BEACH COSTUMES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20542, 18 February 1935, Page 8

BEACH COSTUMES.

Views of a Modern Old Dame. A discussion has lately been proceeding in the “ Star ” concerning the modesty of beach costumes. A correspondent, " R.D.,” Wellington, forwards the following sketch on the subject: We were sitting on the sands at one of our principal seaside resorts. There were three of us, one an elderly but broad-minded lady who is at present touring the Dominion. She hails from England and before taking her present trip to the Dominion had travelled extensively both in Britain and Continental countries. She has been blessed with an observant eye and shrewd judgment. The second member of our party was a commercial man, usually immersed in business, but for the time being giving himself up wholly to lazing and holiday-making. I am a professional man, also on holiday. We are fellow-boarders at the same hotel and have become close friends. The talk turned to modern beach costumes and practices “ What is your opinion, Mrs , on the bathing dresses worn on our beaches nowadays? What a change from the days when we were young. You remember how stringent were the restrictions on bathers in those days: separate bathing places for men and women, no sun bathing, bathing vans and the old neck-to-knee costumes, etc. What do you think of our changed manners? Are they, in your opinion, on the whole for the better, or do you regard them as detrimental to true modesty and social morality ? ” and I pointed at the scene before me. About 20 yards away were four young people in the twenties, two of each sex. The two men were dressed in so-called neck-to-knee costumes, but both had stripped the upper portion off their shoulders and were naked to the waist. One young lady was sitting up and the head of one of the i/oung men was resting in her lap, whilst she continually passed her finger through his hair. The other couple were stretched oat on the sand, the young man amusing himself by surreptitiously tickling the soles of the girl’s feet, a procedure which, by the way, she did not seem greatly to mind. Ripples of laughter frequently caught our ears. A Change for the Good.

The old lady smiled at my question, as with a sly glance towards the young people, she replied: “Well, perhaps with the interesting group over there, my answer may seem scarcely what you would exp?ct. I am, however, of opinion that the change, radical though it be, is almost entirely for the good. Now look at that group. First, they are thoroughly enjoying themselves. Of course, it cannot be denied that the sex instinct is in evidence, but what of that? Sex instinct is perfectly natural, so why should we condemn them. Again, they are quite open in their pleasure. It is not open, but in secret action that danger chiefly lies. And I do not think for a moment that any of those young people will be less pure-minded for their actions. After all they are merely following natural human instincts. Also, they are undoubtedly benefiting physically, I saw the same four a short time ago forming part of a crowd who were playing ball on the sand. And no doubt when they are back on their office stools or in their schoolrooms they will be all the healthier and more efficient for these holiday pleasures. “ And do you know," continued the dear old soul with a naughty wink in her eye, “ I have been for many years at a loss to understand why a shapely young man should ever have been prevented from bathing only in trunks. Surely we ladies have a right to see a pretty sight sometimes.” —R.D.