Daily Kennebec journal., 1878-03-25
By MoDoC,
with Injections by Bohe.)

\ wear ago last summer five comrades Of
the grand old Army of the Potomac among
whom was the writer, passed a summer va
cation together living in tent on Capital
Island (bettor known as ''pg Coye''), Booth
bay IIarbor. The party was made up as
follows "Alaie', (so designated because ne
ought to beg, and Cheeky (this pet name
was given him for the reason that it fitted
him), live in Augusta "Spuds" (he got
that apellation by spilling the potatoes for
the first dinner in camp, dwells in Portland;
" Bub Ga title he acquired in that he did
not weigh more than two hundred pounds),
resides in Fitchburg, Mass. and the fifth
(since called "Modoc' ior no particular rea-
| SOM, is newspaper man IN Providence, X.
e, though his greatest boast is that he was
| born and brought up in the good old State
of Maine. SO successful was the experiment,
so pleasantly passed the time, SO entirely dill
| we for season forget the cares OF the work
| ing day world, and so thorough were the rest
and recreation obtained that we broke camp
at the expiration of the vacation with "A
settled determination to repeat the operation
| the next summer and if possible have some
Of our friends with us to enjoy the pleasures
OF Camp Comfort, the name we had right
| ly gwen the camp in which we had taken 50
much solid comfort Fortune favored, and
| all the members Of the veteran quintette were
enabled last season to enjoy ten day en-
| campment at the same place, while five others
were added to the party. OF the new five,
| two were war veterans one from fitchburg,
Mass, friend of ''Bub," whom we iamil-
iarly called "Wheezy," because "Bub" told
us to, and the other was from Augusta and
| served as steward of the party. Of the 9th
| er three who were considered lis 'cruits, one
was "A friend of "Modoc from Providence (his
| first visit to Aiaine), whose camp name was
I'Bohe," an abbleyiation OF Bohemian, he,
| too, being newspaper man, and the other
two were from Augusta, one being ycleped
I"Artemas" from resemblance Of his name
| to that of Mainc's favorite hum srist, and the
| other Judge" because when he Is at home,
his name sounds like that ofone of the Judges
of the State. Thus was made up as jolly a
party as ever put in a summer vacation to-
gether.
The farmers of Maine were filled with
| thankfulness on the morning Of Friday, tenth
of August last, that the heavens had at
length opened and let down profusely the
rain which was so much needed. Good for
vegetation beyond doubt, but not SO COM
l
| then to 20 into camp. However, the party,
with two or three exceptions met at Bath
that morning in spite of the rain, and before
noon was landed at Capital Island damp to
he sure, but in the best OF spirits. We found
there several parties camping out, in all
some sixty or seventy persons, and for time
were little in doubt Just when to pitch our
tents. Our old ground was occupied by the
i inin If lodi
with son and several daughters, and their
fricnds-and just that place seemed to be
needed in order that our tents might be to-
gether. by the kind consent of the lady
aforesaid however, the dining tent was moved
to a spot quite as convenient for its occupants
and our wall tent was pitched in the exact
locality of the year before ON the bank of a
cove, by sandy beach, not twenty foot from
| high water and with a background OF solid
rock towering above it, Didn't the com
rades of the previous year enjoy home feel
ing when the tent was pitched as they lay
down i'll 1t and looded out upon the familiar
surroundings? Didn't they heartily thank
their next neIghbors for the kindness which
enables them to make themselves sat home
SO thoroughly? From that time, this party
was known as "Our Next Neighbors, !" and
right pleasant neighbors they proved them
selves to be. Opposite to and fronting the
wall tent, Slbley tent was pitched and be-
yond that the cook tent, and our camp was
complete Hardly were the tents pitched
when the members OF party living on
| hot se-boat anchored close by, who had been
| watching us as we worked in TIE rain, sent
over large dish Of good hot chowder for
lunch, kindness which was duly appre-
clated. And it may be stated here that this
kindness from perfect strangers, though a
new sensation to some of the party was but
| the commencement of an era of wonderful
good feeling which lasted as long as we re-
mained in camp. Our temporary habtations
erected, we settled down Tor enjoyment and
laughed at the rain. We chose the old name
Camp Comfort for the name of eur camp,
| (though we might not have been quite So
hasty in the matter, had we known Just how
much rain and fog we were to endurel, and
this name was unanimously adopted by the
other parties in our vicinity.
10 get somewhat acquainted with cur
neighbors seemed to be the first duty and
| pleasure. The tent of sour Next NeIghbors"
was full one there were first the mother.
who, out OF respect was generally addressed
by her right name, though one or two attempts
were made to give her pet name, while at
least one Of our party persisted in calling her
'mother y then there were several young
ladies who during their stay were addressed
as "St Cecilia" "St. Helena" "Ave
Maria, "ThoDuchess, ""The Marchioness,
The Shepherdess' and "Moire Antique
(Which names they accepted gracefully and
! responded to promptly, as well as ore or
| two ladies not nicknamed, and some young
men, A short distance away was encamped
party from Gardiner consisting of gentle
man and his wife, a daughter aged fourteen
and son aged eleven, who were addressed
| by their usual names, but in this article will
be spoken of as Mr.. and Mrs Gardiner.
Julia and Harry. Beyond the settlement OF
''Our Next Neighbors' were the tents for
party the most of whom were there the pre-
vious year, who to our good fortune happened
to choose the same time for tenting by the
sea this YEAR thouph thew did mot ar,iva IN