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Washington, D.C. "Girls at Potomac Tidal Basin bathing beach pavilion, 5/28/23." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.
Those pictures of my grandparents' generation having great times are among my absolute favorites, here! It makes me sad to think that it would soon be replaced with a pool. The swimming was probably as nice, but the other activities appear to have come to an end, like the beauty contests, pie eating contests, etc..
Being a boy, the only access to an all-girls gathering is through word of mouth (highly subjective) or glimpses via photos such as this one which grant admission to a special place. I look hard at the faces (okay, and bodies) of each and every one of these girls. So many character types, so many imagined stories. For pure verve, I am drawn repeatedly to the young lady on the left on the lowest step, she of the wackiest bathing bonnet, but rocking it totally, and with her linked fingers holding her crossed knee. She's certainly attending to the words of the finger-pointing matron, but I reckon there's so much more going on, if that gentle smile is but one indication.
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