St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-08-09
Caspian Lake Regatta.
A Burlington Free Press Correspondent
Writes of The Recent Celebration BY
Campers.


Writes Of the Recent Celebration by
Campers.
Mr.. Editor-Shoud not the Free Press
keep an eye upou Burlingtonians in their
wanderings' Here they are playing
with boys" from many other places, and
dong many cunning things. II | men,
ton names, you will perceive that morals
and education both are involved, and |
feel compelled to mention Morrow, Ian.
don, Votey, Snyder, and then add names
from st. Adams, Montpelier, and almost
to the ends of New England, indeed, to
the interior and the South.
The tale wish to tell is of the regatta
on Lake Caspian during the evening of
the 26th ult., the work OF these men and
Others, encouraged, aided and abetted
by Mrs. Mckenzie, Mrs. Miller, and
other ladies of their company.
AT least 1900 people were attracted by
the rumor of The Regatta of '99" and
the shores were crowded at every avail
able point, such has come to be the
reputation of these men for good thing,
and the crowds were not disappointed.
Ascore more or less) Of boats, together
with all the shore-lne of cottages and
the trees in front OF them, had been
decorated in fanciiul ways with Chinese
lanterns, making a fairy scene indeed
The Hardwick band was anchored out
in the bay as center piece, and gave
many good selections with that peculiar
soitness often noticed in music over the
water In two divisions at an equal
distance from each other of 20 feet, the
boats moved out sedately, passed round
the band and returned more than once,
dropping vivid reflections deeply below,
and finally squaring off against each
other, and having sham battle with
rockets, Roman candles, and Greek fire
OF various colors. Then a huge bonfire
was set off by the builders Eastman
and Landon) composed of oil barrels,
dry trees, cannon crackers, and what not,
and floated far out. This was the signal
for the liveliest cheering which could be
heard halt way round the lake, and even
in echo from the hills around. Now
assembled the fre-balloon OF Principal
Elliott of the East Boston High schools,
and as the enthusiasm began to die
away, the moon struggled up to see
about this rivalry, Ifthose mentioned
above did not enjoy it all as much as any
it must be that the doing prevented them
from seeing it all. But to have given
such delight ought to be fair equivalent
and, in the case of this brace Of principals
with at least a couple of real professors,
we believe it was so.
admiral" Sanborn of school book
fame at the Hub directed all; Captains"
Woodruff OF Bowdoin and Ragnall of St.
Adams educational fame led the two
divisions, while Principal Whitehill oil
Montpelier appeared to be amphibous.
A gramaphone, in an unlighted boat
somewhere, put in the comic now and
then to good purpose, it being distinctly
heard from the wharf even across to the
"Hardwick" camp. Among all the new
things to which Lake Caspian is awak-
ing. the regatta of '99 was the newest
and most delightful and has inspired one
of the local poets as follows:
SONG.
Lake Caspian, lake beautiful so cool ant
clear and free;
hold and swell" in Natures song, mid
way from sky to sea-
o Caspian, o Caspian, still let thy charms
abound;
Still mirror, mimic and reverse all thing
abOve-around!
Lake Caspian. lake beautiful, one song w,
sing for thee!
At night. at morn, at noon, lake as fair a:
fair can be!
Lake Caspian, lake beautiful, depth Low
ingly confined;
A ectar.chalire, forest. wre ithed, deep
chased and silver.lined;
| o Caspian, o Caspian, still hold they
chalice high,
AS If to pledge best health and peace tC
every passer by,
Lake Caspian, lake beautiful, one song We
| sing for thee.
At night, at morn, at noon, lake as fair
as fair can be.
Lake Caspian, lake beautiful, each morning
thou hast smiled,
All dmpled, many.voiced and coy-Au
rora's happy child
| o Caspian, o Caspian, mirror framed II
green,
Where eve in fairy robes draws near. ant
views herseli-a Queen.
Lake Caspian, lake beautiful, one song we
sing for thee
At night, at morn, at noon, lake as fair
as fair can be.
Lake Caspian, lake beautiful, contribute to
Champlain,
Nay, stay not they benevolence until il
reach the main.
o Caspian, o Caspian, a full return is nigh
For thou shalt quaff through gushing rills
the rivers OF the sky,
Lake Caspian, lake beautiful, one song we
sing for thee
At night, at morn, at noon, a lake as fair
| as fair can be.
ain Thompson's Gazetteer it is recorded
that this little lake was at first called Lake
Beautiful"