The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-11-22


social classes-a Belgian milliner and
a Partisan "doctoresse," a manufac-
turer of Hamburg, an aide-de-camp of
the Emperor of Russia, Captain SWEET
chine; an American merchant, the
painter Fidus of Berlin, q former ac-
tor Of the court of Bavaria, several
men Of letters and printer. Some
have lived there for years. Others
come and go. But all are apostles Of
truth, which for them is summed UP
in the formula, all according to ma
ture; nothing beyond nature.
On account Of the beauty Of the view
the rustic dwellings Of varying diInen-
sions have been built on the elevations
Of the mountains. Each family has it's
own home. Unattached individuals live
alone or in groups, according to their
natural affinities The houses are COM
Portable. but without any luxury. The
beds are of metal, the other furniture
Of wicker. There is running water, hot
and cold, and in winter steam heat.
But the air is always allowed to enter
freely
In the center Of the forest is an in
closure where the "naturistes" usually
spend the morning, completely naked
occupied either in taking sun or wa
ter baths, in cultivating the garden OF
in variops sports. The women, who
still preserve the ridiculous sentiment
called modesty," retain their clothing
and so to q separate Enclosure.
AZ 1890 o'clock a bell sounds The
"naturistes" dress hemseIves-very
lNttle--and repair to the central pa
villon. The clothing of the men con-
sists Of short tunic, trousers and SAN
dals. The women wrap themselves in
araperies Of various kinds, the designs
being borrowed from the paintings Of
Puvts de Chavannes or from those OF
certain Japanese painters. 1t goes with
out saying that there are no corsets
and no pettlcoats. ARMS legs and necks
are uncovered, and the hair falls on
the shoulders or q is confined sim,
ply by a ribbon. The costume, how
ever, like everything else, Is optional,
and those who wish to follow the
customary modes may Dc So But az
ter few weeks every one gets the
habit Of wearing as little as possible
Coquetry and prudery disappear be-
fore the "pure simplicity Of benef1eent
nature" How could any one, for In
stance, think OF clfnging to the corset
after having seen the gallery OF Pic
lures showing the deformities caused
by this contrivance?
At the back of the immense hall
which serves as a place Of reunion is
series OF numbered drawers, each
"naturiste" having his drawer. ,on
entering he consults the menu and
writes on slip Of paper the dishes he
desires. This Sheet he puts into box,
and some minutes later he opens his
drawer On a tray are disposed the
utensils and the different aluminium
dishes containing the bread, the
grains and the fruits that constitute
the vegetarian diet. The foods do not
look very inviting to the outsider, but
the initiated say that, though they do
not please the palate at first, they
eventually afford II great pleasure.
1t Is a mistake, too, TO suppose that
1t is simple, this vegetarian cooking. It
has to be done in special saucepans.
which preserve all the nutritive salts
Of the vegetables and fruits which by
the ordinary method OF cooking are
lost through evaporation or are pour
ca off with the water, The cooks Of
Monte Verita never use any water ex-
oept the water Of the fruits and vege-
tables themselves.
Having obtained their trays. the
naturistes" go wherever they like to
eat the contents. Then they carry the
dishes to a basin OF running water
wher they are easily washed by those
in attendance there. There are almost
no domestics at Monte Verita. Each
one serves himself, for work is neces-
sary to health. The woman take care
of the rooms and the men cultivate
the garden. M. Swetchine makes his
own bed and washes his dishes But
everything is arranged so as to make
the work easy, even for those unaccus-
toned to such labor Everything is
simplified, and the life creates among
the colonists an atmosphere Of eauali-