Nudist Convention

Nudism, as an organized movement, started in Germany in the early 20s, went ahead by serious leaps and dignified bounds until 1933, when the German body put on a brown shirt. From Germany the cult spread to France, England and the U. S., where it was popularly regarded as high-class burlesque. By 1934, however, there were 300,000 serious-minded nudists in the U. S., and the movement gathered momentum until the California Pacific International Exposition in San Diego three years ago, where 2,000,000 sightseers at 25-c- a head peeked over a fence into a nudist corral. Bona fide nudists denounced the show, and indignant opinion throughout the country drove nudism under cover. Last fortnight the American Sunbathing Association, largest official nudist organization, held its second annual Pacific Coast convention at Estacada, Ore. Accomplishments: election of officers (who modestly withheld their names), formation of the Western Sunbathing Conference, reaffirmation of nudists' high ideals.

Scientists may dispute the social value of nudism but on the physical value of sun bathing they are of one mind. Contrary to nudists' beliefs, prolonged exposure to sunlight is definitely harmful. Sunburn is a form of skin disease, stretching and often paralyzing the superficial capillaries of the skin, increasing fibrous tissue. In time the skin grows scaly, inelastic, wrinkled, becomes predisposed to cancer. Classic medical example of sun-caused cancer is the case of Australian sheepherders, who work unprotected in strong sunlight, contract more skin cancer than any other group.

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