Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-20
at Camp Tamarack.
BY N. o. TAMEL.

BY N. o. TAMEL.
There was as lively a group of young
sters at Camp Tamaraek as one would
find in many a days travel. 1t was for
the most part family camp, so that with
but three exceptions the twenty or more
children were at least cousins.
There was no end Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
croquet bowling, shuttle board, rowing
bathing. Indeed for a month there had
never been dull day until the long rain
! set in. One, two. three days of chilly
northeaster had been cheerfully faced by
all sorts of indoor fun, lodging from tent
to tent, telling stories. singing songs and
being jolly In spite of bad weather. But
when the fourth day brought the same
dreary drizzle all but tho most sunny OF
the boys and girls lost patience.
They had finished luncheon. and Alex.
pushing his chair back, asked the cues
ton that was In the minds OF all; 'What
are we going to do this afternoon" u..,,
Il know" said Edith, turning little
red. II have written play. and we are
going. to dress up and act it. Every one OF
us has part
"Goody!' shouted the girls, while the
boys echoed "hooray!" They were all
fond of theatricals.
Did you write it yourself. Edith?" asked
Anna.
Every word of it." Edith answered. 81
began yesterday afternoon and finished 1t
just before luncheon; and L am sitting on
it this minute so that none of the precious
stuff gets away"
Nearly everybody at the table was sud
denly affected with slight cough.
DO tell us what it is like cried
Gertrude. II knew you were up to some
Thing; Why didn't you let me into the
Secret?"
Edith explained that she was not quite
sure she could write it and wished to Try
first.
Read it! Read it," shouted chorus of
voices. Don't keep US in suspendcrs.'
Edith produced the manuscript, and with
little cough OF embarrassment at the
eagerness and the silence she began.
'The title Of the play is The Last Straw
on the Camefs Back. or Who Rode the
Elephant" 49,
What name for a play" cried Horace.
Who's going to be the elephant?" shout
ed Oliver
Ralph declared that he wanted to he the
camel. while small Ben asked If he could
be the one who rode the elephant.
All this was quite confusing to poor
Edith, who explained that she just gave
the play that name because 1t was the first
thing that entered her head when she sat
down to write, but that there really was
no camel in It, and no elephant.
Serious Duncan then called for order and
promised to duck the first fellow who in
terrupted again.
Edith continued. 1.-The scene is the in
terror of a gray castle. This dining room
will do for that. Our lake here will become
Loch Dundee in Scotland. The characters
are follows: Princess Claribel Deli
cious Montmorenci de Fitz, that's Ger
trude and she is to be the heroine, because
she was interested in what l was try
ing to do.
Gertrude rose and made a pretty cour-
tesy, asking for a piece of paper upon
which she might write her name and COM
mence learning it.
Edith quickly replied: ooh, you DON
have to know your own name. Only the
rest of us have to know that. 1 have made
Reginald the hero. and his name is Prince
Claude O'Harra Impossible Black de IIo-
boken."
"Oh. ouch.' shouted Reginald. rubbing
his shoulder and struggling 1t, as If he had
been dealt a smart whack.
Say interrupted Arthur, at the risk of
receiving the promised ducking from Dun
can, cant you save one or two words in
the dictionary for the rest Of us?"
What am I going to do with that name
Of mine?" demanded Reginald.
Edith hurried on. Il am Queen Saricl-
nesca Columbne Indellible and so forth,
and so forth. and I am Gertrude's mother -
WheW! Gertrude. she'll make you stand
around" said Oliver.
king Constantly"
20 don't read any more Jaw-tiring I'M
hear the play"
Edith consented to cut them short THE
KING, or course, is my husband and Ger
trude's father. Duncan has that part"
Everybody giggled
Theodore is a rival king He is Eugenes
fatner, and Helen, his queen, is Eusenes
mother. Dora and Frances are nv maids
OF honor. Isabel and Esther are Helen's
maids of honor. Andy and Ben are pages. -
In a masazne?" asked small Ben
On, no! Pages are very nice little boys
that go on errands."
Il hate errands," protested Ben while
Andy agreed. 80 do l.
We'll. but In play you must be willing
to take any kind of a part at all Why,
sometimes somebody has to be a villain.
You Will see what fun we shall have" said
Edith patiently.
Tell US the plot?" said Oliver
We'll, the prince, that's Reginald is
deeply in love with the princess, that's
Gertrude
Cries Of 'Oh. Oh: Oh-'
Il don't have to act silly. do To- inquired
Reginald.
NO. this isn't silly play. You have to
fight for your princess"
Reginald doubled UP his fists.
"Certrude's father, the king, says that
any man who is worthy of his daughter
has to fight and conquer a dragon. Alex
that's 1sabel-who bothers Reginald all she
can. But at last Reginald wins and we will
have the wedding right on the stage. o, it
will be exciting."
See cried Isabel, "the sun shinesv
30 1t did, and for a time the sun was q
greater attraction than Edith and her play.
But that same evening the play was read.
and for two weeks afterward there were
rehearsals every day. They finally gave 1t
they had such fun that even the dead
dragon was compelled to laugh.