THE COOLEST SPOT IN WELLINQTON.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 425, 6 February 1909, Page 11

THE COOLEST SPOT IN WELLINQTON.

>' V MERMAIDS' AT,PLAY. ;; i You might almost'have thought you were standing near a grove, full of birds '.at daybreak,'-, such a -.'chattering'■■'; : and there: was; such little shrill cries.and .broken laughter, such a' clieerful :all-peryading noiee. But neither "trees rior birds '.w.er'e, to; be" seen; these were.. the - Tβ'.- Aro;.'. ! ;Swimming . Baths, .where-' seventy. little girls -'and'- women were having the :'iolliest- time—-mermaids .in .their element.;: They 'were nearly. air : swimmers. It was, high .tide,' and'nowhere' could you : "depth it?'- You -nuist-sit;on. the steps in •the water, swing yourself jilong the rope that ,-stretched from side to ; side, or ; .strike out .boldly;.into the deep.; ' ; There .could ■•'be no nervous paddling"; abb)it knee-deep.-, in .the water..- .People, who; cared for thatisort'of thing must wait till the tide-was. lower. .This meant ,-that the rope-, .was',: in great: request, .and, for all.its length, little-blaclE-clad 'figures it,. kicking .about,-! occasionally swinging themselves under it...', Then-their •feet would fly up, arid'; they would- splash vigorously : in to regain their,balance. A few sat sadly along;.th'e steps in.the : .*ater, 'd'esiririg, but not-.daring, to: venture farther, and, at the"end of a long; one,would see them, (grown more venturesome) holding pn- to,<the. top step and - swimming energetically .with, their'.'"legs—a- feat which, conveyed the effect of the slim fish that "stays its wavy :body 'gainst the '..stream." . At the".spring--board'great, fun was going on, and so many .patronised. if- that': one;■ almost' feared'■ that ■they," would : dive on: to each; other's ;heads. rßutr this little calamity, never un): happen. Always the. bold .divers: swam away- cheer- ■ fully .'until -. they .were -..ready'.. for./- another '■plunge;'from'above.:' The. lower'end of. the ' bath 1 .was not : so popular,-: and very: few ~veri down, there/'which.' was not: to.be wohderedat. '; ... ' '..',.- ,~ '~; , ;,.' , . .;; There , is ; no: fence '■ between the two swim-(mirig-baths,; and,many of themeil, who*are supposed', 1 to,\be : -amusing' themselvei in the .water",! like to cpnie;'. and '.roost' <in ■ the.'cbh•crete'.'wall ..just.-'-where.-,; the; women's division ;begins,;' arid .stay, there.' ■'Thore were "quite thirteen of-them 'there Vthe : other afternoon, for byer half-an-hour, • really shutting off half -.the baths' , from" the, enjoyment of .the'- g'iris. On occasion'these-'men have; been': a great .nuisance,' and; 1 one .'day: this week,a:,gentleinari':in; a; dark. blue official: costume , put;an 'end;to the for that-day, and was ■.b'H''guard,',the' following.'day;to.see,that:it did.'nbt ■recur: "■Meantime the -erectibri of 'a :wall 'between : the. two-baths' is "going .on , very ,'slb'wly.'-:.- " ■,' '.-! '\'■;' ;■■.';'.;■■ : :\- ■■■■"'\:,- ■:-; "-. \Tt -is; really- veryfasciriatiorig to; watch; the ,'phildreri-,in the water splashing; about.". Only a'-.few;- cbiriparatiyely; use the. water wings, ,'4nd/they are;frowned >'on/by/ "experienced .'swimmers;; who; say' that ;it is .very.: . : niuch

■' ;.quipker:'tb. learn; to swim .without' them ;a'rifl totrust.at once, to .One's own'resources.'; ;Still, : ;a;quamt;eftyct|'.and.it"is;in^resting.to watch .some .B'toutish- lady - committing herself to the meroy.: of, something.-that has; been : painted tb;(resehibje\ the. snimmering:;::)y,ings.' .{of -, a , dra'gon-fljr.s -Most ■; of the. bathers' wear dark wpVen' BUit'sp-which .are,. : after,' all;■'. the most : 'becoming;]' ■:..A'' ■ little white-skinned.;;.'child , 'slimly■•ola'dviri an almost;:black:; bathing suit . lbbks:the,most' , adorable of ;water-babiesj:ies-pecially, wheniherilorig hair begins' to dry , : and; fluff •'round.her.- • Here and- there;will;be . ;an effective 1 -scarlet gown; /very'- becoming -to ;■ .its-'.wearer, if she be a fair-haired , girl.. , :Those'who are-going a-swiniming should wear- cjosely-inade-.suits;.'withoutVany impediment;; in the way : ;of .kilting■ or'.:short, skirts'. ; .Ayswimmihgteacher..,here:declares that'.she will;.-.not x ] tea'ih-' pupils .who ! '■";'wear"■/; tunic ■ 'edstunies;''the liinbs must be allowed'to .have • .fr^e;-pjay.---;.: r-'- : : .:'.'.;;': ■■'■'•■•■""• j'; , ■;;.'-;;• '- vlt' is" a'mazirig" how. : ,]ong: children will' stiy in;the water; When: at;last-they come, out they,-will; stand in their;wet things:shivering , »and : with purple: che'eks, : still' gazing .wistfully ■atitho'Kappx children left behind. :.'•, ','.•".-., ;■ All';sbrts .'of head-dresses' are, tb .be seen, bu't.'-'on!.':.theV : whble'.:' ; wa;terproof caps are riot popular.':. The average girl likes, to - let her Bair;'flpat -.round her, and. curious l it is to see, the' fair, shining head..that, •' after,a:,brief excursion- '.'underneath-,'-'will.emerge wet arid dark -as the. head of a, sleek • little seal.', '■' •'.. ■.. : .:The;.!re.: ; Aro Baths 'attract; more .-bathers than. , .those 'at'.Thorndbnv.'and the liveliest •times '• are- after .'school' and office hours,>hen hot ; little •splipbl;girls ■■ . arid ■■ tired, .-.workers from the': city, come down;to,l refresh, .themselves; •'in Vthe'.'cool. green.'; ; Morb ; .accomnio; : .datipn'iis,', -wanted,' in. the >way . of- dressiiig- ' rooms,; for p at 'present many ..0f... the visitors ..haveoto wait .for:: a -iong .'time, before"Va'-ybom is vacant,-and .::t-musf./bo .intensely tahtalising to;stand;.;therein;the)hbt- sun patching th,e. early, comers asthey s'plas.h and swim; ■■