Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-11-23
Clad In Moonlight.

III u lau cStaolleutu ~ tlic SUNNY 'S'
who patronize watering places, those
fashion resorts that are beyond the
means of ordinary mortals. Near Lo.
Angeles, that famous resort for the
elit,, is beach known as Venice, wher,
hitherto upper.tendom has sportet
amid the pillows in graceful though
sometimes grotesque bathing suits, by
day and the earlier hours of night
The plan now is to take the latter par
OF the night, long "ayont the twsl,
and to use moonlight as the only Gov
ering for the human form divine
Thereby hangs tale.
The other night small but select
party, consisting it is said of staid anC
sedate married people, sought this new
means for diversion.
A vigilant patrolman. who was qui
city snOozing on his beat, was awak
ened by the sweet strains OF harmony
there came waited DER the waters will
refrain something like this:
Come, when the moon is beaming,
Come, while the stars are cleaning,
There is no bliss
Like this.
Come, IT'S no time for dreaming.
Opening his eyes, he beheld poo
mortal's conception of paradise. The
beautiful moonlit waters formed al
awe.inspiring background for the slop
ing snOw-white beach, over which, al
the waters edge, two strangely beauti
full figures were strolling, with CLEAN
ing arms entwined, relieved by q pro
fusion of dark. hair. The wavelett
rippled and gurgled over the golden
sands and tickled their graceful "Tril
by's" as they gave up the precious mo-
ments to unconscious abandon.
Them's mermaids, by Heck !" was
the ejaculation of the disturbed guar.
dian of the night, as be lifted his ha,
in awe and admiration. He stood
transfixed for q moment, when the
spell was broken by gruf voice from
amid the pillows shouting "Come in
girls, the water is fine," and the Mar
with the Star WAS suddenly recalled to
Earth aad sense of duty. Represent
ing the majesty OF the Law, it was his
bounden duty to lay its strong arm
upon the shoulders of all malefactors
but 10! when he approached these mau
rauders caught in this plainly over
act, the nymphs quickly waded oul
into deep water. His command te
come out was met with the derisive
banter, "Come in and get us!" De
spite the evident cordially of the in
vitation, the arm of the law hesitated
What might not befall him if he left
his well-defined bailiwick and usurped
the domains of Father Neptune, &C
able and willing to protect Beauty IN
distress. After moments hesitation
happy thought struck him. Darn
ye," said lie, "Pll swipe yer clothes +
The threat met with speedy refrain o.
screams from the women and impreca
tions from the men. A parley ensued
whereupon q treaty was made, with
these stipulations: The party would
come out aud surrender, provided
LIST, That the officer would turn his
back to the beach; I'd, That no formal
arrests should be made, and Sd, That
the bathers would accompany the Off
Ger quietly to the station. This was
done. The charge preferred was " Dis.
turbing the Peace" but just how the
tranquility of the sleeping world wa,
in the least thrown out of its ordinary
placidity by the simple act OF bathing,
it would be difficult to show. Proba
bly, the Justice thought this when he
bid tho party 60 in peace on their own
recognizance of fifty dollars each, and
entering . nolle after it, about the same
procedure adopted by our local judi.
ciary which sometimes imposes sen.
tence and suspended judgment during
good behavior!
A pretty matron who lives near
Venice beach declares that these post.
midnight diversions hxve become quite
fad with parties who come in auto
mobiles, when the moon is "full" and
the worlds eyes are closed in slumber
to have q high jinks with only the
moon.beams for q batbing.dress; and
the vigilant night guardian declares
that had it not been for the soul
inspiring strains of the mermaids who
disturbed his rest, all would have been
we'll with them.
PICNIC FARE FOR KING COUNTY
COMMIssIONERs.-Tbat Seattle is de-
Nid od1 10 90 fact - 80 obou,v h., LII. l. al,