The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-08-22
LETTER FROM LAKE GEORGE.
EScAMrMENT OF THE HORIZON CLUB,
WALToSIAN ISLE, NEAR HAGUE,
Aug. 18th. $50


Again, Mr.. Editor, the annual on
campment of the Horizon Club becomes
a subject for the pencil of your cores
pendent. Embarking at Blair's Bay.
near st. Anthony's Nose upon which
some vandal has inscribed the legend.
"Yinegar Bitters,D we reached camp
after an hours hard phil against contra
ry winds, some two hours later than
our worthy president Of the legal fra
ternity, who, with another wing of the
club, had sailed down the lake from
Caldwell. BY dint of much talk inter-
spersed with some work, our tents were
pitched, and the usual routine of camp
life and labor begun. Beds of straw
covered with cedar and spruce boughs
were made, range constructed, q ia
BILE built, seats erected, hammocks
hung, and before nightfall the wilder
ness had become habitable. To COM
pletc the day the clouds gathered, and
the momentous question, "Is ii going to
rainl" passed from mouth to mouth.
We do not have long to wait, for soon
1t does rain. Hurry, now, and got the
provisions aud bedding under shelter,
bring in the hammocks, and take care
to bring in an armful of kindling wood,
for if you do not the question where
withal shall we build fire may be-
come q seriohs one. No sooner are the
preparations made for the rain than il
ceases, and the sun bursts forth and
fair weather is vouchsafed to us once
more. 1t is now time for supper. and
cotice is roasted for all around, Is made,
and is no doubt frst-class. 1t tastes Of
creosote and turpentine, of potash and
cod liver oil, yet it is good and strong,
and we drink a quart apiece. Pretty
soon 1t Is discovered that the coffee pot
is too small for our increasing capaci-
ties; larger one must be had to-mor-
row. 1t is now quite dark, or would
be but for brilliant starlight, and the
lake shines like sea of molten glass,
and we sit and gaze at the gorgeous
spectacle until the air grows chilly. The
lanterns and lamps are now lighted, and
inside the tent the merriment goes on F;
stories are told, cards shuffied, Jokes
cracked, and an odor of burning tobac-
co is perceptible. One by one the COM
pany goes to bed, but not to sleep.
New stories are thought of; one has q
hill to sleep on, another finds the hol,
low uncomfortable we resolve to plow
1t up in the morning to make 1t softer
some one suggests that we do 1t now.
Finally silence reigns and soon 1t is
daylight; no one has slept, yet all feel
refreshed. While we are at breakfast
the Ganouski goes by and gives us a
salute. The ladies come today and
with them more of the club, and we are
Otto meet the Horizon, which also toots
her whistle in our honor. A party go
out fishing and return with plenty of
black bass, which, by the way, is sport
TO take. During the day some one has
bought tin horn to salute the steam
ers with. During the afternoon more
horns arrive, but their use does not yet
become apparent, Dinner and supper
are served, and night once more is at
hand. "Eleven O'Clock and all to bed,"
sings out the "last loafer." There is
some talk about lost coat and stolen
blanket. By and by all Is quiet, 1t is
midnight. Witching hour, and sure
enough the witches are at work. Just
as sleep comes quietly stealing over us
all horn is heard, shrill and loud and
long; every one is awake in a moment,
II is answered, and then the island Is
resonant with tin horns; there is one
in every corner Of the tent, and no
doubt there are hundred OH the island.
No sleep is now possible, and the night
is given up to revels, the echoes wake up
and send back the sound, the owls boot
on tho mountain side, some one hears
wild cat yell, and at last as morning
comes on We get to sleep. And now and
thus the time passes $50 agreeably"
that the weeks are hardly noticed In
their flight. Here comes tho lawyer
from the court, the teacher from The
school, tho student from the university,
the book-keeper from his accounts, the
commercial traveller from the road, and
all are rested and recuperated. No use
of quinine or morphine here. Strength
comes In the air, and sweet sleep comeo
from invigorated blood, oxygen fills the
veins with life, and all return to life's
"ceascless toll and endeavor" with re-
newed strength and energy. And now
for another year goodbye 10 Camp
jolly with all Its jollity. b.