The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-26

Midsummer days not only bring the
perfection and glory Of summer in fruit
age and flower They also bring the time
when out-of-door living becomes JOY,
when walking. driving, golflng, boating,
hunting fishing and camping out appear
with double force to tle devotees or
leisure and pleasure.
House parties and camping out parties
have been enjoyed with more than their
usual zest this season. Given the ideal
Virginia host and hostess for such forms
of entertainment and the measure
of amusement and good comradeshlp,
thev afford TO those brought together
in such way can scarcely be estimated.
IT must be experienced for the full flavor
10 be described. SO 1t is. that the story
OF one such midsummer celebration, Just
given by Mr.. and Mrs. John Thompson
Brown, of Bedford county, is left to be
told for the society columns of The Times
Dispatch by young Richmond girl
who accompanied the party. How well
the telling is done may be seen from
the following account of the camping
party:
After a big house party. lasting a week.
az their home, Ivy Cliff. IN Beuiora
county. near Brierfield, Mr.. and Mrs.
John Thompson Brown took their. guests
camping UP on the James River, on
tbe Amherst side, above Big Island.
Their camp was most unique, as they
used with the two large tents most
picturesque old log cabin, kindly placed
at their disposal by Mr.. Sadler, OF me
resa. upon whose property the camp was
located.
THE site was directly on the river. aud
rowing, fishing and swimming were en-
toyed TO the fullest extent.
At night great log fires prompted the
telling of gruesome tales and cast long
pictures OF the hobgoblins about INC
white tents, and curious monsters against
the clouds, besides experimenting the
light of the moon for games OF shum-
tum-a-loo, r-in-the-dell, and drop
the-handkerchief, generally finished OH
by the dear OLD Virginia reel.
At meal time they gather around long
tpicnic table and enjoy the novelty OF
the camp food prepared by the two col.
ored servants, Martha and Henry, ana
eaten from tin cups and pie plates.
The young ladies of he party adopted
tf1n uniform Of white sweaters and large
farm hats trimmed with bright bandana
handkerchief, which also looked very
pretty tied around their throats. The
Young men were similarly costumed and
the crowd presented quite picture in
their boats on the water or gathered TO-
gether in some shady mountain hollow.
The weather. though warm, was per-
fest and the week at camp great sue
cess, emitting a most alarming expert
ence at the very first 1t seems a party.
consisting of Misses Atkins. Minor and
Lathrop. of Richmond, and Miss Patton
of Blacksburg, with Messrs. Purviance
and Frazier Tams, of Staunton and
Thompson and Donaldson Brown, of Bal
tinore. had started for a moonlight trip
down the river about shutdown.
They took two boats and had gotten
some miles down stream, when they
Were caught in some very swift rapids
The boats were tossed and whirled around
until the young gentleman had to get out
Into the water nearly up to their necks
and pull the young ladies through the
danger.
Mr.. Purviance Tams had lacerated his
hands the previous day in an athletic
exhibition, which consisted in crossing q
chasm. about seventy-tlve feet wide,
1land-over-hand, upon wire rope stretch
ed from the top Of a derriclls and he tore
them again severely and suffered much
loss Of blood. Fortunately no serious dam
age resulted as a trip to physician in
Lynchburg the next day soon put him
in good shape.
Most alarming for the time being was
the experience Of Mr., Donaldson Brown.
who was swept under the boats at one
place. He stayed under quite a while
and great alarm was felt lest he had
drowned, but he came up after what
seemed a very long time and the rapids
were passed with no further incident and
no damage beyond some very wet
clothes. '"
About 10 o'clock the party came back
10 camp and reported their most thrill
ing adventure.
Only one rainy night kept the campers
IN sfha ling Of their lOny bOlgn
They converted this room into an amuse-
ment hall and spent a most delightful
evening playing progressive high five.
Very probably there never was quite
such a card party,
Hanging from long fishing rods were
the lanterns to light the rude room, and
the cards were played on long plank Ia
Sles hastily mprovised
The young gentlemen gave prizes to the