Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-07-27
Eirlccn living Pictures.

n. j., to whom the mention OF a bath
is very offensive Just now. They are
not anarchists, though as the whole
town is grinning at them some of the
10 feel a degree of irritation to which
nothing short of a dynamite explosion
would afford relief.
Bath The very word fills them
savagery-and the men are cleanly:
wholesome fellows, too-for it is enough
to have suffered undue humiliation and
to have run the danger OF having ones
cuticle filled with bird shot but to be
laughed at and derided in the bargain
is too much
Imagine a brawny workingman, prob
ably with a family, too, being called
lone of the living pictures or Il mem
Der Of the Eden Social :" There have
been no fin de steele living pictures dis
played in Montclair up TO the present,
and though many of the good town>folk
know full we'll that they are objects
that could with safety to health roam
the fields in winter, to the other part OF
the townsiolk the word Eden brings up
a distinct personal picture.
When the Workingmen's Athletic
Club started away on an excursion 10
Pine Brook, Norris county, on Thurs
day last. its members never for mo-
ment imagined that such a thing would
happen. Their hearts were set upon a
clambakc ard no thought of mishap or
dilemma disturbed them.
Within a short distance from the pic
mic grounds they came upon clear
stream, about four feet deep, with a
hard, sandy bottom. The day was hot
and the water inviting. So thirteteen
of them entered the water to take a
swim. Before they entered the water
there was count made.
Hold on, said one, there are thir-
teen of us. That is bad luck. Some
of YOU fellows must come in 10 take
the 'hoodoo' oil"
Two more of the club volunteered
themselves as safeguards against the
'hoodoo," which in New Jersey some
times plays the most eXtravagant am
tics. And in this case the "hoodoo"
was not to be bailled 1t simply turned
its attention to d simple country lad,
who drove wagon and whom the eX-
cursiouists intrusted with their cloth
ing, telling hiln to drive ahead to a
point down the stream and there await
them.
They intended to emerge from the
bath there, robe themselves and con,
tinue to the grove.
You understand now, lad, don't
YOU ," was the precautionary question
Yep - answered the boy, as ne
drove away.
Then the bathers splashed in the
stream. Some swan, some waded and
they made the air gay with their
shouts: but the ''hoodoo" chuckled as
it watched them.
The bathers finally reached the spot
where they expected to meet the
wagon OF clothing, but it wasn't there
They entered the stream again and
skylarked for awhile Then they as
cended the bank again and looked
around. There was neither sign ofboy
nor wagon. Then they began to
grumble.
A half hour passed, and they all left
the water and held council. They
were near the grounds, but to raise an
outcry might bring a host of curious
farm folks about them. To send q
messenger from their number was
equally risky, and besides no one man
was willing TO undertake the job.
The delight of the bath was now lost
III their anxiety The matter was
serious. The hot sun broiled down up
on them in a most uncomfortable fash
ion No one thought Of returning tC
the stream. They looked upon it with
disgust and regret.
Finally an hour passed. Then anoth
er half, then two hours. Blistered by
the sun and eaten by mosquitoes tina,
| the "hoodoo' had called in thousands
from the meadow land, the bathers de
termined upon bold move Where
one man might iaiter the whole body
would not.
They pulled, each of them, guanti-
ty of shrubbery, and, covering theil
bodies, took up their march to the
camp n mile away. The goal was al
most in sight. They had kept to the
woods all along, but now they were
compelled to come into the open tc
cross foot bridge.
4 woman was about TO cross it from
the other side rs they appeared She
stood still for moment in wide eyeC
wonder, and then uttering shrek fec
TO her home. Her husband was there
and when he heard ber story he seizeC
his double barrelled shotgun and has
tened out. determined TO puncturt
something that AT least wasn't sho
proof.
He was the farmer to whom the ex
cursion grounds belonged, and he was
flied with Indignation at the ineNcus
able impropriety of his guests. H'
reached the camp about the same time
as the unlucky fifteen.
The party hadn't time to make ex
plantations TO their friends when th'
farmer brought the fowling piece Il
his shoulder. That more than one goot
man of Montclair is whole of body to
day is due 10 the prompt interference OF the
I eXcursiouistS who cared more for beer an'
CLAIMS than they did for baths.
Columbus might have gone through tn
same experience but it is safe TO say that hi
man in New Jersey ever had fifteen men il
aboriginal attire bowing before him in sub
i