Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-16
ST. MARKS
"CHOIR CAMP"

A feature Of membership in the choir Of
ST. Marks P. E. Church. corner Of Sd and
streets southeast which Is looked for
ward to with enthusiasm and pleasure from
year to year, is the annual summer outing
given the members. at place near Point
Lookout. on the lower Potomac river.
For a number Of years back 1t has been
the custom Of this church to send the choir
camping for from two weeks to a month
during the summer, until 1t has come to be
one of the permanent features Of the choir.
and is looked forward to by the older men,
bers as well as by the young men and boys.
Choir Camp" is located near Cornfield har-
bor and Is only three or four miles north
of Point Lookout and like distance south
Of Miller's wharf and Smith creek. Through
the courtesy of the owner of the property
the church has permission for the choir to
use two old buildings that were years ago
used as residences, but recently have been
allowed to fall into diapidation and almost
into decay. The sides and roofs are still
In a fair state of preservation, but the WIN
COWS and doors have long since dsap-
peared. The present state of the houses is
not due to the extravagant use of paint,
but rather to The total absence of any trace
of that well-known preseryer of wood.
Blackened and weathered though they
may be, these houses take the place Of
tents, affording ample protection from the
elements and a most convenient heaQQuar-
tiers for the party during their few weeks
of camping out each year, and sufi-
GENTLY remote, in appearance and ar
rangement from anything palatial to sug-
sest that element of ''roughing it, that is
so attractive to all who enjoy out-of-doors
recreation far removed from the large CEN
tiers of poDula tion.
The date for starting on this years out
ing was July 4. AS the day of departure
drew near the boys were given a list of
what they could take with them, long
perience having taught its lesson of what
things are essential, what are non-essential
and what are to be avoided as being actu-
ally in the way. The list was liberal and
expansive one. but nothing outside of what
was enumerated could be taken without
first obtaining permission for It's inclusion.
For instance, 1t has been found that UNI
brelas have no value in a camp of this
character. Instead of being useful they are
in the way and apt to be ruined. Bathing
suits take the place Of umbrellas, not for
shedding the water, but for the purpose
OF making the wearer obivious to whether
the water was falling on him or he was
falling into the water. The members say they
know and appreciate the fact that fresh
water shower bath is frequently resorted
to with good effect after bathing in salt
water, and in this way the bathing suit
substituted for the umbrella is considered a
real advantage.
Saturday, July !. at $50. was the time
fixed for the reception, at headquarters OF
outfits to be packed for camp. and at that
hour the boys began to arrive, each with
his individual outfit of blankets, clothing
toilet articles and fishing tackle, neatly
done up In bundles. mail sacks and other
convenient ways, labeled with the name of
the owner. These individual outfits were
then packed into trunks, and with several
large boxes of balls, bats, fishing rods,
crab nets and other paraphernalia that ex-
hoe %o.,< 81
contribute to the enjoyment of such
. trip were made ready and shipped imme-
diately to camp The medical outfit
was included, as every precaution Is
taken to insure the comfort and health
while away and to provide for those little
indispositions that are liable to occur
among SO many boys on these trips. These
preparations being over, the boys were left
free to think of the good times in store
for them in the near future.
The journey to Choir Camp was
pleasant one. Happy and care-free.
with only thoughts of the joys to
their choirmaster, Mr.. Trott, who had &C
companfed them to the car, and some of
the suppressed excitement found a vent in
cheering and waving of caps In response to
his cheering words of farewell. They were
soon at the wharf, and lost no time in get
ting aboard the Anne Arundel. Captain
Geoghegan greeted them at the gangpiank.
and in his infmitable way gave assurance
that so far as lay in his power he would
contribute to their comfort and pleasure.
Packages and luggage were deposited in
convenient place, and the boys were free
to roam at will over the boat.
The man who at this moment doomed
above all others to the many anxious pa
rents was Mr.. H. p. Blair. who is in charge
of the party. Instant and cheerful obedi-
ence was the result, not of a command. but
of suggestion from him. and however
anxious the parent may have been up to-
that time he was treasured at such an ex-
hibition OF discipline permeating the entire