If you are social and wish to bathe promiscuously, you put on a dress and go in with the ladies, if you want to cultivate the "fine and froggy art of swimming," unencumbered by attire, you wait until the twelve o'clock red-flag is run up--when the ladies retire.[18] [18] "Life at Watering-Places--Our Newport Correspondent," _Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper_ (August 29, 1857), vol. 4, no. 91, p. 197. From its early beginnings, in the late 18th and early 19th century, the summer excursion to the resorts and spas grew in popularity. In 1848, a writer of a Philadelphia fashion report explained that Very few ladies of fashion are now in town, most of them being birds of passage during the last of July and all of August. Most Americans seem to have adopted the fashion of visiting watering-places through the summer.[19] [19] "Chit-Chat upon Philadelphia Fashions for August," _Godey's Lady's Book_ (August 1848), vol. 37, p. 119. As the summer excursion became a social event, the recreational possibilities of bathing overshadowed its earlier therapeutic function. Bathing became part of an increasingly elaborate schedule of activities where each event--bathing, dining, concerts, balls, promenades, carriage rides--had its appointed time, place, and proper costume. [Illustration: Figure 3.--"SCENE AT CAPE MAY," _Godey's Lady's Book_, August 1849. (_Courtesy of The New York Public Library._)] In addition to stiff ocean breezes, seaside resorts had an extra appeal that beguiled visitors away from the spas--namely mixed bathing. For during the bathing hour at the seashore all the stiffness and etiquette of select society was abandoned to pleasure. Again and again I try it. Deliriusm! I forget even Miss ----, and dive headforemost into the billows. I rush to meet them. I jump on their backs. I ride on their combs, or I let them roll over me.... I am in the thickest of the bathers, and amid the roar of waves, am driven wild with excitement by the shouts of laughter; burst of noisy merriment, and little jolly female shrieks of fun. All are wild with excitement, ducking, diving, splashing, floating, rollicking.[20] [20] "My First Day at Cape May," _Peterson's Magazine_ (August 1856), vol. 30, no. 2, p. 91. Thus bathing was transformed from a medicinal treatment to a pleasurable pursuit.