

 groundswell like this ! 



All the year they live in luxury and ease, and are 

 shielded from everything that could hurt. A bruise — 

 a lady to receive a bruise ; it is not to be thought of ! 

 If a ruffian struck a lady in Hyde Park the world 

 would rise from its armchair in a fury of indignation. 

 These waves and pebbles bruise them as they list. 

 They do not even flinch. There must, then, be a 

 natural power of endurance in them. 



It is unnecessary, and yet I was proud to see it. An 



