The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-10-31
NOT MOVED BY THE SPIRIT.
1t Was Something Entirely Different That
Touched These Camp-AIeeting Girls.

Down by the shores of Alcyon lake in
New Jersey the camp grounds newest
attraction, there have sat ever since the
camp opened a bevy of summer girls.
Their costumes were bewitchingly cool
looking, their laughter contagious, and
their presence lent added charm to the
beauties of the smooth, picturesque body
of water down in the woods on the east
of the famous groove. They sat along
the sloping shores, reading novels or
listening to the swish of oars as they
watched the boats glide across the
bosom of the lake. They lolled about in
graceful poses and permitted young men
to whisper nothings to them as they
welded their fans. Now it is all
changed. The pretty girls don't sit by
the lake any more. They eye it ask
ance, shudder, whisper to each other,
laugh, and avoid the vicinity as singed
cat keeps away from the fire.
This marked change came through
what approached the dimensions of a
general panic in the famous old camp
meeting grounds. The meetings had
progressed for two days and had begun
to assume the fervor and interest for
which Pitman grove is SO famous
throughout the land, when one evening
a great commotion arose. A pretty girl
in a batiste dress SO fidgeted and
squirmed in one of the front rows that a
good sister was sure she was feeling
the spirit" The good sister touched the
pretty girl on the shoulder and muir
INJURED encoura gingly in her ear. The
pretty girl gave one shrek and fled
from the auditorium. She made
straight for her mothers cottage, and
rumor has it that as soon as she reached
her room she gave herself over to de-
voted and industrious scratch.
Meantime other pretty girls, and some
not so pretty, had gone through the
same motions in the Auditorium meet
ing and had fled precipitately. The
good danes and the devoted brethren
were sorely perplexed. They ascribed
it all to the rebellious spirit engendered
by the devil, and fervid prayers were
offered for the misguided young women.
That night, when the meeting closed,
amid more turbulence than the good
people cared to see repeated, the actions
of the dozen or more young women
passed from lip to lip, and there was
much marveling over their mysterious
behavior. Next morning none of the
offenders were to be seen, but toward
dusk the next evening one of them
ventured out Of her cottage, and over
by Fourth avenue she ran across an
other.
"Oh, Jennie!" exclaimed one.
"Oh, Mayw exclaimed Jennie.
In concert they shrieked "Ticks!"
Then there were condolences, and as
the two sauntered on they sought out
sequestered spots, and. after carefully
looking all around, each bent over and
went through many mysterious mo-
tions. That same night all the other
girls who had aroused such commotion
in the meeting met as by appointment,
and after the first expression of horror
and dismay they shouted "Ticks!"
Then it was learned that the girls had
been in the habit of spending consider
able time down by the shores of Alcyon
lake. This is an abiding place of sand
ticks. a species of bug that is harder to
get rid of than country cousin in win
ter. The sand tick is industrious, digs
under the flesh, and has to be cut out.
The password at Pitman grove is
"Ticks."