Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1906-08-19
THERE ARE BARE
LEGS BARRED
PUBLIC MORALS GUARDED ON
LAKE BLUFF BEACH.
BATnERS Limbs DRAPED
Suits Inspected Touching Legal Re-
quirements-Those Breaking Reg
ulations Walk Home in Barrels.

Chicago, August 1S.-When An
thony Comstock becomes weary OF
whitewashing public morals and pro-
noting modesty in gay New York, he
ought to come to Lake Bluff, Illinois,
where he can spend his declining years
in peace. For this most remote of
the north shore suburbs is a parade
of prudes.
II is almost a sin to mention the
limbs Of the trees within the pre-
cincts of the immaculate village. III
a cottager does not conceal the legs
of his dining table behind a drapery
that touches the floor, he is in danger
of a rebuke from the town marshal.
And as for bathing-Mother Grundy
herself could not have devised a more
intricate system of blue laws than
those which restrict the diversion.
To sport upon the beach in the At
lantic City fashion is a vice that rem
ders the offender liable to a heavy
fine, and if the athletic youth should
seek a secluded spot to enter the surf
in the altogether, his crime would be
great enough to merit capital punish
ment.
In the first place, bathing houses
are not allowed on the beach, by order
of the village fathers. The reason Of
this provision is beyond the compre-
hension of ordinary mortals, but per-
haps Anthony will understand 1t.
The tabooing of dressing rooms by
the waters edge was the first cause OF
an involved set of regulations for the
safeguarding of virtue, to enforce,
whl,h two special policemen patrol the
beach sixteen hours out Of the twenty
four from the time the ice leaves the
lake until snow falls.
The rules are as follows:
When a woman wishes to battle she
must don her costume at home and
walk to the beach.
She mus observe the proprieties by
covering tn. bathing suit with a long
skirt and a coat, in order to spare
the bushes of her neighbors while en-
route to the water.
When she ceaches the beach she
must be scrutinized by the officer, in
order that judgment may be passed
upon her observance of the law. If
she has not covered her costume ade-
uuately, or if her rNter skirt is too
short, the officer orders her to walk
backoto her house in a barrel, special
ly provided for the purpose, and come
back again properly clothed. II she
wears a long coat with no skirt, the
policeman will say "Shame on you'll"
and turn his eyes until she jumps into
the barrel. Refusal to obey the Of
ficers' commands means a fine Of $25.
Men must do likewise, wearing
coats and trousers wei their suits.
A long overcoat will not be consid-
cred adequate for male attire, since
il permits a glimpse of bare calves.
Both men and women must dofl
their swathings on the beach, leaving
them to be guarded by the officer and
must not offend his gaze with the
sight Of their bathing costumes longer
than half a minute. They must jump
into the water and hide themselves as
rapidly as possible, preliminary man
euvers and hasty retreats because the
water is too cold being forbidden.
After emerging from the water
both men and women must run te
their pile Of clothing, hastily draw
skirt and jacket or trousers and coat
over their dripping bathing costumes
and scamper home as rapidly as pos
sible. Women whose tresses are dis
arrayed by their dives will be provid
ed with hairpins by the officer before
they start back.
Recently a young man who haf
covered his bathing suit with only {
long cravenette was ordered back u
his house to get trousers. lie obeyet
Ynd put on a pair of white ducks, bu'
turned them up so high that they wer'
not noticeable. S~candalized at hi
bare legs. the officer was about to ar
rest him. The inventive young maj
defed the officer of the law and IN
sisted that he was within'the regula
tions. After the officer had proclaim
ed him under arrest, he threw of tn
coat and displayed the white ducks
rolled up far enough to indicate
food in London. The discounted pc
liceman nursed his outraged dignit.
for a week afterward.
At first the rules were taken as
Joke by the many resorters OF the wi
iage. but their patience has been worl
out, and complaints are coming II
thick and fast. Some citizens ar
threatening to make a test OF tn
law. which is declared to be absurd
There is no symptom, however. OF
relaxation of the officers vigilenc
and o~ficiousness.