|
The most important activity might be thought of as sea bathing or swimming.
We are not sure just how popular swimming was in the early 20th century, but in the 19th century and early 20th century, swimming does not seem to be nearly as important as it is now. We know there was some seimming even in the 18th century. Beachgoers in the 18th and 19th century would hire carriages to take them out deep enpugh so they could not be seen in their bathing costumes. I think that this was primarily for women, but am not positive. Many photographs at the turn of the 20yh century show the children doing just about evedrything--except swimming. I am not entirely sure why. One factor is that until, the 20th century, many people did not know how to swim. There seems to have been differences here among countries. Age was also a factor here. Younger children might be only allowed to paddle along the beach. Many early seaside photographs show children playing in the sand and engaging in other play along the beach.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main seaside activities page]
[Introduction]
[Biographies]
[Catalogs]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Literary]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Satellite sites]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Sailor suits]
[Sailor hats]
[Buster Brown suits]
[Eton suits]
[Rompers]
[Tunics]
[Smocks]
[Pinafores]
