The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-07-19
BY PAUL HARRISON
NEA Service Writer


York City. and more than family
redolent OF perspiration and disin-
fectants. In the outer office a
group of people stood about. idly
chatting some looking at a collec-
ton Of snapshots.
The picture showed unclothed
men and women doing exercises on
lawn. running q race, trundling
a wheelbarrow, lolling in the sun.
One Of the women giggled How
awful ] look!'
so do most of us, for that mat
ter" responded a man in the uni
form Of an army captain. But I'll
bet I take off twenty pounds within
tho next"
Start Their Warmup
Come now. all of you" called
an officious little man. Get your
towels and we will go inside and
warm up
Ten minutes later, members of
the American Gymnosophical AS
ISOLATION began struggling from the
locker rooms to the gymnasium floor
The women were clad in monde
script rompers, dance suits and va
riously pinned-up one-piece dresses
The men looked even more dowdy
in underwear shorts.
Circles we're formed and every
body went energetically at the
business of tossing heavy medicine
balls about.
Was this, then a sample of indoor
nudism, after all the preachments
about the healthful aspects of eXer-
cising the completely unclothed
body? No. it turned out, it was not
The gymnosophists merely were
biding their time, for the outer doors
still were unlocked, both to late
coming members and to the police.
Clothing Comes OFF
But at 8 80 the doors were locked
and the class of twenty-nine men
and seventeen women trooped back
to their lockers, removed their re-
naming clothing, and returned for
the activities of the evening Old
and paunchy, young and 1.-the, they
spaced themselves about the room
and earnestly began trying to imi-
tate the motions of their leader.
The latter was a graceful young
woman, professional dancer. Her
assistant, likewise nude, sat at a
piano and played sprightly tunes
for the rhythmic exercises.
The poSturing, kicking and bend
ing was more strenuous than it ap-
peared, for now and then elderly
and perspiring nudists, and some
times ill-conditioned young ones
would halt for a moment to catch
their breaths.
Play Running Games
After nearly an hour of this, two
mixed groups were formed and run
ming games were played. These we're
the sort of simple paStimes en-
ployed in Y. M and Y. w. c. A.
classes. The only time men and
women came into physical contact
was in a mixed relay race, when
couples joined hands and numbered
around q pylon at the far end of the
hall
Half an hour later the nudistS
were ready for a swim. They dashed
for the single shower room, gasped
rs icy water SplaShed their Sweaty
bodies. and ran on to the pool, then
dressed
And so ended the regular mid
week meeting of the GymnoSophiStS
AS they left, chattering conventional
pleaSantrieS and appreciation for "a
lovely evening" each reported to the
secretary, Miss Ruth Winkler. con-
corning his plans to attend one of
the organizations two outdoor
camps over the weekend.
Morality Has No Part
One of the most impresSiyely
Voluble Of Americas nudiSts is DR.,
Maurice Parmelse, SociologiSt. au-
thor and honorary president of the
GmynoSophical Association. His
book, "NudiSm in Modern Life" is
best-Seller among the unclothed
and his standing as q scientist lends
weight to his opinions.
So 1t was from Dr. Parmelee that
this reporter sought nudiSm's an
SwerS TO some of the controverted
questions about the movement. For
instance what about the morality
Morality" exploded DR.. Parme-
lee has nothing to do with it,"
Then he muffled his startling
blast with an explanation. In the
public mind" he said. nudity has
gotten all mixed up with sex; and
sex is mixed with morality. AS q
matter OF fact. they have nothing
to do with each other.
Being good or being honest are
not ends in themselves. PEOPLE
don't adopt morality for the sheer
sake OF being moral they do it ia
avoid unpleasant or embarrassing
consequences.
More Beauty Than Ugliness
"Then how about the ugliness OF
the average human body? Doesn't
that make nudism unattrsctive to
eSthetically sensitive people?"
The scientist paused moment
well. maybe. But I've been to many
camps here and abroad, and I'm in
clined to think I've seen more beau
ty than ugliness. 1 believe most
physical ugliness is largely due tc
the wearing of clothes, and its
pleasant to notice the improvement
in the physiQues of nudists. In g
few more generations I don't be-
lieve the esthetes will be offended
TOMORROW: The growth OF
nudism in the United States.