Far the setting sun o'er the shimmering sea
   Sent his shafts of gleaming old,
And a modest maiden, from neck to knee
Garbed in newest gown, not a bit too free,
On the shining sands sauntered gracefully,
   Neither prudish, prim, nor bold.


And the men who strolled on the surgeless shore
   Were not moved by what they saw,
For the lady proved in the robe she wore
That a meek-eyed maiden may bathe before
Many men, and not be immodest, or
   Shock the minions of the law.


Then she swam afar, and she floated well -
   Like a mermaid, more or less.
When she stepped ashore there arose a yell,
And the maiden slim by a sand-hill fell,
And the trap who lent her a big umbrel
   Took her name and address.


Well, the case was heard in a crowded court,
   And the peeler, with a wink,
Swore the robe she wore was a yard too short,
And the Bench, a crowd of the solemn sort,
Fined her five-pounds-five, though the gown she bought
   Had been guaranteed not to shrink. 

"E.D."
The Bulletin, 7 April 1894, p16