Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-08-17
FROM ooPELAND's CAMP.
A Happy Letter From the Unitarian
Divine in His Mountain
summer Resort
CAMP TADEMA, Aug. i8.


CAMP TADEMA, Aug. l8.
ED. JoURNAL:-The editor on his
vacation to whom your request for q
letter was adressed, csnhot reply as he
is the pBrveyor for the camp of fish,
flesh, and fowl, or would be of the
latter were the fowl to be found aud
did the law permit The matron has
her hands full cooking whst the editor
purveys or other things, or rather in
seeing that the younger son cooks
these delicacles properly and the grave
aud reverend senior from Stanford is
busy all the time manufacturing from
old boxes, cans and other truck useful
articles for the matron and cookee,
the younger sou or militis man on his
furlough. So the only person compe-
tent is the parson, who has nothing to
do bot to enjoy the mountain air and
water, in short to get well. The beau
tifnl Indian name of this lovely place
commonly known as Snyder's Ranch,
has a mysti1 meaning, significant only
to the campers, who spent several
hours meandering around the noun
tains before they came to the house.
Camp Tadema is high upon the noun
tains, between the North fork aud the
Little North fork of the Santlam.
Here we are, high above the toiling,
moiling world. In the early morning
when the editor sets out on his purvey-
ing expeditions 80 he tells the parson, q
beautiful and attractive valley with
mountains in the distance, can be
plainly seen, but for the most of the |
time there is great sea of smoke
below US, which one imagines to be
ocean of water. No tramps
molest us for we are too high up; no
wild creatures annoy; hardly a sound
is to be heard, and one of the most
noticeable things about this camp is
the solemn stiffness, except when the
rude campers disturb the solemnity
with their idle clatter. The editor has
roamed the mountains over and tells
Us that he has found numerous deserted
ranches. Camp Tadana was deserted
until we came. Save from the arrival
Of the milk once day from ranch
below US we are through with man and
his vain works, we are living near to
nature and trying our best to return to
the manners of those ancestors who
lived very close the animal world. The
peace which we vainly sought in the
city of peace we find here. A solemn
calm prevades the place and so deeply
effects US all that we do not like to
think enough to write q letter, unless
we set in motion some enormous Yibra.
ion which will destroy the long sought
'or peace.
We cannot expect that you of the
turbulent valley, will be interested in
,ur peaceful, quiet existence, but 1t is
great relief no longer to hear of MUIR
iers and train robberies, of free silver
md honest money, to be removed from
hat war OF competition which grinds
10 many into the dust, and so few into
luxuries. We are above all this up on
ligh lands OF the mind and the spirit,
md we caLnot expect that the clay
creatures of the dusty valley, can ap-
preciate our quiet, ,uneventful life, whose
principal excitements are the arrival of
he editor from his purveying, ,expedi-
ion and the shout Of the militiaman
or US 10 come TO meals. We have "a
odge In the vast Wilderness" made
,aster by the screen Of smoke which
aides the world, and we are content.
The paFson fearing that this unusual
mount Of thought Will interfere with
Y hat ls now his only occupation. viz,
svtting we'll, must request that you
viii ccept this short communication
u suitable answer 20 your request
w. II. COPELAND.