Uncovered

By EDITH CHANTERS

I am a normal woman, with a normal well-developed body, and considered good looking; in fact, some of my friends even call me beautiful.

Before my mirror I have made a careful analysis of my body, searching for deficiencies. I have tried to be fair in the matter, but find that I measure up well with an artist's conception of physical perfection.

Born of stern, puritan forebears, my early childhood, adolescence, and the period of blossoming into full womanhood, was beset by rigid rules and regulations. I have felt constricted, stilted, and held down, by parental opposition to my least impulse for freedom.

My father was from puritan stock, and my mother was also of quaker parentage. To show one's `ankles' was considered immodest: even to mention the word "limbs" was posi tively indecent!

My battle, against such an atmosphere, and the strenuous impressions of an early age. was a hard one. It took all the will-power at my command to break down the barriers. I was nervous, irritable, weak, and melancholy. There were times that I was even desperate! And I did not know why. "I felt an in-ability to cope with even the most ordinary every day problems.

It took a great deal of courage to visit a physician, and try to explain to him my condition. His suggestions did me no good. The nostrums he prescribed failed to relieve.

Browsing through the library one day, I came across a book describing repressions, inhibitions. and complexes: I devoured it with great interest. This seemed to remove a veil from my eyes, and I was quite enlightened as to many things of which I had been, almost criminally, kept in ignorance. This, then, was my weakness: but still I was far from knowing what to do, to effect a cure.

I spent many sleepless nights thinking it over, but failed to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion. Instead of being relieved, I was worse than I had been before; I did not know whether to feel glad that I had come across the book, or sorry.

This went on for some time until I happened to notice a magazine on the stands devoted to Nudism. I was not particularly impressed at the moment: in fact I was rather more amused than anything else. I did not take it seriously. That night. however. I thought about the magazine and decided that the next day I would purchase one. I admit that it was more from a standpoint of curiosity than from any other motive. But the next day I felt ashamed to even approach the stand and ask for the magazine, and, I must admit, that I asked a girl friend of mine to buy one for me. This request was received with gales of laughter, and I was called old-fashioned, and a prude.

That evening, as I left the office, my girl friend handed me the magazine. I was confused, suffused with blushes, and almost afraid to take it. It was not even in an envelope, nor was it wrapped up in any way— it was uncovered!

Hastily rolling the magazine, with the cover picture of an uncovered female, so that it might not be seen, I hastened home. Later, in the seclusion of my own chamber, I safely started to peruse this new thought, in American outdoor activity. I was still not particularly convinced, but interested. Surely, the men, women, and children, pictured there without clothing, must have been sincere. They seemed to be intelligent types. I failed to notice any sign of a lack of development. either physical or mental. I seemed to sleep better, and during my waking hours the next day, gave the matter considerable thought.

That night, for the first time in my life, I slept nude. It was hard to reconcile myself to the idea at first. but once I made the beginning, it was not so difficult. In my sleep, I seemed to sub-consciously feel a freedom that I had never known before. This, coupled with what, I presume, woud be referred to by Freud, Jung, Havelock Ellis, or other writers as "pleasurable lassitude" caused me to feel, the next morning, more rested in both mind and body, than I had ever thought possible in my case. I tried this for several nights; I viewed my body when bathing, and I was not ashamed to look in the mirror at my breasts, or any other parts of my anatomy. I viewed nothing so shocking.

I bought more magazines; secured books on Nudism, made inquiries, and received information concerning nudistic activities both in Germany, and Sweden, as well as in America. I ascertained where the gymnasiums were located, and where the nearest camps might be reached.

After a terrific battle with myself, I managed to screw up enough courage to ask my girl friend to take me to a nudist camp.

I had not the slightest intention of doing anything, but go through the camp as a visitor, in order to ascertain, if possible, just what it was all about.

I shall never be able to make up my mind just what it was, that made me change my mind. Whether it was fear—of being ridiculed or laughed at; whether it was because I was influenced by the general atmosphere; whether I acted through impulse in an unguarded moment; or whether it just happened. It is true, nevertheless, that before I even realized, I had become a nudist!

