(_By a Dipper in Brittany_)
[Apropos of a correspondence in the _Daily Graphic_]
Mrs. Grundy rules the waves,
With Britons for her slaves--
They're fearful to disport themselves,
Unless the sexes sort themselves
And take their bathing, sadly, for French gaiety depraves (!)
'Tis time no more were seen
The out-of-date "machine";
Away with that monstrosity
Of prudish ponderosity--
Why can't we have the bathing tent or else the trim _cabine?_
I think we should advance
If we took a hint from France,
And mingled (quite decorously)
On beaches that before us lie
All round our coasts--we do abroad whene'er we get the chance!
O'er here in St. Maló
The thing's quite _comme il faut;_
Why not in higher latitude?
I can't make out the attitude
Of those who make the British dip so "shocking," dull and slow!
[Illustration: NOTES FROM MR. PUNCH'S FOREIGN SKETCH-BOOK