Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-08-14
DRIFT.

the Pequea, Tucquan, and half dozen other
equally beautiful streams that work their
way through the wild River Hills" 10 find
the bosom OF the Winding Water, ~ the
Indians aptly called our river-with all the
opportunities afforded TO hunters, fishermen,
artisus, geoloRists, botanists, nsturalists and
antiquarians right In our county, the wonder
rather IL that 80 many Of our people still go
abroad for summer recreation, when tho pest
kind of recreation can be had 40 much nearer.
Why, there are more people in Lancaster
who havo roamed through the Adirondacks
or are intimately acquainted win the htian-
tic coast, than there are those VINO nave ever
seen The beauties OF the hills and glons along
the Susquehanna. They spend hundreds OF
dollars every summer to seek pleasure
abroad, when fully a. much enjoyment and
prof, can be had for next to nothing within
i've 10 fifteen miles OF their homes. Such is
the contrariness Of human nature'
IAN glad TO know, however, that tho num-
Der OF those who are learning 10 appreciate
the sensibloness and many advantages of
home recreation and enjoyment Is on the
increase, The fact that this year there have
been more excursions and camping trips To
different points on the river and throughout
the county is proof OF this. May their num-
ber continue to increase
LOOK at the matter not only from the
stand point of the tourists themselves, but
also from that of a citizen Of the county who
has in mind the best interests of the com.
munity, while Just as much pleasure and
profitcan he obtained by the tourist along
the streams and mountains OF our Immediate
vicinity rs he can get anywhere else, 10y this
means the vicinity also itself can De im-
mensely benefited.
or course, in order 10 this II IL first OF
all necessary tor our camping clubs 10 rise
above the too common notion that the chief
end of their existence IL 10 get drunk that
camping and carousing are equivalent terms;
or that beer and liquor are essentials TO en-
joyment on such occasions. / know OF at
least two clubs, that were camping on the
Susuushanna this year, whose conduct con-
clusiyely disproved all such notions. They
demonstrated beyond question that camping
in the woods in not incongruous with sobrety
and decency that more enjoyment and
genuine, healthy fun can be had without
liquor than with 1t, and that 1t is by no means
necessary for the success OF a camp that a
party ot men should sacrifice either their
manhood or their gentlemanliness III moth
ing more had been accomplished by this
summers excursions than this, II would
have bs0n enough. For II IL a point that
needs TO bs firmly established i'll the public
mind, and in the minds OF the campers
themselves ere TINS lOTil bi TbcItdtlOu can
fulfill It's highest possibilities, or properly
use its opportunities and advantages.
WHAT mean 10y at least part of these
possibilities" and opportunities" you will
see from the suggestion of a member OF one
of our local camping associations, one OF the
most highly respected and public spirited
gentleman of the legal profession, who wrote
mo last week " hope as one of the results
M tho foundation n Climb. that IL Will take
Ia broader scope than any OF the CLUBS now
formed. Why not endesvor To do for the
Susquehanna along our county what Inc
Mnsi Pioneers have done tor Delaware
Water Gap? This club has explored every
feature OF the river along these mountains,
and thus opened unsuspected beauties To
hundreds of visitors. Little parties could
branch out, and | am satisfied much could
be done to explore the Susquehanna in like
manner, and by judcious publication OF
results tempt our people out OF their shells
to see the beauty OF their own neighDorhood.
There are numberso of places scattered through
our county-outside OF the river too-which
can be reached in half day, for which the
same could be done"
WHY should not some of our camping
clubs combine profit with pleasure in some
such wise, making their own enjoyment
| conduce To the public good? Which club
| will first take hold of the idea and carry 1t
out?
SOMETHING in the naturs rsbf my friends
suggestion was done, | believe, at the first
annual camp of the "rresbyterian NJ emorial
| Camping Association" last week, under the
| able leadership of Mr.. II. &. Moore. They
spent week at York Furnace, the camping
| ground whose beauties have been made
| familiar to us and popular by the annual
| camp of the veteran Tucquan club, and gave
| at least one evening To listen 10 amost enter
"A ns nal an y
| aud Indian antiquities OF the neighborhood.
| 1t was quite an informal affair, as was em-
| nently proper the members OF the club
| sitting or reclining on their cots ranged
| around the inside OF the pavilion, while Mr..
| Robert Bair talked to Them for fully an hour,
giving them q mass OF Information, and many
| useful hints, out OF the rich store of his
| knowledge of the history aud antiquities OF
| tho Indians who ranged over the river hills,
aud encamped by those waters and in those
| romantic glens century and half ago.
| Everyone agreed that the evening was the
| most epjoyably spent OF any OF the week.
| And am sure more than one member of the
| club received from il not only new facts, but
| what is better, new impulses and desires TO
| study up and find out more of our local
| Indian history
| NEXT year, hope, this association, profit,
| ing by the success OF this one lecture, will
make arrangements to have an hour or two
OF every evening devoted to such a lecture,
| or familiar talk, on some subject of local his
| torical, antiquarian or scientific interest. No
| doubt Mr.. Robert Bair would be willing "a
| tell some more about the subject on which he
| il recognized authority and of which he is
| so enthusiastic a student. Their are members
| of the club itself who are devol ss of art the
sciences and philosophy, and who could give
most entertaining talks on the subjects they
have made their specialties l need only
mention DIR. Stahr, of the college; what all
instructive lecture he could give on the
botanical features OF the locality III neces
sary, speakers could easily be procured to
tell OF the geological features, of the fauna OF
the neighborhood, and of other special OF
more general subjects OF interest. Why moi
do itY
WHEN 1 learned, by the way, how Mr.
John Bair and his good wife, tho prnprietor'
of the York Furnace camping ground, de
devoted themselves to tho comfort aud en-
tertainment OF the campers; how they hac
been doing it for years, seemingly knowing
no greater delight than to contribute to tn,
| enjoyment of others, and how ii Is owin)
| chiefly to their unseliish exertions in behal
of others, that York Furnace has become 81
popular resort, and the name Of Bair
synonym for generous hospitality through
out this part of the stale-when thought o
all this, l felt deeply grateful that In tn
midst oil the general struggle for mere seltsl
gain, the jostling crowd OF mere self-seekers
..-..