Smyrna times., 1933-03-08
NUDIST COLONY
SHUTS UP SHOP
Famous New Jersey Cult Is
Now i'm HibernatiOn for
the Winter
PLANNING FOR SUMMER


coiony-an aggregation of ''the orig
iBal, nOn-commercial nudists of the
United States"-has shut up shop
for the winter-gOing into hiberna-
tion, as it were. Officials of the or
ganization want it known, however,
that whatever capitulatiOn the news
may suggest to biased minds the
reason is the rigOrS of the new sea-
son and not TO the conventionalities
OF society. Indeed, the members
are just as much nudists at heart
and by inclination as ever. it is
stated, and the new spring will find
them holding forth in their orig
inal birthday suits as defiantly as
ever at the same old stand.
Some attempt will be made to
carry on through the winter-in
fact, a Manhattan gymnasium has
been rented by the society, and here
a half a hundred men and women
of the colony plan to gather two
nights week to swim and work off
by calisthenics the avoirdupois that
mars perfect nudist.
Will Wear Bathing Suits.
Because 1T is no use taking any
chances" according to Carl Becker,
founder and secretary Of the organi-
zation, they wear bathing suits. But
Sky farms, their 30-acre camp near
Liberty Corners, \. J., is open all
year, and though members go there
through the winter chiefly to get out
In the country. on warm days the
harder ones do a little nude sun
bathing.
The Sky farms nudists are incor-
porated in New Jersey as the Amer
lean League for Physical Culture.
They have only pity for the rival
nudists of the Olympian league, and
although Camp Olympia, which flour
ished last summer near Highland,
n. T., had 400 acres and its own pri-
vate lake, they consider that it was
Commercial from the outset
Eve are the oldest and the big
gest nudist organization" said Mr..
Becker, a German in the importing
and exporting business. 1--WE are
a private club. equally for the bene-
fit of all members. Nobody makes
any money. We don't admit the
press even when reporters are will
ing to 90 nudist, too. Naturally,
we want our idea to spread. but it
can't 90 like wildfre. We have to
educate the public, but we also have
10 look out for the privacy of our
members
The group has 90 members in
the metropolitan district, Mr.. Beck
er said; it would be more than 800
If the depression had not caused
many to drop out. Asked why the
depression would affect a cult which
means less wear and tear on clothes.
Mr.. Becker laughed gently and said
there were dues to pay and the mat
ter of railroad fare to Liberty Cor
ners.
sour purpose is the promotion Of
cleaner relations between the sexes
by eliminating perhaps the greatest
evil Of western civilization. sex Gu
riosity," he went on. This can
be done by bringing both sexes to-
sgether in a perfect state Of nudity.
providing the proper place can be
found-a secluded farm where all
kinds of sports, swimming. and gen
eral camp life can be INDUCED in.
Build Own Quarters.
Mr. Becker founded the league
three years ago after a visit to Ger
many, where he got the idea" That
summer the nudists camped out in
the Catskills. Since then they have
had rented farms in New Jersey and
in ROckland county, New York. Po.
lice descended on the latter, but the
Dudists were freed in court.
Last winter, with the treasury
comfortably full, they bought the
plot of dense woods, with running
brook at Liberty Corners. In May
they moved out in tents; by July
NHty Hdu Dulll Will lHeiT OWL UdUQS
most of the dormitory with sleeping
accommodations for 4S. Now they
have just finished a swimming pool.
An architect and several carpenters
among the membership led in the
building operations. A plumber
member put up an outdoor shower
for use until the pool was finished.
There are also II bungalows which
members built themselves on plots
they rented from the league for from
$40 to S25 a year. and several job
less nudists are living in their bun
galOws all winter. Next year they
plan a social hall. tennis courts, an
archery field and other facilities for
sports. and a restaurant. At pres
ent cooking is done camp fashion.
WOuld-be members are looked
over by a membership committee
which is so adept that in three years
only four persons have been ex-
PEELED. 'They did not do anything.
they were just uncongenial," Mr..
Becker said. and the rules are even