The Washington times., 1894-09-09

been so bright, so gay, that there Is universal
regret There have been races and expedi-
tions by day, and illuminations and music by
night. Soon after the tents were pitched the
gayeties began.
The regatta presented US en- fete to the
townsfolk, some miles away. How pretty the
sight was wo who were In the picture shall
never know. A pageant of gayly decorated
canoes. behagged and befiowered. padded in
skillful unison around q blue-watered lake,
clrciing islands like bright, many-colored
ribbons, winding in and out against dark
green woods and under bluest of skies, exc
cutting pretty maneuvers. bearing white
fianneled youths and picturesque girls, is not
to be seen every day.
We sang the time-honored boating songs,
and ended up in martial array at the town
wharf. From there We went to a garden
party given for us by prominent citizen. He
was prominent enough 10 be able to give US
good time, and we ate his ices. cakes, and
fruits; listened 10 his string band music;
watched his guests tennis; admired his flow
ers and his daughters. and went back to our
canoes at peace with ourselves and the world.
The races were great sport We were vio-
lently excited over the Peterborough upset
races Young Huvter remarked feelingly that
he thought he might qualify. but he was ruled
out on the flimsy score of non-membership.
The ladies singles were the event of the day.
Excitement ran rife and delirious bets OF
girls padded well and strongly.
1t was pretty sight to watch the canoes on
the home stretch; 1.-the young figures bending
slightly forward; round-dimpled arms moving
quickly up and down; bright eyes, flushed
cheeks. pretty costumes; their chosen colors
Haunting from bow and paddle and in the
shoulder knot. The canoes curved and dashed
through the foam. The Canadian girl was the
favorite, and won as airily as she spilled young
Huyter into the water. Ingenuity exhausted
itself in trials of speed and skill, the majority
OF the participants being experts, to whom,
therefore, the ordinary races had lost interest.
The sailing races were, as they always are,
things OF beauty and joy forever. 1t is such
a daring of the elements, the toy canoe AMI
the spreading sails. The race looked like a
procession of fairly large gulls futtering
gracefully along the water. A strong breeze
might wait the whole affair up to the region
where speculation on adjacent astral bodies
could be verified by exploration. However,
only the meekest of earthly breezes blew little
bits of wel-behayed things, which never
strayed from home in their lives. and the
canoe with the largest sails won.
Most enhancing OF all was the illumination
by night Great bonfires threw up thous-
ands of scintillating sparks to the dark-blue,
star-dotted sky, and blazed out fiercey on the
calm waters. They formed great. red glows
along the dark shore line. and threw the hills
behind into somber relief. Flaring torches
of bulrushes made the headlights of tho
canoes, which glimmered il and out of the
freight shadows.
Chinese lanterns hung along the outlines OF
tents, and shone rosily among the white
trunked birches. Far from the mouth OF the
river, out into the lake. danced a fOtilla of
fairy lights, recalling the dream-worid OF the
Fair and its wooded island, and out on the
stiffness of the night l hear:
THE sound of light guitar
Like magic music from afar."
Sweet girl voices and the soft throbbing ac-
compartment melted away into the black haze
and its twinkling lights. Then male chorus
made the night glory of song. Ii swelled
and echoed. bearing sounds OF melody into
bay and inlet. penetrating the dark forest
yastnesses like foods of light swaying with
the tender night winds the rosy lanterns, and
waking island and lake into beauty and de-
light The canoe camp was in fairyland and
We were with it.
The torehlight procession had an end, and
canoe after canoe was drawn upon the beach.
The last words of a drinking song went off
spritedly, and there were series Of small
confRgrations among the Chinese lanterns.
The college men gave the yell OF their re-
spective colleges, that of Cornell being as
prominent rs its composition usually insists
upon. There was a disposition to small
groups. tendency to sleepiness on the part
charges.
From my coy corner, formed of canoe
cushions and logs near the bonfire, vas an
unwilling witness OF good-nights and prom
ises for the morrow.
A Vassar girl, whose beauty IS more than
skin deep. TO my reluctant knowledge, prom
ised at least six men to go in as many differ
ent canoes for the morning cruise. The scraps
OF her conversation are interesting:
Thanks, shall be delighted 1t is such
pleasure 10 go with you"
GO with you tomorrow, Mr.. Jones? You
know l would 90 anywhere with YOU"
AT ten, did you say, Billy? How nice of
you to want mer'
'Oh, Mr.. Dewdney. your canoe is ideal!
OF course I shall be ready in time"
"a morning cruise with you, MIR. Cullen
Burne? Charming, At ten? Yes
Then, so low that only 1 and the night
wind, lettering by, hear it:
Jack, dear. was so afraid you were not
going to ask me. Let US start AZ nine.'