Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-08-26
CAMP MEETING cORREsP oHDEECE.

NOTES OF PREPARATION AT THE RRANDYwINE SUM
NIT CAMP THE DAY BEFORE THE OPENING -
PROPOSALS., DC.
[Corsspeudence of the CommerciaLl
BRANDYwNE SUMMIT CAMP, Aug. IS.
Being now pretty well settled in our camp
meeting domicil, we will try to give your readers
some idea of camp life, as viewed by our eyes.
Being day ahead of time, we hardly think we
give an adequate idea of the meeting, as good
number of the tents are at present unoccupied,
many Of them remaining over from the camp
meeting Of last year but as those which are
left standing from year to year are owned by
the regular attendants of the camp it is fair to
presume that all or nearly all Of the tents will
be ocucpied, which being the case the camp will
be fully as large as any previous year, and the
constant pounding, chopplng aud grating which
greets our ears, tells the story Of the erection
of many more abodee, and we would not be sur
prised to learn of q considerable increase in the
number of tents over that OF the previous meet
ings. But as We have no data, we do not give
this as . positive statement but shall endeavor
in our next letter to give you something more
reliable. t.-
Although very many of your readers are IA
milar with the Brandywine Summit Camp Meet
ing grounds yet among your thousands of read
ers there cannot but be q large proportion who
have never had the privilege to stroll these truly
majestic woods therefore short description Of
our little colony will not be out OF place.
The woods is owned by one Mr.. johnson, and
is known as Johnson's woods, the camp taking
it's name, we suppose, from the Brandywine Sum-
nit Station, the nearest station on the p. Il B.
q. II. r &, which is about mile distant.
When we remember that nature in all her
works never makes mistakes, we think we can
give no more fitting description Of the adaptable
ity of the grove for camp purposes than to say
that nature intended these woods for q camp.
Situated upon rolling ground, covered with tall
hickory and chestnut trees, and other varieties,
whose noble trunks tower many feet into the
air before they begin to branch, then inter
mngling their foliage, they cover the earth be-
meath with q cool, refreshing shade, which of
itself is enough to inspire enthusiasm in the
heart of the new conner, as he treaas the walks
made sacred to the hearts Of many who have
realized the answer Of peace to their anxious
souls
To one who is looking for such things. the first
day Of camp is good opportunity to gratify the
''sense of the ridiculous" While strolling along
the avenues 1t IL common sight to see some
perplexed one standing In his tent holding in one
hand some article, while with the other he
scratches his head taxing his ingenuity to the
utmost in the effort to make the means in his
hand answer the end in view.
little further on we met . good brother,
(whom we would much rather employ to drive a
good bargain than to drive naiD with hatchet
in hand pounding away away at perverse nail,
which aggravstingly goes in every direction but
the one he desires, nntil with blow directed
with more energy than precision the hatchet
comes down upon his unlucky finger, when sud
denly, as If by magic, the hitherto peaceful
Methodist brother, one would suppose had be-
come infatuated into the idea that he lie a Modoc
brave, and hurling his hatchet (as though it were
3 tomahawk) into the air, he executes dance
which would make any Of those dark hued dem
izens Of the front" blush with envy; nogwith-
standing the fact that dancing is especially for
hidden in the "dsoiplin."
But of course the hAllucinAtion is only tenn
porary. But dropping tear Of sympathy for
the unfortunate wounded brother who stands
with said wounded member in his mouth and
with woe-begone expression looking so intently
for said tear, we ampse ourselves still further
by watching little men stretching themselves in
the vain endeavor to reach q point just three
fourths of an inch beyond their limit while just
opposite, perhaps, is our big Brother B. just As
vainly striving to squeeze his huge body into q
space 'just leetle bit too small"
How many Of the Brethren" will wonder
where Mr.. VerdaRt was when they were in the
dilemmas described by him, will remain unknown
to history we fear.
We are unable to-day to give the plan Of ar
rangsments in regard to the various religious
meetings owing to the unsettled condition OF the
camp, the day reing devoted exclusively to the
erection and preparation of the tents.
This evening meeting will be conducted in
st. Paul's NJ. Z. Church tent, by Mr.. 1. l..
Crouch. which is to take the place of his usual
Monday night class.
There are but very few ministers upon the
ground as yet, but the familiar faces Of quite 4
number of veterans Of the cross" are fitting
around the various parts of the ground.
VERDANT.