Had I stopped to think. had I hesitated, had I tried to analyze, perhaps I should never have done so. I am glad. though, that I did not have the time or opportunity to think or arrive at a decision, but that my impulse, and its consummation, has made of me a better, a healthier, less nervous, and more carefree person who vibrates to Nature, who enjoys life, who has a better understanding of the fitness of things, and who is, through Nudism, a much better woman.

A much better woman in every way. My work has improved, for I am much more . efficient at the office than formerly. I turn out more letters each day with less mistakes; I seem to please the boss—he is not so cross at me, for he has no reason to be. There is more breadth and depth of understanding between us: I feel more free and easy when we sit together privately in his office. I feel that my changed out-look upon life, and the mental vibrations I must radiate, have had a, great effect upon, not only the other members of the staff, but upon my employer as well. Previously when I would take dictation I always felt undressed. His gaze seemed to mentally strip me. I felt very uncomfortable. Now, I have no such feelings with him, or with anyone else. I have established a poise and confidence, and a feeling of candor. The girl friend who had handed me the magazine has become a pal -- she's a "honey." We are now both members of a Nudist colony; several of the other girls in the office have paid visits to our camp. and expressed themselves as amazed at the beauties and simplicity of the life there.

Constant companionship with quite a number of the members of the Nudist colony, has ripened into a beautiful friendship, and has indelibly engraved many memories which shall never be erased. We feel like one happy, carefree family. There is no gossip, no bickering, no hatred. Women do not talk about other women, because there is nothing to talk about; there is no dress to criticize, there are no styles to be considered.

The morals of all the Nudist colonies I have had connection with, are undeniably above and beyond reproach. I have yet to hear of a man and his mate belonging to a Nudist group having been divorced. I have yet to learn of even an affair. Love, courtship, and its attendant vagaries, have their place among the Nudists, as well as anywhere else, but they are accompanied along lines of procedure that would not only surprise society, but make civilization blush with shame.

I am convinced that when the time shall come for me to choose a mate, I shall choose one of a Nudist group. There are several reasons which make me certain about this, for I have given the matter more than considerable thought.

I know that the man of my choice will at least be clean physically and mentally: that he will devote his time and attention to his vocation, and thus make our lives happier, instead of having but one thing on his mind, to the detriment of other matters of importance. I am convinced that he will be a good friend and companion--a pal. and that I shall be the same to him. I feel that I shall not simply be a mistress—a convenience to satisfy his emotional longings—simply a servant in the house to wait on him, to satisfy him, and to grow old. without having tasted any of the joys of my cenception, of what true and sincere comradeship should represent. I shall hold no mysteries for him. other than the ultimate.

Our union will not be in the matter of an experiment. but will be an actuality based upon a definite plan and a beautiful consummation.

Our "first night" will not be one to be dreaded. It will be neither filled with trepidation, nor wonderment. Our subsequent life together will not be marred by attempts at concealment, sneaking off into dark corners to disrobe, or any of the other fallacies of living together practiced by narrow-minded mates. We shall see each other as we are. and not as we bedeck ourselves to appear.

He shall love me for what I am, and not for my body alone. Our love will be all the more strong, because of a lack of restraint due to imagination, taking the place of realism.

Our children, and I expect to have some. will profit by this beautiful union of ours. They will inherit the happiness and beauty with which their parents have surrounded themselves. They will also be influenced by the atmosphere we shall create during the period before they are born. and after.

They will also profit immeasurably by their very nearness to a life that is not beset with hypocrisy, falsity, or deceit. They will know life, not as they may learn from unworthy sources, but as it should be: and with us. will be. Their children will also contribute to the future generation. a superior heritage. I shall feel that I have done my share toward making the world a better and happier place to live in. I shall feel that I have not lived in vain, and if no more definite reason for my being here manifests itself, I shall at least have had the innate satisfaction of having secured from my mate his respect: and of having given to the posterity his children, and my children. to carry on the good work we have started: and during the period of their conception, birth, and adolescence, through the formative periods of their youth, to their age of maturity, I shall

know and feel that the mate whom I selected for me as my life's partner. will love me, honor me. and respect me, because I have been the loyal, true friend, mate and good fellow. I should have been, and not simply because I am UNCOVERED.