Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1896-09-04
A Sketch of Camp Primus.

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COMMITTEE.
A Sketch of Camp Primus.
If some inquisitive dame could
have commanded view of the
two main roads leading from the
city of Kirksville to a beautiful
"shady green spot" inclosed in
Collet habitation, on the Goth inst.
the sight which met her gaze
would, to say the least, have been
very interesting; for, vending it's
way westward on the "ridge road"
was a very large wagon with yell
low wheels and lots of other pretty
colors ON it, which greatly re-
sembled a circus wagon, and
might have easily been taken for
"a monkey cage. Looking from
within, chatting and grinning,
were six curious faces of uncer-
tain nationality, while in the front
seat, Immediately behind two
monStrous beasts of burden was
Mr.. Patterson, 'the freak of the
cage and wonder of The age"
On the southern read was one
of the most peculiar professions
of all the ages the iead was a
small buggy drawn by a mammoth
gray animal, whose very step
seemed to shake the earth. In
this buggy sat Every sedate wild
own and massive fat man kn wn
as the "doctor,' frequently al
lnded to later in the week, as "Mr.
Porker.' Immediately behind
this vehicle was a wagon of no
late date, to which were tied two
very lean horses that gave evil
dence of having been rubbed
d lilly with green persimmons, as
their hides were drawn up to fit
their bones perfectly, with ribs
very much sunburned But they
nobly pulled from Kirksville to
the picturesque Collett habitation,
a load which dynamite could not
have even shocked.
This wagon, VS. in the begin
ming, a very common four wheeled
instrument, but after the brains
and muscles of the young go.llants
had been taxed to their utmost to
find places, ways and means for
everything that "must CO." it
would have puzzled the learned
men of several centuries to have
told what this moving mass was
and of what it consisted. 1 be-
lieve one person who road be-
hind it several miles did make the
statement that he had discovered
at least fourteen cots, as mauy
bundles of bedding, gasoline
stove, several hammo cks and
tants.
At about two o'clock p. M, the
two professions met at a stated
place which is now known as
"Camp Primus," and began to
unload. In less time than it
would take to write it, one OF the
neatest little camps ever seen
sprung up as If by magic; ham
mocks were swung, a large table
erected, and camp fire arranged
and one of the most congenial
crowds Imaginable were hustling
around preparing supper fit for
a king.
When evening came and the
camp fire was lighted and the
sounds of the ''soul-thrilling"
Screech owl and "blood-curdlIng'
whipporwill were heard, the eX-
pressions upon the yard stick
faces of the tired boys told only
too plainly how they wished
they were at home and their
mothers in their places. They
seemed to think that ere many
days, bringing water from spring
a quarter of mile away and
dragging up ''faggots' for the
fire would take all the poetry out
of the camping life. But on the fol-
lowing morning when they came
out of their tents joyfully singing,
their faces more on the pie-crust
order, the girls sat them down to a